The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-02-08

government spies and fired upon by the
insurgents from an ambush. We had
made an extra long march without
guide and were riding slowly along on
our mules. tired and worn out. when
without warning there was a roar of
flIles ana some twenty or more bullets
sang over and around our heads with
blood-curdIing misses. Fortunately
none Of as was struck. and as quickly
as possible l hOisted a white flag and
STA tea toward the place from which
the shots had proceeded. While on the
way two more shots were fired and
me bullets sang by my ears, but they
went vide OF their mark and the in
surgents recognized the white flag.
Made Friends With Rebels.
As soon as it was explained to them
that we We're scientific explorers and
not government spies they entered into
the most friendly relations with us and
Ioi the next two weeks we suent the
time visiting with them in their tents
along the coast
The call was a close one for US and
We didn't feel any the better for hav-
ing had II, but we pressed. on 90 Colon.
where we sold our mules and proceeded
by boat
The most trying portion of our trim
anna, made during the rainy season.
For three weeks we followed an Indian
root path through a dense forest and
Jungle, filled with miasmic diseases.
The physical strain of such trip was
severe enough. but added to that. all
OF US feit the raVageS Of some disease
or other and it was a weary and worn
company Of explorers that finished up
at the end Of the long tramp through
the narrow forest roadway. We an
managed to pull through, though, aided
BY the hospitality of friendly Indian
tribes that were very helpful to us"
Was Distressing Trip.
The trip through Guatemala was a
most Distressing one. The corn crop
had failed and the people of the land
were struggling for life in a battle
with famine that threatened TO devas-
tate the land The expedition under
went great physical suffering from the
lack of water and food, but with a de-
termination to carry out their plans,
the members of the party, regardless
of the priVatiOns they had to suffer,
tarried in the country gathering infOT-
nation, and finally successfully made
the trip through il.
The march hat rcquired-the greatest
physical endurance Of anz made during
the trip, perhaps, was that TO the
ruins of PalenCue. In order to get to
the ruins the party was forced to travel
no less than 4G0 miles on foot 1t re-
qUired weeks To make the trip and ply
steal endurance on the part of the eX-
plOreTs that was almost superhuman,
but all Of the party got through, and
those who have returned say they
would not have missed seeing the ruins
had they had to travel twice the dis
tsnCe.
There were many other incidents
just as trying and thrilling as those I
have related said Mr.. Cluff but in
the short time I have l cannot relate
them
Indians Were hostile.
Taking UP the narrative of the trip
from Colon, where the mules We're sold.
Mr. Cuff said: we then went by
steamer TO ParraqUilla but finding the
San Bias Indians i'm hostile state. we
were unable To cross the reservation
and went on up to Honda. where we
spent two or three weeks studying the
surrounding country, gathering infcr-
nation and exploring the banks of the
Magdalena river.
Further progress was cut off at
Honda by the Insurgents. SO we again
purcha sed mules and went to BOgata.
the capital OF Colombia. thinking 10 get
around the enemy by another road
However. when we reached BOgata. we
were Informed by the American minis
attemPC;o proceed further through the