New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-10-26
SOUTH AMERICAN EXPLORER.
ADVENTURES IN THE GREAT CHACO
DESERT OF ARGENTINA-SENOR
ARNAUD'S EXPERIENCES

| Rochester. Oct "A (speciaD.-An eminent South
| American has been paying visit to this city. He
| IS Sehor Ieopoldo Arnaud. OF Buenos Ayres. a
| Chevaller of the Legion OF Honor and a member
Of geographical societies IN Great Britain, France.
| Germany Spain. South America and the United
States He was consul OF his country in
Paris and at another time charge d'afaires In
Rome and Is the author Of many scientific vol
| umes in the Spanish language Senior Arnaud is
stiu young IN spirit and activity, although nearly
sixty years old. Now a resident OF this country.
for he forced 10 flee from his own land be-
cause OF revolutionary tendencies. he has taken
UP his home in Chicago. where he represents Spain
as sort OF vice-consuL While in this city he told
a few OF his experiences to friends OF long stand
ing
Senior Arnaud's chief claim TO fame IN the scien-
tihc world rests upon his Iabors explorer OF
that vast tract Of wilderness in the northern tri
angle Of Argentina called the Chaco Desert. He
was barely thirty when he started on what many
had decided was hopeless task. A Frenchman
few years before had entered the Chaco with one
thousand men. and had never been heard OF after
ward. Later Senior Arnaud found their skulls In
use among the Indians drinking cups But
senior Arnaud persuaded the government. and with
the aid OF wealthy friends he set out his peril
Gus expedition. Having had experience in
the upper reaches OF the Amazon. he had hts own
views of South American exploration and fitted
out his party according to his personal notions
He secured permission from the Argentine Gov
eminent to enlist from the military outposts
band of five hundred men. furnishing for them as
many mules and peck animals. These were
serving life sentences, as in Argentina the worst
criminals those that escape execution. sent to
the outposts on frontier guard duty With the gov
ernment's promise OF liberty and full pardon IL
they should return alive. Senor Arnaud selected
his five hundred men. and Differed them from
among his military and scientific associates. The
expedition did not follow the route taken by the
Inflated Frenchman. but struck into the unknown
desert from the highlands OF Bolivia 1t was a
trackless jungle inhabited by tribes OF Indians
whose characteristics were savagery and cruelty.
The extent of the so-called desert in those
days about three hundred thousand square miles.
and II generally believed that the tribes which
Inhabited 1t numbered about half a million persons
At the expiration of two years Arnaud and his
little band came out on the Paraguayan frontier
after having their way through the heart OF
the wilderness Only nine men were missing. but
every mule had been killed.
Tho result of Sehor Arnaud's explorations was
of great value TO Argentina. showines that the
numbers of the savageS supposed TO inhabt the
desert had been greatly exaggerated. and amounted
to not more than fifty thousand military expe-
dition was soon fitted out and the country rapidly
opened up for settlement This was one OF the ex-
porer's experiences with the savage tribes of
Indians in the Interior
After we had beaten party after war party
our prisoners would tell us. Wait until you meet
the great chief At last got track OF this po-
tentate. and by great good fortune-in which.
fear the treachery of some of the captured prison.
eTS ngured-we were able to take hir2 alive The
old fellow had caused great trouble, and We
resolved, for the sake of the effect II would pro-
duce on the others, to execute him. We held
council and condemned him to be shot. He
bound to a tree. and Just before the execution he
asked TO talk with the white chief meaning
Thinking he had some last word TO communicate.
took an interpreter. who had learned smattering
of Spanish. and confronted him. The great chief
was great, In truth. and as he stretched himself
up proudly and unhinchingly before me. bound as
ne was against the tree, l felt a pang of regret
that such a magnificent man had to be sacrificed
for the sake OF policy. / asked the interpreter TO
inquire what he wished to communicate. He told
him to have me step nearer. 1 took step toward
him. This, he cried. and spit straight in my face
He was shot after, but my dying day
will hold grudge against him for that last act
OF supreme hatred toward me-
senior Arnaud bears upon his body three scars
one is In his right thigh. Just below the hip There
savage thrust him through with a broad spear
and the next moment fell dead with his head split
In twain by sergeant. In his back tust above
the waist line. IS a hole as broad a mans hand
There he was hit by bolas the weapon OF the
south American Indians. consisting OF three stones
strung on rope. swt ng about the head and hurled
straight through the air. The bolas against
senior Arnauds saddle camille. splintered that. and
knocked him from his horse. The other wound Is
on bis right hand. and was caused by q poisonous