The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-12-27

adventure.
Deep in the tangI wilds of Central
I America George Barrault, an en-
thusiastic young Frencl'man. is facing
/ death every day in his search for a
snow White orchid he believes exists
somewhere in the jungle because he
/ has been told of It by an Indian guild.
He has not yet found that particular
orchid. but in his search Of over four
years he has found endless adventures
and escaped death where escape SEEM
ed impossible. In his quest he has had
TO fight hand to hand combats with
treacherous guides. has ed detach-
ment of the Colombian army into nu-
merous battles, has been almost taten
alive by warrior arts has fallen over a
preciFlie, has been given up for dead
by his Indian attendants when down
| with fever in the midst of the sWamps
and after having been shot in battle
and deserted by his soldiers was taken
prisoner by Colombian reb is and held
for SIX months until he knocked over
sentry and escaped. George B2rrault
has whole romance behind him in a
career in the French army and adven-
! lures in Algiers and the French colon
| les. 1t was with this fund of expert
ence and al owe of adventure and
orchids that he was engaged by Mrs.
! George B. Wilson of Philadelphia to
gather for her the rare orchids of Cen
trail and South America that she might
add them to her wonderful collection in
the Quaker city.
Upon this apparently peaceable quest
| George Barrault has had to endure
nothing but hardshps and adventures,
and the end of his experience has vet
to be recorded. The last was heard of
him he was 400 miles from the coast
of Colombia, seeking that snow white
orchid. He did not dare venture out
into the standardization of the repub-
| lie, as the government wanted him for
a deserted and the revoutionists
sought in him an escaped prisoner Of
war who had been an exceedingly dis
! agreeable adversary. His career as
captain in the Colombian army was not
of his own choosing and was a compli-
ment forced upon him by an army none
too rich in officers.
He had gathered a variety of rare or
chids during several months of search
| ing in the forests and was shipping
them to Philadelphia by way of Bogota.
| All he asked was to be let alone and
permitted to hunt orchids. While in
Bogota he was taken by file of SOL
diers and brought before the command-
ing officer, who soon learned that Bar
rault had served in the French army.
| looE I, IF
I fer of service with the Colombian
troops had been carefully considered
and finally accepted. He would rank
as a captain and could consider HIM
self forthwith an officer in good stand
ing and amenable to all the rules of the
service. This meant that if he refused
to serve he would be shot as traitor,
so he served, and served well.
1t was not his custom to do things
! half way, so when he did fight he
| fought with a zest that amazed his
easy going followers and soon made
| him the hero of his troops. Several
times his pluck and daring decided is
sues that under less active leadership
would have failed. Forlorn hopes SEEM
ed to be his specially, and the way he
| pu1LCu oCNGl al VI lLlCil iii J1fS Il EJtIl
earned him an enviable reput lti0n as &
soldier. 1t was in one of these how
ever. that he was wounded and desert
ed by his followers, ana as promptly
captured by the rebels, who carried him
off to prison, glad to have secured the
little Frenchm4l who had cost them
so heavily. Recovering from his
wounds used up over a month of his
precious time, and it was five months
| before he saw chance to escape With
his usual promptness he took it, knock
ed over his guard, and made a run for
liberty.
He Immediately resumed his work of
seeking orchids, and particularly that
white one that grows way up in the
mountains at the top of a tall tree. He
had long journey on foot without
arms, to make to reach a settlement
where he was not known. He lived on
roots and the semi-tropical fruits he
knew were not poisonous, and kept one
eye open for orchids. Finally he
reached village of Indians in the
mountains and secured guides and
climbers, the latter to scale the high
trees for the precious blooms On this
expedition it seemed at first that his
luck had finally turned and he was
| likely to succeed. He had progressed
some days without nshap and was
growing hopeful of success. Then his
! bad luck overlook, him again. On
narrow defile over 1000 foot precipice
/ the girth of his saddle parted and he
slid from his mule down into the gorge.
His guides thought him lost for good,
! but upon peering over the edge saw
him caught in a. tree 100 feet below.
After much work and some peril he
was hauled up scarcely injured by his
tumble. He was not in the least dis
Outraged, and insisted upon continuing
+ his quest.
! The work of gathering orchids pros
pered and several new and particularly
/ beautiful ones were secured. Then the
swamp fever swept over the camp and
every man Of the party was taken
down. Several of them died, and there
i was absolutely no way to secure aid.
Those who could not fight it out unaid-
ed simply dropped out Barrault was
the last to be taken Ill, and was weak
and delirious with his fever when three
! of the guides who had recovered from
milder attacks robbed him of all they
! could Law hands on and left him to die