The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-29
YOUNG EXPLORERS RETURN.
Exciting Experiences in q Journey
Across South America.

Exciting Experiences IN q journey
Across South America.
Brooklyn Eagle.
Alvah d. James, the young traveller who
gained distinction two years ago by making
a four-thousand-mile journey up and down
the Atlantic coast in an eighteen-foot
canoe, has just returned from a trip across
the continent of South America. The expe-
dition, undertaken in a spirit of adventure
for the publication by which he is en-
ployed, Field and Stream, furnished Mr.
James with all the excitement and novelty
which he could wish for, and, according
to his own story, came nearer placing a
period to the career of the daring young
traveller than he bargained for.
He says that he is willing to try for the
North Pole, has already planned to climb
Mount Mckinley and will go anywhere and
do anything in the civilized or uncivilized
world but never again will he go through
the South American jungle.
The most hairbreadth" escape which Mr.
James and his companions, Robert B.
Ewart. G. II. Henschen and Southam Cash,
experienced was being overturned and
spilled out of their dugout in shooting one
of the rapids on one of the upper tributa-
ries of the Amazon while making their way
down the eastern slope of the Andes into
vi
In this accident all the emergency ra-
tons of the party were lost and for nine
weeks the members lived on roots and green
bananas. During this time James had the
to kill a twenty-seven-foot boa and had
other adventures too numerous to men,
ton.
MIR. James related his experiences briefly
to an Eagle reporter yesterday Later he
will write them himself in detail for his
magazine. He said:
I1fx 49,. IT,,
by way of the Isthmus of Panama. From
Callao climbed the Andes mountains to
the height of 1890 feet and then made the
descent by mules We took thirteen mules
with us. They are really the most wonder
full things in South America, more wonder
full than the condor, the anaconda, the
only things in South America for which I
have distinct and heartfelt admiration
and respect
1T took us three weeks to make our wav
down the eastern slope of the mountains to
the .Azupizu river. which is the extreme
Lima branch of the Amazon. There we
took with US Mr.. Southam Cash, an Eng
lishman, who knew the language and the
people, to act as interpreter. We embarked
in thirty-four-foot dugout. In this we
travelled $50 miles and shot eighty-four rap
ids. At the fourteenth rapid, seventy-o
miles from the village OF Azupizu the dug
out capsized and We lost our rations.
| spoiled our cameras. ruined our ammuni-
ton and only saved our lives because We
were all expert swimmers and had good
luck. Our rifles we had taken the precau-
/ ton to tie TO floats of balsa wood. We sue
ceeded in saving our rifles and our type
| writer's.
I'm the wreck we lost all our dynamite
| with which could kill fish to eat and had
| absolutely no food supply. For nine week.
| we lived on roots and green bananas. Dur
/ ing that time had severe attack of the
fictus river fever and we had to lay up fol
/ three weeks.
I'VE finally reached Iquitos, where we
| were taken in hand by the project IF Lo.
l reto. a very estimable man, who looked gu,