The Wichita daily eagle., 1904-05-15

Sir Walter Raleighs, dream of Eldor-
Z ado. which centered around what is now
known as British Guiana, is coming true
at last
Hundreds of miles beyond the outposts
of civilization, in places where no white
mans foot has ever trod till now since
the DAYS of Spanish conquest and ex-
ploration, hundreds of men. eager for
wealth and possible millions. are daring
death in many forms in virgin tropical
forests to work the lately discovered
diamond fields OF Great Britain's South
American colony.
For three years, ever since some In
dams from the interior appeared in
Georgetown with several diamonds and
story that they had been found in
gravel in the interior, this race with
aeath for riches has been going on.
Often prospecting expeditions come out
ahead and return from ''at the back of
beyond with thousands of dollars worth
of precious jewels belted around the
bodies Of the leaders But often too.
many an expedition leaves Georgetown
and Bartica TO so UP one Of the three
rivers leading to a diamond field and
never comes back 1t is hardly possible
to pick UP Georgetown newspaper with
out seeing such headlines as Another
Boating Disaster in the Essequibo
Rapids ''Diomand Hunters Starved TO
Death Along the Mazarunl,' or "A Dia-
mond Expedition Attacked by Indians
Along the Cuyani"
Bad as they are. these are only three
of the dangers that threaten every Cia-
mond hunter At matter OF fact. so
numerous are the perils that a heavy
toll in lives is being constantly paid for
the jewels that are finding their way
from the hearts of the junaIes to the sea-
coast. Il has been estimated that for the
1S2, ,077 diamonds discovered and declared
during the year ending June 80, 1852. 2G4
lives were sacrificed, or two for every
1000 of the precious stones recovered
from the widely scattered gravel drifts
Here is the story of party that did
get back TO civilization with whole skins.
but only after encounterinS a remark
able series of adventures What these
men endured are typical OF the perils
that threaten every man who dares TO
seek his fortune in the new worlds dia-
mond land
AN INDIANS SECRET.
Three young Thorpe. Jer-
roId and Hodge-led the expedition,
which was the first TO penetrate IN the
headwaters of the Cuyani In the sum-
meT of 1901. while they were in George
town. one of the trio made q strong
friend Of an old and withered Indian who
had come from the border land of Ven
ezuela. by giving him n gauCy trife
which he craved. Scme days later the
old fellow hunted UP the white man
Il have not forgotten your kindness /
to me. senor." ne said "and now ! shall
reward yoG-T shall tell you a secret OF 4
my tribe Hundreds of miles to the west
up the Cuyani, near where the Caruno /,
joins it, are big diamond fields. Many 4
yeaEs ago. when my grandfafher's grand 4
father and his grandfather lived the 4
Spaniards came and cleared away the .
underground and dug in the gravel and .
found diamonds. | have seen the place (
myself senor-the jungle has never /
grown over it TO this day. 1t is just as
big slice out Of the forest. as if cut
with the knife of the Great God. and
.
go back there and search. and then
you viii come back rich and great
man."
The fire Of adventure and the hope of
wealth thus kiaaled by the Indians tale
the three Enslishmea decided 10 search
for the mine which. according to their
Information. must have been eXcavated F
60 paying gravel" in Ihe time OF Aiorzo
oe Ojeda. They ut once set about or
ganizing the expedition. and two weeks
later they struck out from Bsr;ica for
the little known reaches of the Cuyani
In a S9-foot river boat with two
months supply Of provisions. trinkets Tor
the savages they might meet. and
crew Of eighteen negroes and mulattos
and Indians. each secured fer ~ cents
a day and under the command OF
captain. also a negro. but trusty one
THE FIRST ADVENTURE.
The expeditions first adventure oc-
CURED on the morning OF the first day.
The boat was sliding swiftly through
the water with scarcely ripple at the
bow. The boatmen. keeping time to
the tune With the hanr-swish-b Of /
their paddles. were singing one OF their /
ravorite chanties
Bamboo fire, bamboo fire,
Bamboo fire E,ek so
Bamboo fire cook 'yo' pot, :
Bamboo fire mex so 7
Bamboo fire boil yo' salt fish
Bamboo fire mex so.
Bamboo fire bamboo fire.
Bamboo fire mex So. ,
Suddenly straight ahead where the S
iver narrowed. larse jaguar appeared I.
winning across the river Cne Of thc
-nGlishneen who SAT IN the boats stern. :
With rifles ever ready for use across q
heir knees. fired at The beast and r-ccn5- ?
d. i; slightly. lnfuriated. it turned and 2
made straight for the boat and. reaching z
( IN an incredibly short time. endeavorei ]
o Chamber IN. IN the excitement that
bt,owed anons the frightened negroes, !