New-York tribune., 1907-12-16
LfferorT Wes0s and Criticism.

OF 'he deposited funds By litigation prevented
mem not only from paying their employees, bur
aISu from affoTding them decent provisions
ohoer such circumstances nothing but disaster
Oohio pe expected. Out of seven hundred men
ho reached San Antonio, ffty-six died at that
S'duoH and seventy-ffve more lost their lives
ID an attempt to reach Bolivia overland This
- more than twice the percentage of mortality
"'IiohS the Union forces in the Civil War
mere IS a characteristic glimpse of the condi-
hohs that obtained almost everywhere during
the latter months Of the work 1t is quoted
from the diary of Mr.. ]. p. O'Connor, who is
10" private secretary TO Archbishop Ireland,
put was at that time attached to Engineer
corps NO T. which had been sent out to survey
me country along the upper Madeira:
s,'-d On May Se after helping the Indians bridge
ant comn,ie" was asaIn attacked by ehllls and
'1.f,, for TO return 10 camp and there re-
a!iI M 1V some Gays, suffering little pam but stead
3n fd, me ne S6ti. fastening gave way ana tent
ba5 M not .m % 13S men were so weak that they
-, tIa 10 ~! ~ sLiclent TO move from the places
June 2-rhe last few days have been full of mis-
cry and suffering for the twelve men under Cap
tam tam SUES. MOI less than have been ali the
ana lever Weakness and loss of vitality
] que 70 ihSuilcient food more than 10 any other
1' gSaSe' nave feGuced US to our present condition
dere seems ms to be no remedy in sight. Food
We We d l5IJ ode n'er some two weeks ago have not
June 7-Anotler week of misery and musb. Yes
musR ana moasses. aolasses and mush With fred
mush and molasses for a change,
Mr Craig was member Of corps commits
stoned 10 lay the route along the Jaci Parana
about seventy miles above San Antonio He
writes:
lily worse Thp small oa3 30 became stea
Slls4neer had been able furnish soon ex-
upon generosity OF the Indians at ST Helena
ana Las Peoras for yucas and plantains We did
- a fOr
After September Is work was practically
the only men in camp not prostrated by lever and,
as as, there vas nothing on hand with which to feed
on On @@ our own backs as MUCH of load as We could
empty tin cans and every article We could spare
10 axne5 l anI piantaiLs- We did not dare
ton on game while there danger of being at
as5Sd hX the PaTetintins Isavases who had al
time when almost every American and Indian in
our camp most urgently required it our supply of
quinine gave out. The rains, at this time heavy
and frequent, made our camp often very uncom-
unusually active Besides the omnipresen fire ants
wood ticks and piums great armies of larger ants
and compelled to do battle with them Such in
they compelled men in a raging fever to leave she
ter during downpour OF rain.
The atmosphere in this part of the continent
IS so surcharged with moisture that revolvers !
become unfit for overnight with rust unless |
soaked in kerosene-a climate favora BILE to every
di-tNS VI hSStldbie ana insect me- Dut fatal !
to a white man without ample muntion of |
Iuin:ne.
most impenetrabIe vegetation Quite freqGentiy |
immense trees. after being completely cut through |
q me bast. would continue 10 stand erect, held
nrmy in place by the network of vines that tied |
radius Of fifty Os feet No de cond be- oHed T55en ia
advance Of the nature Of the ground TO which the |
knowledge of high hill deep valley in front |
q
Surveying through these forests like working |
by the light of a lantern at midnight
Occasional encounters took place with boa
constructors and leopards; but by far the most
nveterate foe was the pest of insects-fies that
settled in myriads over face neck and hands.
so persistently that IL often required two men
o keep them out of the eyes OF a transitman |
turing the few seconds required to line point
head" clouds Of savage mosquitoes and ants
Il every description crawling under clothing,
penetrating everywhere and each apparently
possessing a means of torture more ingeniously
iiabolical than its predecessor. One variety,
ed and small, gave a bite which caused no
swelling, but felt like IAN electric shock pene-
rating to every part Of the body
Grim as is the history of this "ill fated" ex-
'edition in the main. Mr.. Craig has not for
gotten a good number of humorous incidents
hat enlivened it, Trust an American for that.
lie recounts most entertainingly such episodes
Is involuntary experiment with monkey
neat; the delight of the engineers in unex-
'ected accession of tobacco; number Of anus
ng encounters with local magnates, of
whom refused TO conduct his guests further
Until the entire supply of whiskey had been con-
umed-a business Of seven days. One feels
throughout the record the splendid quality OF
he typical American engineer. keen minded
nlbitious. intrepid, persistent. taking hardship
uite prosaical!y as part Of the days work.
always ready TO extract from misfortune what
yer hurnor il may possess. and never admitting
o long there is a ghost Of chance. that
allure is possibility. When the Madeira
edition finally broke up all the engineers hoped
hat, so soon as the English litigation should be
nded, they would be able to return once more
o the enterprise in which they had already
acrificed so much. But this was not to be.