New-York tribune., 1907-06-06
GOT HISTORY DATA.
Dr.. Bingham Had Erciting Time
IN Colombia and Venezuela.

DR.. Hiram Bingham, curator Of South American
history at Harvard University and member Of the
faculty OF Princeton arrived here yesterday the
Hamburg steamer Prinz Joachim, after
exciting experience on his six months trip of
exploration through the wilds of Venezuela and
Colombia.
While he had the good VIII Of the Colombian and
Venezuelan governments Professor Bingham and
his party had all sorts Of difficulties with govern
ment officials in remote parts Of the countries.
Letters from President Castro Of Venezuela and
President Reyes OF Colombia requesting that the
professor receive every courtesy We're of no avail
with the officials on the borders and it was a
regular I'm from Missouri-youve got to show
me" affair in many instances. 'Of course" said
official. we think you all right and your
equipment may be solely of scientific instruments.
but must see for ourselves that there are no
guns in the kit
The anxiety of the border men," said Professor
Bingham. in looking for guns rather per-
sonal as they were doubt willing TO appropriate
them"
The Bingham party left New York in November
going directly to Porto Rico. and after spending
ten days Crab Island Il started for Caracas,
Venezuela. The chief object of the trip to Presi-
dent Castro's country was TO get accurate topo-
graphical data concerning the Of independ-
ence and the life of General Bolivar.
We left Venezuela January 10 with FIVE sad
Gle mules and a guide" said Professor Bingham
We desired 70 see if it were possible to take
cart across the country TO the frontier Of Colon-
bia. feat hitherto not accomplished We sue
ceeded in doing it under great difficulties and the
loss Of four Of FIVE mules. 1t took US four
months 10 get to Bogota, the capital of Colombia
q distance Of thousand miles crossing many
rivers.
we spent ten days making the first accurate
survey Of the battlefelds of Carabobo, twenty
miles south Of Valencia which was the scene OF
the greatest battle in the history Venezuela It
took place in 1920. and up this time although
the history Of the battle has been written many
times. there has never been made map of the
scene nor even sketch plan of the battlefield
We had exciting adventure on the Venezuelan
boundary. The officers refused to let us cross AL
though we had not only American passports but a
special order from the Venezuelan government In
Caracas directing the local authorities to put no
inpeo1InenbS In our way, they convinced that
cur cargo consisted OF arms and ammunition
The head OF the district word 10 the local
Arcade TO refuse US permission to cross the river
unless we surrendered all our arms and arnuuni-
ton, but as we were just about enter the coun-
try OF wild Indians on the River Ele where our
guns had not only 10 furnish US our daily food bUt
were also necessary TO keep from being attacked
py Inoiangs we had 10 refuse, and announced our
Intention OF crossing, after showing papers
Inereupon four men armed with Mausers 7yere
drawn up IN front OF hut with orders TO pre-
vent our departure The only way 10 escape from
the difnculty TO ride fifty miles to the caDital
OF the province and personally interview the Gov
srnor- he appeared satisfied with my explanation.
pot decided 10 come and see for himself After ex-
aiming our OUTFIT, he permitted US 10 pass
We then proceeded on the last six hundred miles
OF our trlp across country 10 Bogota, meeting with
thaEy eAclting adventures. and succeeded In follow
overland march. which ended at the haftin oS
Boyaeas where the Spaniards were definitely shut
out of Colombia forever '
We stayed there ten days to discover the exact