New-York tribune., 1907-12-16
The Story of an Old Engineering
Campaign IN BraaI.

RESoLhEcTIoNs OF ~ Ill EATEp ExPE-
MADHRA RIVER n Brazil. BY Neville b,
Craig. Illustrate eEo pp. 41S Philadelphia:
j. e. Lippincott Company
On the afternoon of January ., 1878, the
steamer Mercedita, with passenger list of
about two hundred and twenty, and carving as
a part OF her cargo five hundred tons of railroad
irea. sailed from Philadelphia for the far inte-
Iior Of South America. Wharves and shipping,
for a block packed with cheering onlook-
eIs as the vessel took her departure. For
months the newspapers had been filed with
talk about the great SO 600 900 contract under
taken by local firm for the opening OF COM
Inercial highway into the heart of inaccessible
Bolivia Reports. more or less trustworthy of
that country's unequalled mineral resources. of
her rich tin1bers her rubber supply. her aston
jshing fertility, lent to the event. at least in the
public eye, something of tie glamour of a mod
FL Dorado enterprise.
About one thousand miles inland from the
mouth of the Amazon the Madeira River enters
the larger stream from the south. and for $50
miles from this point this river is naviga BILE
even in the dry season, for vessels with draft
of ten or twelve feet. If the long series of
rapids above could be passed it would be possi-
ble for small steamers to ply up the Mamore
River and its affiuents for hundreds of miles
further, thus opening up a vast new territory
80 international trade. Less than two hundred
and fifty miles Of railway would connect San
Antonio, at the northern end OF the rapids with
Ezstacao Mamore. at the southern end II was
for the construction of this road that the Phila
delphia drm of P. & T. Collins had signed their
contract
From the very outset the great scheme seemed
10 be under some disastrous star Even at the
time of the Mercedita's sailing it had run
long gantlet OF misfortune Ten wears before
through the untiring exertions of Colonel G. T.
church always the moving spirit of the enter
prise, the Bolivian government had pledged gen.
erous aid Then it had attempted to repudiate
Its pledges. Later an English company had been
formed large subscription 20 Bolivian bonds
had been secured In 1872 work had actually
been inaugurated-only to be abandoned how
ever, at the end Of q few months under a dis
creditable showing. Years OF litigation had fol-
lowed. while shrewd politicians and commercial
pirates of two continents struggled to get con-
troll Of the carefully protected funds. At last a
new contract hao been placed with an American
firm, and the purchase and hasty equipment OF
the Mercedita made the first step in the renewal
Of actual operations.
Following promptly in her wake a larger
steamer, the Metropolis, with o15 passengers
chiefly laborers. set out for the same destina-
tion, only to be wrecked, three days later on
This catastrophe had the effect of considerably
oamping popular enthusiasm over the expedi-
tion, and the City of Richmond, which put out
next, was compelled to ship among her four
hundred steerage passengers at least two hun
ored ignorant Italians whose entire subsequent
record was one OF suilen insubordination or open
revolt. At intervals of some weeks several sup ]
ply schooners were dispatched, and two tug
boats were chartered and sent out post haste
the Amazon At last. after vicissitudes of every
description. the little feet came Hmping, one by
one-each vessel with its own tale of misfortune
by the way-up the muddy Madeira River to |
San Antonio where the headquarters of the ex- |
pedtion had been established
Among the members of the engineering corps |
was young man by the name of Neville 3. |
Craig, and he stayed in the field until the final
abandonment Of the work Now, almost thirty /
years later he has written down the story, at |
the solicitation and with the assistance Of a |
company of his fellow survivors, who consti- |
tute what is known s ''The Madeira and |
Manaore Association" Simple and unassurning |
is his manner Of telling II, the narrative |
makes exciting reading. Not that iayman is |
likely TO peruse with great attentiveness the |
chapters setting forth the infinite complications |
legal and financial, that beset the enterprise, |
snd that led, than anything else TO its /
failure, but he must be man who can |
read without thrill the intimate story Of that |
little company OF engineers Stricken down /
with chills and fever, living On hardtack and |
water or nlush and rnolasses. with occasional |
parrot or tapir for luxury, often destitute OF /
medicine fit clothing decent shelter, and in |
frequent danger from savages. still they stuck /
70 their work until sheer weakness-or death |
fnterposed.
Failure was not to be laid at their door, GER
tainly. II they had been given any fair back
ing il is safe to declare that the work would |
have been put through The financial diff
cuities OF the contractors due to the tying up /