The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-29

business, but he runs a risk, for he
must sbe there himself to look after
his business and the fever is always
waiting for him"
How Rubber Is Gathered.
Mr.. Eberhardt told of how rubber is
gathered. native starts out on his
round of trees carrying a machete and
number of little tin cups. He goes up
to rubber tree and slasheS 1t with his
machete clear through the bark. Then
he placed his cup below the wound and
goes on to other trees and repeats the
performance. A milky substance flows
from the wound in the tree into the
cup. Later he gathers up his cups
and pours their contents into a large
vessel which he carries to a fire made
of wood that smokes rather than burns.
He pours the contents of the vessel on
sticks and smokes it over this fire. The
milk congeals into rubber as soon as
1t comes in contact with the smoke
and heat. This is rubber, and all there
is to the performance 1t sells for
dollar pound and is used here in
Topeka largely for automobile tires.
Mr.. Eberhardt said that Just before
he left Iquitos the rubber market had
been shot all to pieces. The price had
fallen off so per cent. They could not
account for it down there, as the de-
mand was as great as ever. They were
finally forced to the conclusion that the
big dealers were manipulating the
! prices. If they lived in the United
States they would know they were
about to be sripped by a trust.
The young consul told an interesting
story of how he went UP the Amazon
| with party in a launch and got stuck
| on a mud bank and had to stay there
70 days. Mr.. Eberhardt suffered from
two attacks of fever, the last time
nearly giving up the ghost. Indeed.
| they had reported him dead. But
was too tough a Kansan to be squelch-
| ed by tropic fever" he said, laugh
ing now over his terrible experience.
I'VE live on canned goods there"
| he said. THE only fresh meat OBJ
months journey from the mountains
It is impossible to raise fresh vegeta-
bles on account of the bugs and in
sects. A few Of the Cinnamon succeed
in raising small gardens by sitting on
| guard all the time and fighting off the
| insects. The poisonous reptiles that
| give the most trouble are the little
| viper snake about 16 inches long whose
| bite Is instant death, and the big boa
| constructor that brushes its Victims -
Ex-Kansas Tennis Champion.
Mr.. Eberhardt was reared in Salina,
and in company with his brothers,
John and Fred. will be remembered by
John won the state tennis hampton
ship in doubles here in 1891. Another
brother was great bicycle rider.
This Kansas boy has had q wonder
| full experience in the tropics. It takes
more nerve to go down there and live
than to stand out on the firing line, vet
this young man talks quietly and pleas
antly Of his life in Iquitos and has
many nice things to say about the
country and it's people. This young
man who has braved the dangers and
withstood the ennui of a little station
In the tropics and still remains full
of cheerful enthusiasm, should and
will rise to the top in his chosen pro-
fsssion of diplomacy.
He exploded one old time theory in
his conversation Tuesday when he
spoke of the danger of going swim
ming in the Amazon. Not even the
natives will enter the water EXCEPT or
extraordinary occasions. But it is the
electric fish they fear and not the aIli-
gators as popularity supposed. There
is danger from the gators but nothine
compared to that from the electric
hsh. They are to be found in the rive
In shoals and If they come in contac,
with man the shock will render hin
lnsensible at once and he will drowr
unless rescued. These fish are as hsf
hardt. 1SeA