The Washington herald., 1910-08-14

To have encircled the entire South
American continent within three years,
to have been the first white woman TO
set foot upon many points reached by
her In her travels. and 10 have endured
hardshps and privstions that many
women could not survive-this is the
proud record Of Mrs Harriet Chalmers
Adams. writer, lecturer, and traveller, Of
Washington.
Mrs. Adams is the wife Of Franklin
Adams. editor Of the Bulletin OF the
international Bureau OF American Re
publics. says the Baltimore Sun.
A Californian by birth. as is also her
husband. Mrs. Adams became interested
In the early Spanish history OF her native
State. This led her to study the Latin
American republics. and before Mr.
Adams became identified with the Blu
reau Of American Republics she had ac-
companied him on an extensive trip
/ through Mexico and Central America
Then. starting from Panama, the couple
travelled southwark through Ecuador.
Peru, Chile, Patagonia. Argentina, Bra
I'll, Guiana, Venezuela, Colombia, and
other countries. inclu6ing the West In
dies, making a trip Of approximately
5000 miles.
On this trip Mrs. Adams endured great
hardships in the Andean highlands and
! on the forest frontiers. Eucador was
visited first, the port OF entry being
Guayaqull The railroad between that
port and the highland capital OF Quito
had not then been constructed, and the
trip was made on horseback or in the
| crude conveyances that were a featIre
OF travel In that section in that perIod.
Peru was traversed for its entire length
and breadth BY means Of the second
highest railroad in the world. connecting
Mollendo. the main port. with Lake Tit
caca and Ia Pas. Bolivia, the Americans
journeyed TO that point in the highlands.
| from which they started on a saddle
trip Of 1000 miles across the Andes.
The way from Tirspata, which IS II,0OO
/ feet above the sea level led TO the third
and highest chain OF the Andes. the
I great Cordillera. which was crossed at
the Pass OF Arizona. 1900 feet above the
I sea
The trail then brought Mrs. Adams
down the 100 feet Of mountain into the
/ savage country of the Peruvian Montana,
which marks the borders OF Brazil. Here
the saddle trail ended. the Journey was
! resumed on foot through great forests
! and by canoe. In this vast section the
wild Indians. known as the Chunchos, not
to speak Of Wild beasts, monkeys, and
bird afe in wonderful variety. were en-
/ countered. Returning to the highlands.
CuzO and other prehistoric cities OF the
Incas were visited. and the Andes again
were crossed into forest country far
Their 20 the north.
/ On Foot Through Forests.
The Adams party visited chile some
/ months later. and after calling al its
! chief cities Terra del Fuego was gone
over. At Punta Arenas a sailing vessel
was chartered and visit paid to the
southernmoSt port in "Argentine-Pata-
gonia." Through Patagonia they Jour
neyed to Buneos Ayres, and up the great
/ river highway, the La Plata, Parana.
! and Paraguay. to the wilds OF Matte
| Crosse. Brazil. and Eastern Bolivia.
Returning to the Parana. the party went
/ up the Alta Parana 10 the falls OF the
Igauzu. the only rival OF Niagara on the
Western Hemisphere.
! Mrs. Adams is the iEst woman 70 make
the journey along the coast from the
Amazon river TO Cheyenne, French Gui-
ana. a cattle boat to the oyapoc ri-er
being employed. With her husband she
spent three months in the forests with
the Indians and Bosch negroes, known
as the wild negroes OF the bush. The
| three Guianas were visited. canoes and
sailing vessels being the sole means OF
conveyance a launch was used in the
| exploration OF the Orinoco river. After
some months spent in Venezuela, Colon
bia, and in steaming UP the Magdalena
River. the Adamses returned TO Panama,
their starting point.
That journey Of this kind should have
been marked by lively Adventures is nos
surprising. bA It is surprising that Mrs.
Adams should regard as commonplace
and uninteresting events which in the
lives OF other women would stand as
startling epOchs Her most interesting
experience. because Of its extreme peril.
was met with In the Andes. when the
Adams party was caught in a driving
blizzard on the shoulder Of Mount Mystic.
at an altitude OF 1900 feet
I'VE found a herd OF Hamas. and we
crept IN among them and nestled close to
the animals said Mrs. Adams. Il pill
lowed my head on the warm fur OF one
and got my feet under the body Of an
other. slept warm and comfortably. as
did all the rest OF US. It was a queer,
but enjoyable, experience, and although
the altitude at times almost bafled our
efforts to reach the top. we managed TO
make the climb
Her Only Illness.
Although Mrs Adams health had In
her early life been deemed delicate, dur
ing her three years Of travel she never
/ had a days illness. except once when she
ate OF fowl killed with a poisoned ar
row. She and her husband at that time
were without guides and the nearest
| doctor was two days away by steam
| boat Mrs Adams drank plenty OF
milk supplied by the natives, and al
though at one time her husband deSpaired
of saving her, she recovered and was
able to resume her journey after a
weeks delay
On one of their side journeys in the
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