The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-08-22

sive gold. Some of them, he averred, were as
children and years old, while one of them
was of the size Of a full.grown woman Be-
sides these objects there were also there in
calculable treasures belonging to the cacique
and his vassals And beyond this great city,
the Spanards were assured were other larger
and richer cities belonging to powerful chief
tains, who governed countless subjects and
whose treasures of gold were far greater than
those of the lord of the imposing city which
their eyes were then rlveted
With such vast riches within their grasp the
adventures were beside themselves with joy.
And although they counted but 40 men all
told, they did not hesitate to attack a city
in which, as they had been appraised was
large and well-trained army. Putting spurs
to his horse, Van Hutton dashed forward, fol
lowed by his men, who all confidently expect
ed to be In a few hours the possessors of
prinoely fortunes. But a well-directed javelin
from the hand of an Omaguan Indian, which
seriously wounded the daring leader, suddenly
arrested the impetuous onset and compelled
the attacking party to beat a hasty retreat.
But $4,000 Omaguan warriors were soon in hot
pursuit and shortly after engaged the invaders
in battle. The Indians, however, notwith-
standing their vastly superior numbers were
defeated with great loss while the followers of
Won Hutton, under the command of Pedro de
Limpias, did not have single casualty. The
victors then returned to Nuestra Sehora, where
six months before they had left their nfirm
and incapacitated companions council of
war was then convened, in which it was de-
cided not to prosecute the enterprise so auspi-
ciousy begun without more men. These had
to be obtained from Coro But Won Hutton did
not live to realize his fond hopes, for he was
soon afterwards cruelty murdered through the
treachery of Pedro de Limpias, when those
who had taken part in the expedition disband-
ed without making any further attempt to gain
possession of the rich kingdom which they
had discovered and which they had already
considered as theirs by right of virtual con
quest.
Did Won Hutton really discover Ell Dorado?
He certainly thought SO, as did likewise his
brave followers. Fully cre5itinG what his in
dian guides had told him regarding the vast
treasures of gold kept in the temple of the
Omaguas, he concluded at once that the ca.
Clique of this tribe was no other than the long
sought-for "Gilded King" although he had no
ocular evidence of the fact or any tangible
proof of the existence of the great stores Of
gold and silver of which he had heard such
glowing reports AS to the city of the Oma-
guas, which, we are told was so large that it
extended beyond the range of vision, It was
manifestly the creation of an excited fancy
and as much of an exaggeration as the battle
of SO Europeans against 900 Indians.
1t could, at best, have been nothing more
than an agglomeration of villages, ard the pal
ace and temple far from being the imposing
edifice described, was but large matched
structure similar to those still seer in the re-
gon bordering the Equator
Be this, however, as it may, the tact remains
that Won Hutten's expedition created an extra
ordinary sensation both in the New and in the
Old World. Other Adventures had but heard
of FL Dorado, but the German commander and
his men had actually located him and had gazed
on his palace, which was an immense store
house of silver and gold Naturally they were
elated, for they had succeeded In achieving
what others had failed to accomplish The
Gilded Man was no longer mere chimera but
a being with local habtation and name"
He was the ruler of densely populated region
betaween the Guaviare and the Amazon and his
people were known as Omaguas. Thencefor-
ward the name Ell Dorado was coupled with
that of the Amaguas and both names were re-
garded as synonymous with inexhaust'A"
wealth.