The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-03-26
ROOSEVELT PARTY
LOSES STORES IN
WILDS or Brazil

sSSW 1Ork, March 24.-COl. Theodore
RodseYelt's family and friends anx-
lousy awaited further advices today re-
gardtng the accident by which his party
LOST ITS entire equipment in the rapids
OF a Brazilian river.
While nc concern 1t was stated. was
felt for the safety Of the former presi-
dent, 1t was desirable to learn lust how
and when the accident occurred and
whether or not the expedition would
be abandoned, especially as the party
was so far from q base where new
equipment could be acquired. The
news IT the mishap came in a brief
message from Anthony Fiala, a mem
Der of the party. 1t was dated at San
tarfn, Brazil, yesterday, n read:
We have lost everything in the
rapids, Telephone my wife of my
safety"
Santarem is in the state of Para, at
the confluence of the Tapajos river
with the Amazon and the dispetCh was
probably sent there by courier.
In WiIds Of Brazil.
The accident in sill probability oc-
Cured on an unknown river which
Theodore Roosevelt, jr., today said his
father in a letter to him had called the
Rio DuiFata or River of Doubt"
Colo.sG Roosevelt in a letter written
on january 10, from T~apirapoan, in
Matte ScossN a province in the south,
~ CSlNIdl p part II 9oTdZll, dllu ISCEltCu
last week by Frank M. Chapman or tae
American Museum of Natural History,
said hat he expected to explore this
unknown river. He wrote:
We, are now about to go into the
real wilderness where, we shall have to
travel light and can hardly collect any
big animals. In a month or six weeks
we shall reach the headwaters of an
UNEMPLOYED river. II my health con-
tinuas good as I expect. l think it pos
sible that ] will go down this river to
try and n GSS where 1t out,
taking Kermit ,SSala and Cherrie with
me, as well as Colonel Rondon and n
or two OF the Brazilians.
meanwhile, the rest of the party, in
Guiding Miller, viii go straight to Ma
deria and thence to Manaos. Miller
VIII then collect nround Manaos and
elsewhere until Kermit, Cherrie and l
turn up. 1t is not possible to give q
forecast as to the time that will be rT
CURED"
EquipnSnt Mt Known.
The headwaterS = the unknown nv
which Colonel Rondon at that time
crossed, according to Colonel Roose-
yeEfss letters, are in Matte Crosse, be-
tween the MADEIRA n the Tapajos
, riVers. two great streams which flow
northward to join the Amazon.
ea What equipment Colonel Roosevelt's
party was to take on the trip down
y, this unknown river Is largely a mat
ter of conjecture. After leaving the
Upper Parana and Paraguay rivers,
wbRch flow southwark and join the Rio
De La Plata, the party had to traverse
the plateau extending through Para
quay and Brazil, a trip of 500 miles
or 50. This the party had safely
crossed on horseback, according to
telegraph advice which came through
nirye days age.
Qulonel Roosevelt does not state in
any of his letters what mea of trans
paffation he would use in descending
the unknown river. 1t is believed that
nothing heavier than canoes could
have been carried on the 500-mile
Journey ON horseback from the head
waters of the Paraguay to the River
Of Doubt"
THE great danger in descending the
streams that flow nOrthWard in Brazil
to join the Amazon is in the many
rapids and falls. The plateau, which is
on the average 5000 to 1000 feet above
the sea level, slopes abruptly to the
floor of h Amazon valley. For this
reason some of the greatest waterfalls
In the world are found in these trib-
utaFies.
Supplies Believed Lost.
It is possible tina after the expedi-
ton lost the equipments, he members
Continued on their way down stream
on RATS or on foot 1t is probable
that their journey took them to the
Tapajos, n some members of the
party vent on down the river to a n
tarem or sent a messenger ahead to
that place.
The specimens OF natural history
collected by the party On its trip up
the Parana and Paraguay rivers are
safe, ii is understood here, as the COL
onel had indicated he would ship
them before he entered the Brazilian
wilds. The loss in the rapids, outside
of food, arms, camp material and in
struments, undoubtedly included the
birds and animals killed and photo
graphs taken from the time the party
started on the horseback trip over the
plateau.
,Co'clel Roosevelt, according to
plans he had mapped out, expected to
arrive next month at Manaos. From
there he was to start for Madrid, to
attend the marriage OF his son Kermit
s to Miss Belle Willard, daughter Of the
American ambassador.