Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-01-06


never returned and we were caution
ed to avoid it.
My companion, Mailer, and myself
these women must belong to the race
Of Amazons Of which reports have
reached the outer world, and we made
up our minds to investigate for our
selves. We questioned the natives
carefully as to the whereabouts Of the
village and continued on our way.
It was here that we became totally
lost. Our sense Of direction disap-
peared entirely and for days and days
we wandered about time and time
again recrossing our own path. After
three weeks Of this sort Of thing, dur
ing which time two more Of our men
died from fever, we finally straighten-
ed ourselves out. BY this time there
was but Mahler, myself and three
natives left.
One evening about sunset, while
making camp, I suddenly became
aware Of a faint sweet odor that per-
vaded the air. This. however, prov
ed Elusive, and I could not locate It
and I persuaded myself that was
mistaken. A little later, however.
Mahler called my attention to It. It
seemed to come from the north, and
was a strange sweet pungent odor.
It was something very different than
I have ever before smelled. It had the
fragrance Of rose and the delicacy Of
lily. 1t srnelled as though 1t had its
origin in some great exotic, but It had
a peculiar quality about It. It had a
strange subtle quieting influence like
a narcotic.
We wondered II we had stumbled
upon that of which we had been warn
ed. The next morning we started
northward AS we advanced the odor
became greater in strength. We sud-
denly became aware Of the quietude
Of the surrounding Jungle Heretofore
we had been surrounded by animal
life. Monkeys and rodents had throng-
ed the trees and scampered across our
paths chattering at us with the ut
most fearlessness. Now there was none
Of this, and animal life was totally
absent.
AS we progressed we came from
time to time upon little mounds Of
bones as though whatever 1t might
have been man or beast, II had been
overtaken where 1t was with death.
Farther on we came upon the skele-
ton Of what had been a man.
All this time the smell which had
first been Elusive, subtle and delicate
continued to grow in strength until II
became sickening in its sweetness.
suddenly became aware Of strange
languor that seemed to enfold me.
Together Mahler and myself pressed
forward eagerly. The. smell was nau-
seating, but yet 1t had an attraction
that was irresistible. It was then
noticed the actions Of my companion.
He walked along like one in daze.
His eyes were glazed and they had In
them a strange stare. Now and again
he staggered like a drunken man.
For an instant wondered, then the
story Of the native occurred to me.
and I understood. The mounds Of
bones were explained, and the thought
obsessed me that we must turn back
while there was yet time; but still !
continued to go forward against my
will. With a supreme effort of the
will I turned about and taking Nah
ler's arm lead him back the way we
had come. He seemed more greatly
affected, for he had lost his will en-
tirely, and went back muttering to
himself like a man in a delirium.
1t was three days before Mailer re-
covered his normal senses, and when
he did, we continued on our way.
Making a wide detour to get away
from the vicinity, we struck to the
northwest.
Whether or not the story Of the ma
tive about the village of women Is
correct, do not profess to know. but
/ proved to my own satisfaction that
there is something in what the native
said, for this plant OF whatever It may
be exudes an odor tia. Is fatal in its :
sweetness.
After several weeks journey we
arrived at the Javaru river, and 1t was
here that our greatest misfortune ov-
ertook us. Mailer was seized with a
series Of chills that developed into
the dreaded fever. We made all speed
forward, but he rapidly became worse.
Despite the application Of the remedies
at hand, he became worse and grew
delirious. Making camp I endeavored
to nurse him through his illness, but
without avail He succumbed to the
attack, and we buried hira there in the
jungle, leaving him alone with no
company but that Of chattering mon
keys and crawling, writhing snakes
and rodents.
Accompanied by three Of the ma
tives that formed the original party,
I continued on my way alone. We fol-
lowed the course Of the river until we
came out on the banks Of the Amazon,
where after few days travelling we
arrived at Iquitos. After a short rest
I took a Booth line boat to Para,
where disembarking, took boat to
the Barbados, where I boarded the
Tennyson.
State registration and state license
fees for motor vehicles in South Car