The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-03-28
ROOSEVELT PARTY WRECKED.
LOSES ALL EQUIPMENT IN BRA
LILLIAN RIVER.
No foar for Safety But Family and
Friends, However, Anxiously Await
Further Details OF His Mishap.

NeW tOrk, March Z3.--Col. Theo-
dore Roosevelts family and friends
are anxiously awaiting further ad-
vices about the accident by which his
party lost it's entire equipment in the
rapids Of n Brazilian river. While
no concern. IL was stated, was felt
Tor the coloners safety, yet his fam
ny wanted To learn details OF the ac-
sisent and whether the expedition
would be abandoned. especially as the
party was so far from the equipment
base.
News OF the mishap came in a brief
message from Anthony Fiala. q MEM
Der OF the party. 1t was dated at San
tarem. Brazil. yesterday and read:
I'VE have lost everything in the
rapids. Telephone my wife Of my
safety"
Santarem Is in Para State at the
confluence OF the Tapajos river with
the Amazon and the dispatch was
probably sent there by courier. The
accident In all probability occurred
on an unknown river which Theodore
Roosevelt. Jr.. today said his father
In n letter to him had called the Rio
Duivata or River Of Doubt"
Col Roosevelt in q letter written
January 1s' from Tapirapoan in Matto
trail part OF Brazil and received last
week by Frank NJ. Chapman of the
American Museum OF Natural History,
said that he expected to explore this
unknown river. He wrote:
I'VE 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 head waters
OF an unexplored river. II my health
continues good, as i expect. 1 think
Il possible that 1 will 20 down this
river To try and find out where 1t
comes out, taking Kermit. Fialia and
Cherrie with me as we'll as Col. Ron
iana
Meanwhile the rest OF the party,
including Miller. will go straight to
Madeira and come down that to
forecast as to the time that will be re-
quired."
'Headwaters OF the unknown river
which Col. Random at one time cross
AA Tt~I Tn
ters. are In Matto Crosse. between the
hadeira and Tapajos rivers, two
great streams which flow northward
TO join the Amazon.
What equipment was necessary to
make the trip down this unknown
river Is largely matter OF conjec-
tprs.
Col Roosevelt does not state in
any OF his letters what means of
transportation he would use in de-
scending the stream. 1t is believed
that nothing heavier than canoes
could have been carried on the 500
mile journey on horseback from the
headwaters OF the Paraguay to the
River OF Doubt"
The great danger i'm descending the
streams that flow northward to Brazil
TO Join the Amazon is In tho many
rapids and falls. The plateau, extend
ing through Paraguay and Brazil for
900 miles. which is on the average
5000 To 1000 feet above sea level,
slopes abruptly TO the floor OF the
OF the greatest waterfalls in the
world are found In these tributaries.
IL 10 possible that after the expedi-
ton lost the equipment the members
continued on their way down stream
on RATS or on foot IL IL probable that
their journey took them To the Ta-
pajas and that some of the parties
went on down the river to Santarem
and 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, IL Is understood here, as the
colonel had Indicated no would ship
them before he entered the Brazilian
wilds. The loss in the rapids, outside
% food. arms. camp material and in
struments. undoubtedly includes the
birds and animals killed and photo
graphs taken from the time the party
started on the horseback trip over the
plateau.
Col. Roosevelt has planned to ar
rive next month at Manaos From
there he was to start for Madrid to
attend the marriage of his son, Ker-