Evening star., 1915-04-03
TALKS ON EXPEDITION
WITH COL. ROOSEVELT
Anthony Fiala, Member Of South
American Party. Lectures Before
National Geographic Society.
Calls Former President Capital Trav-
cling Companion and Best OF
Jungle Mates.

Anthony F'iaIa, who was member OF
the Roosevelt South AmWican expedl-
tion of l9l3-14 and who explored on
his own account a hitherto unknown
river course, lectured before members
of the National Geographic society
upon Brazil yesterday afternoon ana
last night at the New Masonic Temple
Mr. Fiala traced the path OF MS eN-
pedition up to the point in the Brazilian
wilderness where he left Col. Roose-
velt's party. From this point Col.
Roosevelt and his companion plunged
deeper into the jungle to fnd the hlVer
of Doubt, while Mr.. Fiala began dash
through the rapids of an unknown
.iyerway, in the course Of which ne
nearly lost his life.
AS a preface to his lecture, Mr. Flala
told his hearers that he had founo Sol-
Roosevelt capital travelling compah
ion and the best of jungle mates. Ihe
Man which led TO Col. Roosevelts ac-
tivities as an explorer of the RlVer OF
Doubt in the heart of Brazil was
adopted at the suggestion OF some
friends while the party was pelng en-
tertained in Rio de Janelro. MT. siala
said. Mr.. Fiala was sent ahead 70
choose a strategic point for the launch-
ing of the undertaking, and chose
place far up the Paraguay river, d
place, he said, which is known as the
Hell Of Brazil" People farther down
the river warned him that this town
was the worst in Brazil, in 1act' the
worst in the world. They told him that
it was populated by persons pf whom
no one could say why they had CONS
except the police of the native iahos
that they had left behind
Justifes Nickname of Place.
~ 1;,,, n,ant;oned nv Way of justi-
fving the lurid nickname of the place.
that the temperature there was found to
vary between "a and ia degrees. and on
the hottest days the humidity "ouio ue
around ss. In this town Mr.. Fiala await
ed the coming Of the Roosevelt party
The people of the place. he said maue
ara.+ nrenarations to receive Col Roose-
yeIt They employed two men to sweep
the city's streets and then approached
local American dentist TO learn what tne
American flag looked like, SO tnat one
might be made to grace the uistihs suiSeo
Americans arrival
The expedition left this point with heavy
equipment and a large number OF Brazll-
ian officers in little river steamer: ",
the way up the river Col. Roosevelt anu
others of the party made numerous hui.
ing trips into the jungles Mr.: Roosevelt.
the lecturer said, proved himself 10 pc Ut
terly untiring on these occasions. On one
such trip Col Roosevelt and number OF
others got lost in the jungle Finaiiy,
one of the laborers who had gone OUT "lta
the hunters, managed 10 Hlahe MS way
back to the boat.
He told those who had remained pc
hind that the others OF the huntins
party were a considerable distance up
the river. The boat made haste up
stream. stood by at a hail from the
colonel, and discovered that only ne
and one other had managed to keep
on their feet through the long hours
of tedious jungle progress. The rest
Thoroughly exhausted. comfortably
stretched on their backs, their shoes
off, waiting for rescue.
Catches Man-Eating Fish.
Mr.. Fiala told of fierce fish found
in the Paraguay river, which have been
known to attack man when he exposed
himself within range Of their apetites.
He stated that the party, however, got
even with these fish by catching and
eating them. He spoke, also. Of the
numerous insect pests Of the jungles.
Among these. he singled out the sweat
ing bee for disapproval. This insect. he
said, gets into ones ear, eyes and mouth,
though it does not bite. proves decidedly
emba rrassing. One day. he said. he
counted $50 bites upon one hand, and 200
bites upon the other. when, in fit OF
discouragement. he gave up counting
The lecturer said that In Rio de Janeiro,
the most beautiful harbor in the world,
and In the harbor of Buenos Aires he
was unable to discover among the acres
and acres of boats single American flag.
He pointed out several times in the course
of the lecture that the South American
countries are making rapid progress, and
that their great sister republic to the
north should increase its endeavors to
become better known among them.