Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-06

| was second mate Of the British
steamer Forward during her two years
OF exploration in the mouth Of the
Amazon, and no other field could have
been selected to furnish more daily
adventure.
The Forward carried two six-pound
cannon as her armament, and when
loaded drew only FIVE feet Of water.
We were conveyed from Georgetown,
in British Guiana, by a man-of-war
and a brig, the latter to anchor where
our captain directed and remain as
store ship and a haven for us In case
of disaster.
We had steam launch and two
yawls for exploration where the steam
er could not go, and there were six of
us out in the launch one day making
soundings in a great bend, when
monster crocodile rose to the surface
close beside US. lunged forward and
had his head and one leg over the gun
vale before any one saw him. The
engineer had a Ratchet within reach,
and with this he gave the reptile such
blow as made him draw off and sink
out of sight. The launch had scarcely
righted herself. however. when a full
dozen more of the saurians rose to the
attack. We should have been capsized
and every man deyoured alive had we
been in one Of the yawls. AS it was,
we drove ahead full speed and outran
them. though some Of them pursued US
for half a mile, and We were nearly
swamped with the water splashed into
| the boat. A few days later, one after
| noon as the steamer came to anchor in
| a channnl, the anchor must have drop
ped among a bed of sleeping crOco-
| dies They rose all about us, Kissing
and splashing. and this excitement
brought up others until sixty-six enor
nous big fellows were to be counted
at one time. They attacked the steam
err with the utmost fury, and while
| their efforts were harmless their strug-
| giles rocked her as II she was at sea In
n gale.
| On another occasion one of these
monsters did US a good turn. | had
charge Of one of the yawls which was
sounding a channel. The men at the
oars were pulling slowly against the
current. while the one handling the
lead was casting and calling out when
zip. came a dart, from the sound 1t
made. Either shore was too far OF for
dart to reach US. Over our starboard
bow as We pulled ahead was long
tongue OF land reaching out from the
right hand shore and ending in a pile
of driftwood. The tongue had been ere
ated by drifting trees grounding on the
bottom and the silt collecting to make
bar. l stood up In the boat and took
long look. but could see nothing
ought to have been able to detect ever
rabbit anywhere on that tongue OIL
drift, as there were no bushes. bu,
nothing whatever was In sight. l wa.
in the act of sitting down, almost sat
isfed that We had all been deceived
when a second arrow whisked so clos,
to my cheek that thought a bird ha(
darted for my eye.
"A close call. sir. and il was poi
soned dart at that" said one Of the mel
as dropped back to my seat. THE In
,, fernal wretch must be in that drift
wood. though l can't see him." adde,
the man with the lead line.
We held the boat stationary and pre-
pared to signal to the steamer. whicl
was mile below. when all Of a sud
den a fifteen foot crocodile landed OF
he tongue Of land and began crawling
toward the driftwood. He had jus
reached the pile when native VIII
mad been skillfully concealed rose II
with n cry OF despair, He had rec
or biowgun In his hands, and he mad
frantic motions TO us to save him. "
were consulting what TO do when tn
= crocodile made rush, drove him OF
the pile and followed after to cate
MIN 10 the water. AS we saw nothin
. of the man after that, We felt positiy