South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-06-08
Indiana Educated Physician
Brings Back Story from
Columbia.
60 . 80 News-Time, /.


clan played in its production. is a
story that centers around DR.. Frank
D. Martin, who has been visiting
here az the guest OF Mrs. Arthur
McCuntock his sister.
In 1915. with the clouds Of the
world war coming ever closer 10 the
United States. the nation found that
there was an alarming shortage OF
ne famous metal. which occupied
such an important place in the great
struggle. The mines OF Russia were
closed and other small sources Of
supply exhausted With war newt
ably before her. the United states
could look for no adequate source
Of supply OF platinum save from the
mines OF Colum bia, and they were
in the middle Of the densest Of South
American jungles. where few white
men cared TO venture.
When the Call Came.
In 1916, too. war seemed only a
matter OF days or weeks TO DR.. Mar
tin. and ne decided that he wished
20 be in the navy when the big night
came on. He applied, but could not
be admitted at that time. His let
tiers and credentials. however, ap-
pealed to officials OF the department.
who turned them over 10 members
OF the department Of commerce and
labor. They wrote 20 him that II
ne was really in earnest about serv-
ing his country and would be willing
10 undertake "A mission, perhaps
more deadly than the firing line,
they wanted him at once.
He went. They explained the sit
uation The concession for platinum
mining i'm Columbia had been obtain
ed by man who had lived in the
country for seventeen years and who
understood conditions. Operations
had been begun by British capital
but they had been taken over by
American interests through Adolph
I,ewisOhn Sons. Of New York city,
now known as the Pacific Metals
Corporation. and the entire output
contracted for by the United States
government.
The mines must be run at full
capacity Skilled engineers and OPP
eratives from northern countries
were needed They could not live
unless the camp was absolutely san
itary. and they were kept in the
most favorable surroundings. A
camp surgeon and physician in
charge OF sanitation was needed i'm
mediately. Would he go? He was
willing TO try II.
Port of Buena Ventura.
Dr Martin sailed alone from New
A
the port OF Buena Ventura. Here
he met an engineer from New Yea
land bound for the mines and they
made the trip together in the COM
pany steamship that navigated the
San Juan river. The course is slow
and dangerous, for nightly rains
swell the rivers and cause constantly
shifting sand bars. Twice on theU
trip torrential rains changed the
course OF the river while they were
anchored and left them high and
dry on a sand bank. where they had
to remain until there was a favor
able shift i'm their direction The
last twenty miles of the trip had to
be made in the tiny handmade can
oes OF the natives.
Dificulties in getting supplies
made the operation of the camp haz-
ardous. Everything that came in
had TO be brought either in the
canoes or in the big native dugouts-
which were often made from logs
40 feet long and six feet across.
and propelled by poles However
DR. Martin said. before ne left no
thought they had obtained every
thing in the way that "A white man
needed, from safety razors 10 play
er pianos.
Platinum is obtained entirely by
dredges which operate in the Con-
dota and IrO rivers. tributaries 10
the san Juan. They are in contin-
nous operation day and night, SER
les OF 1.OOO-pound buckets. each
carving a load Of about one-half
ward or gravel. which are dumped
into a revolving sieve thirty feet
above the floor OF the dredge. The
platinum. the heaviest substance
known. is procured by gravity, as
the sand and water gradually wash
down ever an inclined plane nlled
with .depressions or cOrrugatiOus.
Found i'm Small Grains.
In these river beds, platinum Is
found in small grains almost pure.
sometimes iron is with it in small
quantities but il is removed by mag
nets. As soon as enough is taken
out To MI one of the boxes in which
il is shipped. that box, worth from
$4,000 10 500, 600. is sent down 10
the steamship by native in &C noe.
That. Dr. Martin says. Is one or
the most remarkable things there.
Ignorant and superstitiOus as these
natives are. they are honest As
the black skinned riverman bows
and backs of 10 start on his mission.
in "A canoe that is not over eight
inches in depth. but in which he
paddles standing. the distance OF
twenty miles. threading two rapids,
these is only one danger and that Is
that the canoe viii overturn.
To combat this ever present dlfh-
Guilty there is a wood. lighter than
cork. a piece OF which on the end
OF a forty-foot rope. is tied 20 every
box that goes out. If there is spill
the native first secures his canoe and
then goes hack IN where the wood