Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-07-31
ROOSEVELT WILLING
TO Be LEFT BEHIND
Critical Moment in South Amer
lean Exploration Trip Touched
upon by George X. Cherrie,
Companion of Former Presi-
dent, in Lecture Saturday

IAN of us cannot get through. Some
one must be left behind. I want you and
Kermit to go ahead and leave me here"
In these words did the late Colonel
Theodore Roosevelt, dangerously i'll and
giving up hope of ever seeing civiliza-
ton again, announce his willingness to
make the supreme sacrifice that others
might live to get 10 the mouth of the
River of Doubt which his party was ex-
ploring through the wildernesses of South
America. The story of this wonderful
journey was told Saturday evening be-
fore good-slzed audience gathered under
the auspices of the Green Mountain club
in the large dining room of the Hotel Van
Ness by George X. Cherrie. naturalist
and explorer. who was Colonel Roose-
velt's closest companion on this trip of
exploration.
Mr. Cherries lecture was profusey
illustrated by some of the best colored
slides seen in Burlington in many day.
T. S. Dean of this city assisted in the lee
ture by handling the lantern. The story
of the exploration of the River of Doubt
lasted nearly two hours and a half, but
was so interesting that the listeners were
held in rapt attention during the entire
time, and at the close the speaker was
loudly cheered.
early days Of America, or in the perilous
opening up of the continent of Africa,
have more thrills than that of the voyage
down the River Dubita," as it was
called by the explorers. The river was
later chrstened Roosevelt River" by Col.
Rondon. the official representative of the
Brazilian government on this trip, and
the stream Is now known by that name.
For many weeks, the exploring party.
made up of Col. Roosevelts personal
party representatives. of the Brazilian
government, and native canoemen and
hunters braved the dangers of the un-
known forests, facing death many times
in the dangerous rapids of the river in
the clash with wild tribes along the
banks from wild animals and, most SER
ious of all, from the lack Of food. Again
and again they were forced to make long
portages around dangerous rapids and
falls in the river until so much time had
been taken up that they feared the food
! supply would not last, Then they began
to take chances on running these rapids
and time after time they lost their canoes
having them crushed to pieces on the
rocks, carrying down their supplies and
in one case carrying off one of their
canoemen.
Twice they had to stop and build
new canoes because they had not
enough left to carry the party. This
/ took time and time was precious lot
each time that a canoe was lost IL
meant a loss of food, and this was
doubly dangerous because IT was prac-
tically impossible to get food along
the way, it being the rainy season.
when the banks Of the river were in
undated for many miles on each side.
Ia q
and very little else which could be USED
as food could be found.
Several times they ran into hostile
tribes but were lucky in escaping with
out casualties. The danger of being
surrounded and overpowered was al
ways present however. Then when
they had travelled for days and days
without reaching any sign of civiliza-
ton, and without being able to find
food, the natives, hungry and discour-
aged, became mutlnous and started
feuds among themselves which threat
oned to deprive the party of it's canoe
men. Only one of the natives was
killed in the outbreak. however.
| In one-of the canoe accidents, Ker-
NIT Roosevelt nearly lost his life,
being saved almost by miracle. His
canoe, which was in the lead, was
swept into unusually dangerous rapids
and whirlpools and crushed between
the rocks One of his two canoemen
was never seen again. He and the
other native were miraculously swept
in toward the shore and saved.
Colonel Roosevelt was taken i'll about
the time the first canoe was lost and
grew continually worse. 1t was when
the food was practically gone, the mem
bers of the party were half-starved
tired out and wholly discouraged by
the hard times and the failure to reach
any signs of civilization, while long
canyon of whirling rapids had just
been sighted bringing gloom upon all
that Colonel Roosevelt, who had just
come out of a delirious condition, called
to Mr.. Cherrie and asked that he be left
behind, as it seemed practically impos-
sible that all of them could get out
alive.
Mr.. Cherrie and Kermit Roosevelt
though almost as much discourage ed
themselves, finally convinced Colonel
Roosevelt that they could all get
through. Then for four days the party
rushed through the dangerous rapids
making the trip in safety and coming
out in the broad, still river once more
This proved to be the last dangerous
spot, and a few days later the smolder-
ing embers of campfire were located
on the rivers bank, showing that they
were nearing civilization again. The
river proved to be one of the great
Tributaries to the Amazon, and at the
mouth of the stream they found a relief
expedition awaiting them, the Brazil.
ian government having sent relief
steamer to the mouth of every river II
that vicinity in order to be sure ant