Jackson County sentinel. (Gainesboro, Tenn.) 1914-current, 1921-09-22

A tragic story OF the suicide q twN
American youths, crazed by fever II q
remote village Of the United States q
Colombia Is contained In Q lett@
to the New York Times from "a
r. Lockard of B0gota. Colombia
Writing under date of May 10. Mr.
LOckard said that the victims were twa
Of party Of four Americans prospect
ing for an oil company. The embalmed
body Of one Of them, s. Davenport
Bridge, son Of s. ID. Bridge Of Mon,
terey, Mexico, well known az q mining
man and assayer, had arrived at BO-.
gotta few days before the letter was
written In accordance with his dying
request that It be shipped to his
mother In Texas.
In Quest for OIL.
As related by Mr.. LOckard, the fsur,
Americans arrived In Bogota several
months ago and started an expedition
into the interior that was destined to
be fraught with almost Incredible hard
ships. The expedition started for the
pampas of San Martin on the quest for
oil, the plan being to enter BY way
Of Villavicencio and to leave By way
Of Medina.
The party left Bogota well equipped
with tents, many trunks, books, provi-,
siOns, arms and ammunition and con-
siderable amount Of money in American
gold. One Of the party was nearly
killed By q jaguar and all four nearly
lost their lives at the treacherous fore
Of q river. Here only the surefootsd-
ness and ability to swim Of the mules
they bestrode brought them to safety.
The poems who accompanied them
several times unsuccessfully urged
them to return.
Finally Bridge and another WHOSE
name was not learned became Ill with
fever. These were the two youngest Of
the party, and their companions with
great difficulty brought them into tina
little village Of Gachala, where they OBJ
tained Accommodations at q small
hotel, kept By a woman with six
children.
Lack Of adequate care caused the
condition Of the two sick men to be-
come worse, as the only remedy they
had at hand was quinine and whisky.
A telegram was sent to Bogota rs-
questing that physician and clergy
man be sent to them and, In the mean
time. recourse was had to a native
physician. The latter's homemade
remedies distilled from roots and
herbs, did not prove Immediately sffec-,
live, and the native physician took
offense at remarks to this effect and
refused to give further treatment
Call for Help.
Other kilograms for help were sent
to Bogota, and finally reply was re-
ceived that a physician would arrive
from that city on certain day. Dur,
ing the night before this physician
was expected to arrive, all in the
hotel were awakened BY q fusillade Of
shots, coming from rooms on the sec
ond story.
The door Of Bridges room and that
Of his iii companion were forced BY
their companions, and 1t was found
that they had killed themselves with
revolvers. Similar notes were found,
saying that each found 1t impossible
to endure the pain Of the fever longer.
Bridge, in addition, asked that his
body be embalmed and sent to his
mother In Texas.
Bridge, who was n years old. had
$4,000 in gold in money belt around
his body. Claims for part Of the money
were made at once by some Of the VIII
layers. The native physician was said
to have collected $3.50 for services, and
the woman proprietor Of the hotel $3.50.
while the poems, who took Bridges
body to Sopo, the nearest railroad
point, divided $1,000. The body g