The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-04-03
Mysterious Amphibian
Arouses Much Interest

hooSeNelI peileNeC tneTe mlSnC De
some huge survi ing amphibian in
the jungles of the Southern Andes,
such as recently has been describen
in cable dispatches from South Am
erica, and whel the former presi-
dent went on his expedition which
discovered the liver of Doubt he had
some idea Of looking for it.
John Barrett, late director of the
Pan-American Union and minister to
Argentina during President Roose-
velt's administration has just dis
closed that part of Colonel Roose-
velt's extraordinary plans which
hitherto are said to have been untold.
"On reading the first cabled re-
port" said Mr.. Barrett, "that Martin
Sheffield, an American of whom
have personal knowledge, had report
ed that he had seen what appeared
to be plesioasaurian monster or
huge amphibian swimming in the
waters of southern Andean jungle
years ago, in November, 1903, when
| was minister to Argentina, a clear
headed typical American prospector
and explorer, whose name l have for
gotten, came to the legation and in a
convincing way, proceeded to relate
to me story almost identical with
that now reported as told recently by
Sheffield, to the effect that he had
seen swimming in a lake a huge liz
ard-like moster with a curved neck
His expert discussion of the mineral
and timber resources of the Andean
plateaus anI plains convinced me
of his sincerity and responsibility. He
urged me to help him raise money in
either Argentina or the United States
preferably the latter, to outfit and
conduct an expedition to locate and
capture this extraordinary animal,
and begged me to write to President
Roosevelt about it and mention mis-
name because he had been associated
in some way witE Roosevelt in ,l.c
Cuban campaign.
although l gave him no promises.
50 said he would call again. Shortly
afterward | wrote President Roosevelt
n personal and unofficial letter refer
ring to this incident. In about
month and half, there came in the
legation pouch a personal letter from
the president written in his own
hand writing and expressing real in
terest in the story of this American
Iuhnnl hn cold hn xyo1l r,I
and asking me to get without fail in
touch with him at once and ask him
to write all about what he had seen.
"The man meanwhile sent wurd
that he was off again on a mineral
and timber prospecting tour in south.
ern Argentina and Chile, but giving
no address and no names of those he
might represent.
-'In April, five months later, just
before I went to Panama as first
American Minister, received let
ter from the prospector written from
some far away place in Chubut, or
so-called Patagonia. He was almost
enthusiastic in his story of how he
had again found fresh trail of
strange animal leading to the waters
of lake, although he had not actual
ly again seen the beast as in his first
experience. This letter | at once for
warded to President Roosevelt and
am wondering if it is still in his ar
chives which may have been preserv-
ed. Since then / have never received
any further word from or about
this American prospector. Possibly
he may be alive and read this and
ton.
"When I returned to the United
States the first salutation President
Roosevelt gave me as | entered his
Office in the White House was: We'll,
old Pan-America, where is your Ar
eentine amphibian and what has hap
pened to e. - calling the mans
name. 1t is my impression that Rep.
Cannon and several other congress
men were in the room at the time and
they may recall this salutation be-
cause everybody seemed amused by
it.
"After the departure of the 9th
ers the president for half an hour
discussed, as an enthusiastic natural
list and scientist the possibility of
there being some huge surviving
amphibian descended from the an
cient plesiosaurian, and actually took
stock, so to speak, in the story of the
American prospector whom he said
he we'll remembered. / mentioned
the incident to Secretary Loeb as
left the presidents Office and he may
possibly recall my conversation.
Years later when Colonel Roose-
welt made his famous trip to South
America, he told me confidentially
just before sailing that, although he
had never heard anything further
from this American prospector, i
should not be surprised if, after his
arrival in Argentina, he decided to