New Britain herald., 1924-03-13
GOLD LURES YANKEE
 ID DEATH BY FEVER
George A. Lyman Hunts Fortune
 in Vain in Honduras
BY GEORGE II. MANNING.

1 kNasAlngton Bufeau or N. B. Herald) | Washington. D. C., March 13.-An-
 other story of 8 victim of the tropical
 jungles and the lure of gold, a story
 of lifelong losing struggle against
 the odds of 8 wild hill country and a
 vicious climate, ending in poverty,
 misery, disease, and finally a pauper's
 death, is the story of the events lead
 ing up to the end of George A. Ly- | man, formerly of Southport, Conn.,,
 which was received here today from ] Robert l.. Keiser, American consul at Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
 Lyman died in Tegucigalpa Febru-
 ary 12. His sister. Mrs. A. C. Muser
 of Southport, had reason to suspect that he had been the victim of foul play, since Lyman had written her
 several times that attempts had been
 made on his life. At her request, Congressman Schuyler Merritt of
 Stamford cabled the American consul
 for report. Consul Keiser was per-
 sonally acquainted with Lyman and
 was with him at his death, and his re-
 port tells the sad story of how he
 succumbed to the rigors of the tropi-
 cal climate.
 Lyman was d prospector engaged in banning for gold in the mountains of the State of Olancho. six days mule
 iolrney from Tegucigalpa. He was
 barely able to make a modest living. and frequently was aided by neighbors who had been more fortunate in their strikes of gold. Chief among these was Frank Hollenbeck, also of South port who had been attracted to Hon. duras by Lyman's letters, and who had a claim 10 or 1e miles away from Lyman's shanty. Hollenbeck either gave or sold--reports Nary-the two mules which Lyman used in mining, and which constituted nearly his en- tire assets.
 Suffered Authorizations.
 Lyman was past middle age and had suffered considerably from chron- ic dysentry and the effects of the tropical climate. During the last year he was subject to Authorizations and mental arrangement, as shown by tcs- timony of his neighbors and letters 10 his sister and the consul at Tegucigal- pa. He conceived the idea that fIo- lenback and others were continually putting poison in his food and the food of his mules, and frequently went without eating on this account.
 Early in December he wrote Consul hciser asking for protection from his enemies. keiser communicated with iIonduran officials in tho state of Olancho and with American neigh bors of Lyman. and was assured by all that l.yman's danger existed only in his own mind.
 Soon after this Lyman decided 10 make the mule-back journey to Tegu- | cigalpa, and write his sister that he intended to start, but feared he would | be murdered before he arrived. This | was the last word Mrs. Muser rcceiy- ed from her brother. until January Is | when she received radio message | from the consul stating that Lyman had died. |,
 Lyman arrived in Tegucigalpa after over week on the trail. He was in a depleted condition of health, as he had thrown away much of his food In the belief that it was poisoned. He i had only sS in cash, and no clothing pr equipment Of any value except the TWO mules. Friends guaranteed I.y- mans expenses at hotel, and advis. ed him 10 take measures 10 restore his health, but he refused. and ate huge and elaborate meals at the ho- cl. After a few days he was seized with acute indigestion, and d rccur- 'ence of chronic dysentry. He was akcn to the. hospital. but his consti- .ution was so weakened that death ,ame within a week.
 Friends Pay Funeral Expenses.
 At tho request Of the consul, three loctors attended Lyman. donating heir services. Kciser himself paid or the medicines and other hospital xpenscs, and the funeral expenses we're met by a collection taken amnn= .ynan's friends at Tegucigalpa. -hc Tropical Radio company sent free the message conveying the news of Ly- mans death 10 his sister.
 The revolution now going on in honduras has cut off all mail service 'ith the state of Oancho. aLd the onsu has been unable to communj- ate with liollenback or other neigh 'ors of Lyman. Ii is believed that lis mining claim was worthless and hat he had no personal property Of ny value. Keiser has been unable to etermine the ownership Of the two 1ulcs used by Lyman. which if sold rould bring a price about equal 10