Evening star., 1924-07-09


rich and poor and would breed
embltterment among the latter
Ieetotal fanatics, the Bishop of
nurham concluded, constituted
the only faction which could de-
feat the victory of temperance in
England.
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region. through the Darien barbor
the River Tuyra and up the Chucuna,
que, hghtfng insects and disease and
shortage of food. Dr. Brin had re-
turned to Panama, where we later
learned that he had died, and we had
carried DIR. Baer to the coast in a
desperate drive through the all bur
lmpassible jungles between the Chu-
cuhaque River and Caledonia Bay
Blood PoinsOning Claims Victim.
Dr. Baer had been infected by
huge howler monkey, the victim of an
afitction caused by a deadly fly, after
ne had shot the monkey for purposes
OF brain comparison The infection
had developed into septicaemia and
Dr. Baer was helpless. As he weigh
ed 250 pounds, eight Indians were
required to carry him. slung in
hammock, through the jungle When
dala. on the Colombian border. and
telegraphed to the American air serv-
Ice at Panama for an airplane to take
Dr. Baer to the hospital
AS we later learned, the dirplane
was driven back on its first start by
severe storm 1t arrived at s o'clock
the next day, five minutes after DR..
Baer's death
AS darkness came on swiftly a
heaVy rain was falling, and we were
compelled to make grave for Dr.
Baer in the jungle, scooping out
the soft earth with tin plates. We
stood at military salute as the body
was lowered
although our expedition had been
cut down to a remnant by death and
illness. and we were precariously
low on supplies, we had come for
white Indians and 1 was determined
to get them-I knew they were there.
Gets Cool Reception.
II decided to visit Chief Ina
Paguinia, at sarsardi, a few miles
to the west. Ina Paguinia, who was
the "chief of chiefs" and in a very
literal sense the King of the Darien,
received me coldly. He had never
heard of white Indians. He said
there was none in the Darien. As
the days passed, and he became re-
assured regarding my intentions, l
began to get on better terms with
him.
Il told the chief that I was still
convinced that there were white
Indians in his kingdom and that if
/ could take some of them to Amer
lea I could portray to the American
people the necessity of carrying aid
learned why the Indians had resisted
the abortive efforts of the Pana-
manian government to establish
schools in the wilderness. The
schools, he said, were taught by
negroes, and they had been worse
than unsatisfactory. They were de-
termined to fight the encroachment
of the negroid peoples to the last.
as they are Jealous in preserving
their racial purity.
II found an epidemic of smallpox
raging. Again I went to Obadala
and cabled to the United States Army
medical service for physicians and
vaccine. They refused to send them.
! then cabled to President Porras of
the Panamanian government He i'm
mediately sent an expedition. The
Indians were given all the treatment
possible within the limits of the re-
sources of the physicians. They
overwhelmed US with their gratitude.
Calls Formal Council.
Ina Paguinia called a convocation
of his thirty chiefs. A formal council
was held in Ina Paguinia's huge hut,
with a rigid observance of all the
tribal ceremonies. To me it was a
These people trusted me and l felt
impelIed to keep faith with thep-to
carry their message to America and
to devote all my energies to the
work of bringing civilization to this
dying race-and that is just what L
intend to do. From now on l shall
concentrate on the work OF schools
medication and general amelioration
of conditions in the Darien. l am
going to carry on a campaign to see
that these peopIe-with a land rich
in natural resourceS-are not ex-
plotted and that they be given the
chance to survive. to which their
character and intelligence entities
them.
After the convocation of chiefs
the quest for white Indians was
easy 1 was told I would find them
at Navagandi, twenty miles to the
west. 1t was there l found them.
Of course. there were some difficult
ties in getting permission to bring
the white children. but these were
overcome. l brought five adult. cop
per colored Indians with me for pur-
poses of comparison and on account
interest
Chief Willing to Come.
Ina Paguinia agreed to come with |
the expedition, but the Panamanian
authorities refused to grant him
permit.
"On our expedition through the
Darien we rode the tide rivers nearly
up to Yavisa and proceeded from
there in large and small dug outs or
pira guas as they are called. We suf-
fered from exposure. disease and in
sect bites and the last drive along
the upper reaches of the Chucunaque
was a desperate adventure. We were
compelled to blast loose the debris
and tangled vegetation and to hack
our way through with machetes.
When our dynamite gave out, before
the end, we were in an all but hope
less situation--but we finally won
through
When the Calamares pulled out Of
quarantine yesterday and headed for
the dock the Indians gazed stolidly
for a moment at the New York sky
line, but showed no sign of interest.
Capt. Jack Sheridan, who has been in
the Darien, gave the Chepu, the
white boy, a whistle with which the
San Bias call turkeys-fashioned ot
a sea shell and reed. The boys
face was suddenly alive with eager
ness and interest which all the won
His smile was ecstatic, as the first
squawk-a perfect imitation of a
wild turkey-carried him back to his
beloved jungle. 1t was the only one
of the promised wonders which
pierced the imperturbable aloofness
of the strange visitors. The other
Indians gathered around, their in
terest and curiosity quickened From
then on they seemed more friendly
and assured as they were beset by
photographers and reporters. No
doubt, in their minds, this was a bit
of courtesy on the part of their hosts
"a gracious Difference to their pref
erences and interests, and they were
duly appreciative.
On account of the immigration laws
requiring the depositing of bonds to
guarantee the safety of alien minor
Visitors, the Indians were kept at
Ellis Island last night. Late today
they were taken to one of New York's
great hotels, diverting the attention
oP curious throngS from the conyen-