Evening star., 1925-03-29

America
A native of New York, of
Spanish-American ancestry, Mr..
Moreno has conducted expeditions
in Nicaragua, Honduras. Costa
Rica. Peru, Ecuador, Brazil,
Colombia, Panama, Jamaica and
Turkey.
BY GEORGE MORENO.
r SAT in the cafe of Guayaquf
Hotel depressed with many fears
The bubonic plague and yellow
4 fever were playing dreadful havoc
around US.
Two of my men already had faller
victims of these terrible diseases
three others were on the point oi
death. That very morning L had ac-
companied TO the grave the wife OF
our American consul, a gentle lady
who, but eight days before, had en-
tertained us with the most kindly and
motherly hospitality.
Within two days our arrangements
would be completed and we would
proceed to the more healthful high
lands of the interior. Yet as thought
how fortunate We were so soon TO be
able to escape from the horrors OF
the plague, l could not help but fee
deeply for those unfortunates who
must remain within the deadly en-
brace OF pest-ridden Guayaquil- Just
then a strange individual came to my
table and introduced himself.
Tn a BUM" he said.
He need not have spoken tit was
written all over his face. Barefooted
clad in the soiled. ragged shirt and
pajama-like trousers of the tropical
beach-comber, his thin, undersized
body topped by a mean, tiny head
from which shone two ferret-Iike
eyes circled by signs Of Ill health and
vice, he stood before me and repeated
I'm a bum. 50 don't tell 1t to me.
The two bits" customary on such
occasions, were silently offered-ano
furiously rejected.
Il don't want that! That's what
they all give me-" Then, with amaz-
ing frankness he told me his story.
Product of a founding asylum, he
had lived the greater part OF his life
III the "Bowery'' of New York. Here
he had become proficient in the trades
of pickpocket and sneak thief. TWO
years before he had gotten in wrong
with the boss" In consequence, the
bulls took after him. Peeling
potatoes, he had worked his way on a
fruit boat to Panama. where. fearing
Co apply for work in the Canal Zone,
because of the American authority
which is exercised there, and failing
to find il elsewhere, after two or three
months he had shipped on cattle
boat down the west coast of South
America He had deserted the boat
on its arrival at Guayaquil.
Since then he had lived the pre-
carious life of an outcast penniless
foreigner in a strange country. And
now he was not looking for the price
of drink" but for work-work
which would permit him to escape
from certain death in Guayaqul.
MY better judgment, and the nat
AN1 ural repugnance which his per-
sonality awakened in me, advised
that ] should not accept his applfca
ton for work / was convinced that
1 should rid myself of him in some
charitable manner, yet perhaps II was
because of the horror which | my
self felt at the idea of being COM
PEELED to remain in Guayaqul fol
even two more days, that, without
further onsideration. ] took him on
Thus it was that Henry Jones, as
shall call him here, became a mem bel
OF our expedition.
We started with 3s4 men all told
The two-day railroad trip, with
stopover by night in quaint Riobama
In some measure made US forget our
heavy detection IN GuayaquiL What
probably contributed to our present
cheerfulness was the fact that in
one of the towns we passed we be-
held an American fire engine occupy
ing a prominent position high up in a
kiosk at the center of the towns
principal square.
To our astonished questions 1t was
explained that the progressive mu-
nicipality of that town, anxious to
have a modern fire department, had
ordered the engine. On its arrival,
however. they found not only that
their small horses could not drag 1t
through the rough, stony and muddy
streets, but that none of the citizens
knew how to operate 1t. Therefore,
not finding the engine useful, it had
been decided to make it ornamental
With all honors it had been reared in
the public square.
Charming Quito, with its superb
Andean scenery, it's massive churches
dating back to the times of Spanish
dominions, its picturesque streets
crowded with Indians wearing beau
tiful "ponchos," and it's exquisite So
ciety, proved, however, a bitter dis
appointment to my personal vanity.
l found that my youthful appearance
did not awaken confidence or respect
among the official element. Because
of this, L could not obtain the official
permits and assistance which were
Indispensable for our explorations.
In this dilemma, and casting all
vanities aside, the expedient was
adopted of presenting the chief ge-
ologist-very tall. of a most imposing
presence, and delightfully."- polished
in his manners-as the leader of the
party, and myself as his secretary
and Interpreter. BY this bit Of harm
less strategy every assistance and
courtesy, most generously given, was
obtained from the government.
4 LII matters so happily concluded,
we returned to Riobanba. This
was to be the starting point of our
trip into the dark and hitherto unex-
plored "oriente."
For weeks we trudged along the
bare sides and ridges of the Andes.
At times we had to perform real feats
Of mountaineering, always fighting
the cold. strong winds which fire.
Quently blew with hurricane fury.
But we finally conquered the main
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