Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-05
TRAMP FROM BUENOS AIRES
TO HERE FULL OF ADVENTURES
Boy Scout, %, in Capital Aft
er Varied Journey Through
Forests and Deserts.
Native of Spain Was Robbed,
Betrayed and Lost During
40-Day Vagabondage.

Tomas Colera, 28-year-old Boy Scout
Of Villa de Onda, Valencia, Spain, has
established another globe. trotting
record by coming from Buenos Aires,
Argentina, to Jacksonville. Fla, most
ly on foot. In $40 days. He arrived in
Washington Thursday on a journey
through IA countries Of the New
World. in which he encountered and
successfully surmounted many perils.
The young "explorador" set forth
from Buenos Aires October Z, 1925, to
conquer, in turn, pestilence, hunger,
thirst, treachery. wild beasts, bandits,
mountain peaks. forests and deserts.
He started out with five Russian COM
panions. who. however, were soon not
only to desert, put also to betray him.
Colera, a true son of dreamy and
romantic Spain, spent the year 1921 in
New York, where he read many &C.
counts Of travel which whetted his
appetite for adventure. After return
ing to his native hamlet near Va
lencia rendered immortal by Ell Cid,
to bid farewell to his family. he mi
grated to the Argentine, where he
planned his expedition, while saving
his earnings as a carpenter. There
was an abortive rumor that New
York newspaper was offering a prize
the Russians.
The six young men proceeded afoot
from Buenos Aires to Arrecife. where
thew secured a horse to carry their
packs, but the animal died after two
weeks.
Two Quit From Fatigue.
The Adventures had travelled 1907
kilometers when they struck the town
~ T,,o xxh0ro fUy0 nf fha COM
pany gave in from fatigue. Malaria
overlook Colera at La Quiaca on the
Bolivian border and he was carried
to hospital in Tupiza, while his COM
rades continue on their way, thinking
he was done for. When he was able
to use his legs again, he followed the
other three to Uyuni. With no sign
of them there, he struggled in weak
ened condition to La PaZ, where he
Joined them. But presently he suffered
from foul play. for the Russians de-
camped from the hotel with most OF
his valuables.
Undismayed, Tomas went on across
the Andes. skirting Lake Titicaca near
Crucero Alto, at an elevation Of a.
666 feet At Arequipa, Peru, he had
the authorities apprehend the robbers,
who had sold the pilfered belongings.
ured especially, because at each stop
ping place a local official had I'M
printed his seal to authenticate his
travels. Since then, however, he has
collected several volumes filled with
labels and seals to certify his itine-
rary.
On February 10, 1926, Colera con-
tinued alone to Lima, where he was
again stricken with fever and confined
to his lodgings in Fort Santa Cata-
lima. He recovered and by steamer
went to Panama and trudged from
Colon to Port Limon and Sac Jose,
Costa Rica, thence to Managua, Mica
ragua. He tried to enter Honduras
from Corinto, but was deferred by
Chamorro revolutionists who robbed
him. Tomas proceeded to La Union.
Salvador, instead. and from there
through the Guatemalan desert,
which he traversed with all the pri.
vations Of thirst and hunger.
Upon reaching the state of Tapa-
chula, Mexico, he became lost in an
impenetrable forest for six days. He
was attacked by two cougars, but de-
Tended himself with his pistol and
now proudly displays the hide Of one
which he shot. He reports that he
eluded the snakes which infested the
trees and underbrush by eating gar
lie. which nauseated the sensitive rep
tiles. For regular subsistence he par
took only of wild grasses. until he
came upon a Spanish speaking Indian
tribe. whose chief rendered him ban
quet of meat and corn stew. To do
Colera further honor the Indians per-
formed a rare dance. called the Jora-
hama and furnished two guides to