Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-12
roves Accuracy of Roosevelt Story of River of Doubt

For several minutes the familiar dots
and dasheS were licked off into space
Then, throwing out the main switch
on the transmitter. he devoted his at
tention to the receiver. Without hes.
itation he turned to the sector of the
dial where wave lengths used by
American amateurs would be found.
He explored it infinitely without re-
suit. One or two stations wero vora.
ing. Some one in Boston was talking
to Philadelphia, but no one heard our
feeble chirp from Brazil.
Another general call went out, and
again Bussey. with an eXpressionless
face, regarded the dial as he twisted
the milled head through it's complete
range. / remember how troublesome
the mosquitoes were. Bussey's only
audible remarks were those he adj
dressed to them. lie tod them in
strong English what he thought of
them and their habits. Meanwhile l
remained as motionless as possible
with invaluable flash lamp ready i'm
case a moth should fly into the candle
flame and eXtinguish it at a critical
moment.
We had been carrying on this way
for 20 minutes or more when suddenly
Bussey looked up at the roof over.
head with an intensity in his gaze
that indicated his interest had been
aroused. threw the light of my cleo
trio torch in the same direction to
see what he was looking at, but there
was nothing. 1t was no use asking
questions. All L could do was to
watch his face. which was now under
going a complete transformation. 1t
was just as if some one had appeared
in front of him and was saying.
"Bussey, old man, here's a million
dollars for you
The silence was at last broken.
We'll, I'm damnedr' he exclaimed.
That's going some. He is calling us
right enough
who's calling?" asked.
why. 2Uk." Bussey answered.
Some amateur in Manhattan"
To me it all seemed a miracle In
this remote village of the Brazilian
hinterland no place in the world
seemed so remote, so hopelessly far
away, as New York; and yet here we
were, exchanging thoughts with some
one in the heart of the great metrop-
oils. Before signing off, Bussey had
sent message through telling of our
activities; several pleasantries had
been exchanged between the operators
and a schedule fixed for the follow
ing night. 1t was certainly a great
achievement, of which both 2UK and
Bussey might we'll be proud.
a T Sac LUZ we got down to the
serious business Of the expedi-
ton. The collecting of men and ami
| mails with which to make our over
land trip to the River of Doubt proved
tougher problem than we had an
| ticipated. Bullocks and mules were
scarce and no camarandaS wanted to
go with us on so risky journey. To
them it was like a plunge into the I'M
known. Even high pay was not suf1i-
cient inducement to persuade them to
expose themselves to the hardships
which they knew lay beyond the north
ern horizon.
Since the Roosevelt Rondon expe-
dition few people had travelled across
the central plateau of Matte Crosse
along the route we were to follow.
and not a living soul had descended
the treacherous waters of the River
Roosevelt. 1t was only after the most
persistent efforts we finally got our
force assembled and in marching
| order. Before it was completed Bussey
| and l left for Tapirapoan in a prancha
| propelled by long poles. leaving Bob
| and Doc to follow overland with the
| camarandas and animals.
We timed our movements SO that
we should assemble more or less ST.
simultaneously in Tapirapoan. But when
| our prancha reached the meeting
| place agreed upon there was not
| sign of man or beast to be seen any,
where. We were not kept long in
suspense as to their wherea bouts. A
| man galloped into camp early the