Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-09
An american Doctors Ordeal Among the
Indians Of South America- Through the
.JungAes in Canoe a0enty-Fonr Hours
, of Torture Working Win Rubber
Company.

took some time to recover from the effects Of
our journey, washed our clothes which
after q month of neglect were sadly In need
of such treatment. and when I found that
many of the troops were down with malaria
I treated them to the best OF my ability and
supplied the necessary medicines, glad of an
opportunity to repay them for their kindness
to US.
A DIFFICULTY did soon arise however due
to the fact that both Manuel and Miguel
were Colombians. Capt RojaS wanted me to
send them both back, but prevailed upon him
to let them continue with me for q little way.
Then Manuel saved me-Saved every one-the
trouble OF looking after him. He decided to
go back alone and as the Peruvian steam
launch from FL Encanto-the principal Peru
Wan station on the Caraparana-waS not ex-
pected upstream for another week, he decided
to go alone. The trail was wide was well
marked, and there was no danger of his getting
lost.
About 10 days after Manuel had set of into
the wilderness alone the launch from FL
Encanto arrived, and with Capt. Rojas to speed
Miguel and me we started down stream It was
now my purpose to settle for a time at least
at Fl EncantO, there to begin the practice of
my profession. Furthermore, this portion of
the journey was excessively simple for now
my gratuitOuS services on behalf of the malaria
stricken soldiers met with a reward that 7
had not had In mind Capt. Rojas, with whom
1 by now had grown quite friendly, gave us
free passage. although Miguel was not allowed
to stop at Ell Encanto. He was, however given
passage on to IQuitoS which lies on the upper
Amazon where, I learned later he established
himself as fisherman and made quite a sue
ceSS-or at least so he later assured me-
As for myself, my luck-or so thought
proved good for change, and arrived at
Fl Encanto at what might be considered the
psychological moment. The Peruvian Amazon
Rubber Co-later the Peruvian Amazon Co,
Ltd.-had an important post there and their
doctor may peace be with him) had died only
about q month before my advent in that
thriving rubber center.
I was offered a two-year contract at more
money per month than I imagined any one
would ever pay doctor-juSt four times what
had received at FriaS-and promptly signed
up. AS a matter Of fact, was eager to sign
up, just as have so often been eager indirectly
to get myself into trouble. But this time
more than put my head into the lions mouth
was delighted with my new job and with
all the enthusiasm Of youth looked over the
jungle station at which had 50 providentialIy
arrived The main structure was an excellent
two-story building. rooted, it is true with cor
rugated iron, but otherwise beyond criticism
The lower floor principally a warehouse
for rubber, although the bOokkeeper q Spaniard
by the name OF Ponce, occupied q room there.
The second floor, however, was handsomely
constructed OF native woods waxed and rubbed
to dull sheen. One entire end Of the building
on this level was the dining room, a great OBJ
long apartment open 70 the air on three sides
A long and very broad hall led from the dining
room to the other end of the structure and on
one side Of this the office and the room of
the manager, Miguel Loayza
The room assigned to me was across the hall
from that OF the manager between rooms oc-
cupied by Hartmann the assistant manager and
Solar. whose task had to do with the keeping
and disburSing of the stores There were only
nve white men at the poSt-including myself
and we all lived in this major structure
WITH gradually growing horror I realized
that the Putumayo was the center of cruel
ties toward the Indians that rivaled the Kongo
atrocities. There was evidence that the natives
were lashed, mutilated and murdered but wit
messed nothing except sickening lashings. and
when protested against these found myself
virtual prisoner. My mail was censored and
every effort was made to keep news of these
frightful conditions from the world
So there was l. between the devil and the
deep sea- The men about me were becoming
more and more disgusting to me. found it
more and more difficult to be sufficiently dplo-
matte to get on with them, and that of course
was essential. I attended to my few duties in
as little time possible, and went out more
and more into the jungle to collect birds for
my mounting, which way of getting
away from the horrors that depressed me-
Crimes cannot exist about one without per-
meating the very atmosphere, and felt all but
choked, sometimes, in the bright sunlight and
the comfort of FL Encanto.
Under these conditions I remained at FL En-
-canto nearly a year, when, something happened