JUNGLE ATTACKS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 68, 20 March 1936, Page 4

JUNGLE ATTACKS

OCCUPANTS OF AEROPLANE

A remarkable story of adventure in the jungle is told by passengers of a Bolivian seaplane who have arrived at Puerto Suarez, in the Bolivian Chaco, after awaiting rescue for about two weeks in Matto Grosso, states the "New York Times."

Six panthers were killed when they tried to attack the party of seven, four passengers and three of the crew. Other wild beasts and savage Indians also were menaces and watch had to be kept day and night against them.

The seven were in the seaplane Neni, which disappeared two weeks before. It was forced to land in a desolate part of Matto Grosso, on Bolivian soil. After several days it was located by Bolivian aeroplanes sent out to search for it and then a party of army sappers was started for the place. These soldiers spent many arduous days cutting their way through the jungle. They finally found the machine in a swamp. Through the swamp they improvised a runway that enabled the Neni to take off, after it had been repaired, and made its way to Puerto Suarez.

The party was fed while the rescuers were approaching by supplies dropped to them by parachutes from aeroplanes that flew overhead. Camp beds as well as food were contributed i»» this fashion. Their vigil was also helped by the fact that their machine had been carrying a large shipment of beer. All of this was consumed.

The sappers who rescued the seven on the Bolivian aeroplane had to penetrate some of the most difficult territory on earth. Most of the great Matto Grosso, which extends over a large part of Brazil and parts of Bolivia and Peru, has never been explored. It is cut up by rivers and swamps and the rank undergrowth and vines hanging from trees can be penetrated only by cutting a way through them. Only the luck of having found a large swamp for landing probably saved the men on the Neni.