A World-Hunt For Filament Material - 3

A World-Hunt For Filament Material - 3

 The adventures of Mr. McGowan, after leaving Iquitos, would fill a book if related in

detail. The object of the present narrative and the space at the authors' disposal, however,

do not permit of more than a brief mention of his experiences. His first objective point

was Quito, about five hundred miles away, which he proposed to reach on foot and by

means of canoeing on the Napo River through a wild and comparatively unknown

country teeming with tribes of hostile natives. The dangers of the expedition were

pictured to him in glowing colors, but spurning prophecies of dire disaster, he engaged

some native Indians and a canoe and started on his explorations, reaching Quito in

eighty-seven days, after a thorough search of the country on both sides of the Napo River.

From Quito he went to Guayaquil, from there by steamer to Buenaventura, and thence by

rail, twelve miles, to Cordova. From this point he set out on foot to explore the Cauca

Valley and the Cordilleras.

Mr. McGowan found in these regions a great variety of bamboo, small and large, some

species growing seventy-five to one hundred feet in height, and from six to nine inches in

diameter. He collected a large number of specimens, which were subsequently sent to

Orange for Edison's examination. After about fifteen months of exploration attended by

much hardship and privation, deserted sometimes by treacherous guides, twice laid low

by fevers, occasionally in peril from Indian attacks, wild animals and poisonous serpents,

tormented by insect pests, endangered by floods, one hundred and nineteen days without

meat, ninety-eight days without taking off his clothes, Mr. McGowan returned to

America, broken in health but having faithfully fulfilled the commission intrusted to him.

The Evening Sun, New York, obtained an interview with him at that time, and in its issue

of May 2, 1889, gave more than a page to a brief story of his interesting adventures, and

then commented editorially upon them, as follows:

"A ROMANCE OF SCIENCE"

"The narrative given elsewhere in the Evening Sun of the wanderings of Edison's

missionary of science, Mr. Frank McGowan, furnishes a new proof that the romances of

real life surpass any that the imagination can frame.

"In pursuit of a substance that should meet the requirements of the Edison incandescent

lamp, Mr. McGowan penetrated the wilderness of the Amazon, and for a year defied its

fevers, beasts, reptiles, and deadly insects in his quest of a material so precious that

jealous Nature has hidden it in her most secret fastnesses.

"No hero of mythology or fable ever dared such dragons to rescue some captive goddess

as did this dauntless champion of civilization. Theseus, or Siegfried, or any knight of the

fairy books might envy the victories of Edison's irresistible lieutenant.

"As a sample story of adventure, Mr. McGowan's narrative is a marvel fit to be classed

with the historic jour- neyings of the greatest travellers. But it gains immensely in interest

when we consider that it succeeded in its scientific purpose. The mysterious bamboo was

discovered, and large quantities of it were procured and brought to the Wizard's

laboratory, there to suffer another wondrous change and then to light up our pleasurehaunts

and our homes with a gentle radiance."

A further, though rather sad, interest attaches to the McGowan story, for only a short time

had elapsed after his return to America when he disappeared suddenly and mysteriously,

and in spite of long-continued and strenuous efforts to obtain some light on the subject,

no clew or trace of him was ever found. He was a favorite among the Edison "oldtimers,"

and his memory is still cherished, for when some of the "boys" happen to get together, as

they occasionally do, some one is almost sure to "wonder what became of poor `Mac.' "

He was last seen at Mouquin's famous old French restaurant on Fulton Street, New York,

where he lunched with one of the authors of this book and the late Luther Stieringer. He

sat with them for two or three hours discussing his wonderful trip, and telling some

fascinating stories of adventure. Then the party separated at the Ann Street door of the

restaurant, after making plans to secure the narrative in more detailed form for

subsequent use--and McGowan has not been seen from that hour to this. The trail of the

explorer was more instantly lost in New York than in the vast recesses of the Amazon

swamps.