Source Material Relating to Tewkesbury’s trips to the Darien in 1939 and 1940 –Tewkesbury's writings, unpublished

              TR EK THR OU GH THE D AR I EN
1 940
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GOP Y (made Nov. 13. 1941 ~ from dossier loa.'1ed by Dr. E. W. James.)
Dr. E. W. James
1523 L Street NW
Washington f D. C.
Dear Dr. James:
J3al boa~ c. z.
Thursd~t June 27~ 1940
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I would greatly appreciate a letter from you that would verify my
reason for attempt ing to cross the Darien region. In shortt the deve­lopments
are these:
I arrived in Panama on June 18 and made final preparations to go up
the Bqano River as before. This time. however, I was picked up by the
Pan~~anian police for a German. My maps,my passport, and personal letters
were taken from me e and now I am reporting daily • upon orders. to
M. A. Nouega de Sabl~ of the immigration department.
My case including the maps were to be turned over to the Secretary
of Government and Justiae. Leopoldo Arosemeua for final investigation.
Before the case reached him. and upon adv-ice from Vice Consul Adrian
Colgul tt. I went to Mr. George Andrews of the American Embassy who took
up the mat tel' with Secretary Aro semena for per mi sa ion fo·r me to go up
t.he Bayano River. cross (if possible) to the ChucunaqueRiver and to Yavisa.
Mr. Andrews seems to be earnestly endeavor i ng to seek the permission.
His report today was more encouraging. He believes that a letter from you
t o either himself. Mr. George AndrewssAmerican Embassy or to Secretary
of Government and Justice Leopoldo Arosemena would be of great value.
If you care to send a letter to either of them, the enclosed stamps
are for the a.ir mail postage. If for any reason you do not wish to do so,
I would respect your judgment and would drop the applica.tion for permission.
I have also informed Colonel Valentini of this new a~gle.
While waiting! have talked with Captain Margeson. We are to have
a meetingSatUl·day afternoon, merely to compare notes.
Most respectfully yours.
I S I Richard Tewkesbui:y
' General Delivery
Bal boa. C. Z.
COP Y (made Nov. 13. 1941, from dossier loaned by Dr. E'. W. James)
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Mr. Richard Tewkesbury.
General Delivery.
Balboa. R. P.
My dear Mr. Tewkesbury:
Air Mail July 3~ 1940
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Your letters addressed to Mr. Valentini or Mr. Stephen James and
that to me dated June 27 have been received, and it is just too bed that
you should have had any trouble at Chepo. I am wondering whether before
leaving Panama you made the desirable contacts and rece! ved permil3sion
to go into the Interior.
I am today writing a letter to Mr. George Andrews of the American
Embassy in Panama, which I hope will be of some assistance to you. Copy
is enclosed.
I certainly hope you will bea'ble to make sati sfactory arrangements
and push your contemplated trip as far as possible. I know you will not
find it easy and there will be at least 75 miles. as I told Mr. Margeson,
between Bayano and the first na.vigable branch of the Chucli..'1.aque which
will be especially difficult to cross. I have no idea how much this can
be reduced at the two ends by canoe travel. Margeson expected to use a
whale boat wi th kicker up the Chucunaque as fax as navigation was possi bl e
and, then have the boat go around and meet him on the Bayanoata similar
point. We figured that the di stance between these points would be about
75 miles, but no one knows. If you cover this gap, stick to the largest
atreams which will probably head in the lowest pass. You cannot be sure
of this, but it is a good guess. Information useful to us on such a line
would be evidence of high water, character of soil. slope of the terrain
in the direction of travel. and elevation of the pass; a.lso.widths of
the side streams you cross at their high water marks and a general estimate
of how far from the main stream it would be necessary to go to be above
flood line in the wet season.
If you are able to follow the south ' slope of the cordilleras all the
way to Yavisa. and can give any indication of where low passes exist between
the Chucuna.que Valley and the San BIas coast. this information w01.ll,i be
useful.
Very truly yours 9
E. W. James, Chief,
Division of Highw8,lfTransport
COP Y (made Nov. 14. 1941, from dossier loaned by E. W. James)
January '( ~ 1941
Mr. E. Vl~ James
Telvkesbury! s d.iaryof his second trip through the Darien
region in Panama 9 approaching Colombia, and a blueprint
of his conception of the topography. are being sent you
with this letter.
/ s/ STEPHE1{ JAMES
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COP Y (made byE. Crawford, Nov. 16, 1941. from dossier loaned by E.W.James)
J-1 January 11, 1941
Mr. Stephen James.
Pan American Highway Confederation.
Pan American Union.
Washington. D.C.
My de8x Mr. James:
I have your letter of Janu.ary 7 forwarding copy of Mr.
Tewkesbury's diary covering his southbound :trip in 1940. If
he le~t a dia.. ." Y of the return trip from Sautata. Colombia.
and Y~isa on the return, r should be glad to have a copy_
The blueprint referred to in your letter has also been
received.
EWJ/M
Very truly yours,
E. W. James. Chief,
Division of Righwq Transport
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