Death on the River of Doubt: Prologue–Chapter 1

A slight breeze offered some relief from the insidious and torturous swarms of biting flies, stinging bees, and disease-spreading mosquitoes.

A slight breeze offered some relief from the insidious and torturous swarms of biting flies, stinging bees, and disease-spreading mosquitoes.

Even with mosquito nets and bug repellent, everyone on the expedition was covered with painful bites.

The expedition had discovered the hard way that in this part of the unexplored Amazon jungle, for some reason unknown to them, food was scarce. The Brazil nuts they had been counting on to sustain them were in short supply, and the piglike tapir, with its prehensile snout, was elusive. And in this section of the river, with the exception of the vicious saw-toothed piranhas, fish were few and far between.

The expedition had discovered the hard way that in this part of the unexplored Amazon jungle, for some reason unknown to them, food was scarce. The Brazil nuts they had been counting on to sustain them were in short supply, and the piglike tapir, with its prehensile snout, was elusive. And in this section of the river, with the exception of the vicious saw-toothed piranhas, fish were few and far between.

The expedition had discovered the hard way that in this part of the unexplored Amazon jungle, for some reason unknown to them, food was scarce. The Brazil nuts they had been counting on to sustain them were in short supply, and the piglike tapir, with its prehensile snout, was elusive. And in this section of the river, with the exception of the vicious saw-toothed piranhas, fish were few and far between.

The expedition had discovered the hard way that in this part of the unexplored Amazon jungle, for some reason unknown to them, food was scarce. The Brazil nuts they had been counting on to sustain them were in short supply, and the piglike tapir, with its prehensile snout, was elusive. And in this section of the river, with the exception of the vicious saw-toothed piranhas, fish were few and far between.

The expedition had discovered the hard way that in this part of the unexplored Amazon jungle, for some reason unknown to them, food was scarce. The Brazil nuts they had been counting on to sustain them were in short supply, and the piglike tapir, with its prehensile snout, was elusive. And in this section of the river, with the exception of the vicious saw-toothed piranhas, fish were few and far between.

Their progress down the Amazon was slow, and after paddling less than two miles that day, steep hills covered with lush green trees appeared before them. It was a sight to behold. But the beauty was quickly overshadowed by the fearsome sound of rapids just ahead.

Their progress down the Amazon was slow, and after paddling less than two miles that day, steep hills covered with lush green trees appeared before them. It was a sight to behold. But the beauty was quickly overshadowed by the fearsome sound of rapids just ahead.

Their progress down the Amazon was slow, and after paddling less than two miles that day, steep hills covered with lush green trees appeared before them. It was a sight to behold. But the beauty was quickly overshadowed by the fearsome sound of rapids just ahead.

The adventurers knew all too well that it was dangerous to try to paddle their six canoes through the churning waters, and they couldn’t risk losing any more canoes or food.

The men above pulled the wet ropes, their hands burning, while those below lifted and shoved, heaving the canoe up. Finally, the canoe was free, and the men slowly dragged it up to safety.

The same procedure was repeated for the second canoe. It was a much-needed victory as both canoes were saved. But the adventurers quickly realized their success had come at a price. During the ordeal, Roosevelt had slammed his leg into a boulder, gouging his shin.

The same procedure was repeated for the second canoe. It was a much-needed victory as both canoes were saved. But the adventurers quickly realized their success had come at a price. During the ordeal, Roosevelt had slammed his leg into a boulder, gouging his shin.

For the last two days, the voyage hadn’t been any different as the steamer inched along the coast of Brazil. Despite this, the passengers onboard—at least the ones who weren’t made seasick by the relentless rocking motion—were awed by the sight of huge porpoises and flying fish sailing out of the choppy sea as the vessel cut through the storm.

A few months prior, Kermit had been standing on a steel beam that was being hoisted over the river gorge when the crane slipped. Kermit plunged thirty-five feet, “bouncing like a ball” into a rocky ravine.

In a letter to his son, Roosevelt wrote:
“By George! It was the narrowest squeak I have heard of and it was a marvel that you got through as well as you did—although two broken ribs, two broken back teeth and water on the knee make an unpleasant aggregate of injuries...I cannot say how inexpressibly thankful I am that the accident came out all right. We are all of us much concerned about you.”

The mighty Amazon jungle, which landed squarely in that unknown space, was a dangerous, dense, and nearly impenetrable wilderness.

For those who dared to enter the jungle, many did not make it out alive. Merciless disease, wild beasts, and Indian attacks were a constant threat. Even those who survived its perils warned others against going, calling it suicidal, and telling them to expect nothing less than catastrophe.

For those who dared to enter the jungle, many did not make it out alive. Merciless disease, wild beasts, and Indian attacks were a constant threat. Even those who survived its perils warned others against going, calling it suicidal, and telling them to expect nothing less than catastrophe.

For those who dared to enter the jungle, many did not make it out alive. Merciless disease, wild beasts, and Indian attacks were a constant threat. Even those who survived its perils warned others against going, calling it suicidal, and telling them to expect nothing less than catastrophe.

Though Roosevelt was born into a wealthy family, living a life of privilege and luxury in New York City, he chose to live a “strenuous life,” meaning, in his words, “the life of toil and effort, of labor and strife.”

Though Roosevelt was born into a wealthy family, living a life of privilege and luxury in New York City, he chose to live a “strenuous life,” meaning, in his words, “the life of toil and effort, of labor and strife.”

Though Roosevelt was born into a wealthy family, living a life of privilege and luxury in New York City, he chose to live a “strenuous life,” meaning, in his words, “the life of toil and effort, of labor and strife.”

Though Roosevelt was born into a wealthy family, living a life of privilege and luxury in New York City, he chose to live a “strenuous life,” meaning, in his words, “the life of toil and effort, of labor and strife.”

Roosevelt would grow up to be “as fit as a bull moose,” but when he was a child, he was very sickly, frail, and nervous.

As a child, Roosevelt suffered from acute asthma, a respiratory disease that caused his airways to constrict, making it difficult for him to breathe.

As a child, Roosevelt suffered from acute asthma, a respiratory disease that caused his airways to constrict, making it difficult for him to breathe.

All Roosevelt could do was stay in bed, propped up on pillows, feeling like he was being strangled as he coughed, wheezed, and gasped for breath. Sometimes, in desperation, his father would load him into a horse-drawn carriage and speed through the city streets, hoping the air would be forced into his son's lungs and help him breathe.

He successfully raised a few baby gray squirrels, feeding them milk through a glass syringe. His tree frog lived in the parlor, while his snapping turtle could be found tied to the laundry tub. In an empty flower pot he housed a sociable family of white-footed mice.

But the woodchuck proved to be a mistake. It was a bad-tempered animal, despite Roosevelt's best efforts to tame it.

The only time his mother put her foot down was when dead mice were found stored in the icebox. Roosevelt reluctantly got rid of them, feeling it was a terrible “loss to science.”

Pages from Roosevelt’s field notes of the flora and fauna of New York, New Jersey, and Vermont, plus his hand-drawn map. He began this notebook when he was thirteen years old.

Roosevelt, who had a growing collection of birds, wanted to learn how to do taxidermy so he could stuff and preserve his specimens himself.