Uncharted: Teddy Roosevelt's Amazon Expedition | Headwaters | 1

Against The Odds

Wondery

Cassie De Pecol, History, Society & Culture, Dolby, Mike Corey, Dolby Atmos, Atmos

4.7 • 7.2K Ratings

🗓️ 10 January 2023

⏱️ 48 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In 1913, former President Theodore Roosevelt embarked on a perilous expedition to map one of the last unexplored rivers in the Amazon. Roosevelt was joined by his son Kermit, famed Brazilian explorer Candido Rondon, and a team of naturalists and porters. But as the party sets off on a 400 mile trek across the highlands to reach the headwaters, they discover they are woefully unprepared for the dangers that await them in the wild.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, Prime members, you can listen to against the odds at free on Amazon music. Download the app today.
0:06.0	A listener note. This episode contains scenes that depict racist attitudes and language. Please be advised.
0:13.0	Theodore Roosevelt grabs a rope with both hands and pulls look everything he's got. He submerged up to his chest in the waters of a raging river.
0:32.0	Roosevelt feels his boots slip on the rocks and he almost falls at his feet, fine new purchase and he pulls again.
0:41.0	He turns to the men waiting through the water towards him. Don't let it get away gentlemen.
0:47.0	A month ago, the former president embarked on a journey down an uncharted river in South America's Amazon Basin.
0:55.0	Now, he and a dozen other members of the expedition are fighting to avoid disaster. While navigating a set of brutal rapids, one of their canoes was caught in the current and pulled under.
1:08.0	Now, it's wedged between the rocks on the river bottom. If Roosevelt and the other men can't save it, they'll be stranded in the jungle with dwindling supplies and a slim chance of getting out alive.
1:20.0	So they grab onto the rope and he with all their might.
1:25.0	The journey so far has been torturous. Countless times they've found their path blocked by churning rapids, forcing them to drag their canoes through the jungle on foot.
1:36.0	And now, they've run up against the most treacherous stretch of white water yet. To save themselves another exhausting slog through the jungle, they made the decision to step out of the boats and ease them through the rapids with ropes.
1:51.0	It may turn out to be a fatal mistake.
1:56.0	Roosevelt was the first to enter the water when the cry went up that one of the canoes was sinking.
2:02.0	Now, he's pulling with all his might. He turns to the men who've grabbed onto the rope with him.
2:08.0	Pull! Pull!
2:10.0	The men pull on the rope in unison.
2:13.0	Roosevelt feels the boat's stir as it comes loose from the rocks.
2:18.0	But then it drifts into the swift current. Roosevelt rallies the men once again.
2:24.0	With me! Heave! Pull! Heave! Pull! Heave!
2:29.0	Roosevelt's muscles burn. The tug of war with the raging river continues.
2:35.0	With a mighted pull, he feels the canoe finally slip free of the powerful current as it creeps towards the calmer water near the shore.
2:44.0	The momentum grows as the men pull the heavy boat faster and faster towards the river bank.
	...

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