Evening Star Newspaper, September 23, 1928, Page 43

MYSTERY CANYON - TOUR 1S DEPIGTED Explorer Tells of Hazards Faced in Yampa River Gorge. The first expedition to explore th hitherto untraveisd Yampa Rher can. yon, in Colorado, one of the few “biind #pots” in the map of the United States, has returned to Denver Following is the first of a series of articles describing the adventure by A. G. N the expedition and correspondent for the North American Newspaper Alliance. BY A. G. BIRCH. Bpecial Dispatch to The Star and the North American Newspaper Alliance. DENVER, Colo., September 22.—One day, sitting in the office, in Denver, of | & high official of the United States | Cadastral Survey, I was told of “blang spots” on the map of North America “Even now, in this twentieth century,” | this official said, “there are places in the United States that remain unknown. Right here in Colorado—scarcely 300 miles from Denver—there is a greas river canyon, 70 or 80 miles long, through whose depths no white man has ever passed. It remains completely unexplored.” “Where is it?” I asked in amaze- ment. “In the extreme northwestern corner | of Colorado,” said the surveyor, “wher> this State borders Utah and Wyoming. It is the canyon of the Yampa—some- times called the Bear River. There are no roads within many miles of it, and few ranches; just a wild jumble of mountains and barren flats—nothing to take people over there. “Our surveyors have seen parts of this canyon from the top. We have descended to the river and crossed :t in one spot. It winds about like a snake through a gorge that is from 2,500 to 4,000 feet deep, finally empty- ing into the Green River at Pats Hole, & mile and a half from the Colorado- Utah line. The Green River, in turn, becomes the Colorado, and flows through the Grand Canyon. “Five expeditions I know of have tried to go through the Yampa River Can- yon, but all of them were wrecked within the first few miles, and several of the men were drowned.” “Do you think an expedition, given good modern equipment, could get through this gorge?” 1 asked. “It might,” the surveyor answered thoughtfully. “But it would be a very risky business! However, the attempt eertainly would be interesting. It is one of the most romantic sections in the Whole United States. Unsavory Region. “The Yampa Canyon is the Leart of that unsavory region known in frontier days as the “Hole-in-the-Wall.” No- torious murderers and bandit gangs had their refuge down under the Yampa's rim—places whose only approach could be held by one man against a regiment. ¥2g officers of the law would go in there. is _rumored there are fine pre- historic Indian cliff dwellings in this eanyon; but no man knows. “It is a ‘lost country'—mysterious and wildly beautiful. It would be worta Wwhile to look it up!” T did look it up. I even went over to tA¢ Yampa River Canyon—a journey requiring time and beset by many diffi- eulties: First to the ‘end of steel’ on the Denver & Salt Lake Railroad; then 80-odd miles by automobile, and ally a couple of days’ traveling by orseback and on foot. But the quest @rew more interesting every day. The nearest settlers—a few old Mor- mons who had drifted in from Vernal!, Utah, and were living a near-starva- tion existence: ‘runnin’ -a few cattle’ some miles back from the canyon’s rim —seemed in complete ignorance and awe of the great gash in the earth. They never went down there. They had known strangers—prospectors— who had gone into the canyon. Some had been dragged out very soon, and ghe rest never again were heard of. The history of the outlaws in that fFegion was not exaggerated. The record of murders in the vicinity of the Yampa Canyon surpassed that of almost any other section of the West. The Union Pacific Railroad ran through Wyoming, o the north; the Denver & Rio Grande ran through Colorado, to the south. The bandit gangs could hold up the trains of one road, dash down and repeat the formance on the other line, and en retreat to the fastnesses of the on. . fl:iid the proximity of three State lines ‘was a valuable asset. A few hours’ ride would place the outiaws upon Colorado, Wyoming_or Utah soil—just as they wished. If pursuit in one State became too hot, they could swiftly cross into another. Lair of Desperado Gangs. ‘The terrible “Butch” Cassidy gang— train Tobbers, cattle thieves and whole- sale murderers—had its headquarters in Pats Hole for years. Harry Tracy— before he fastened the eyes of the whole Nation upon him for his crimes in Ore- gon—was a cattle thief and many times murderer in Utah, Wyoming and Colo- rado, and evaded capture by retiring periodically to a cabin below the Yam- pa’s rim. Tom Horn, whose unnumber- ed killings finally brought him to the gallows in Wyoming, “holed-up” along the Yampa. The scenery of the canyon was wild and majestic enough to ar- » yest the most blase traveler's attention. Moreover, one expedition sent out by the Colorado State Historical Museum had traversed the canyon’s rim for a short distance and had found evidences of prehistoric Indian hcbitation. But this expedition had been so poorly financed that it returned in a few days. 1 decided to equip an expedition to attempt the exploration of the Yampa River Canyon. Two boats were built in Denver—yel- low cypress craft, 16 feet 5 inches long, THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C. SEPTEMBER 23, 1928—PART 3. SCENES ALONG ROUTE OF EXPLORATION Upper: The start down the river Moritz, jr., and Frederick E. Dunham. Center: The first rapids—Mace at the photographer’s boat. (left to right)—Charles E. Mace, Burt the oar and Dunham in the stern of Lower: A typical stretch of the Yampa River canyon. in rapids. They were equipped with airtight metal compartments in the bow to keep them afloat even if holes were torn in them; and similar compartments were placeu in the stern, except that the latter had hatches, made nearly air- tight with rubber gaskets and thumb- screws, into which cameras, food and o(thcrd perishable equipment could be stored. Personnel of Crew. It took two months to select a crew. Many young men, geologists, naturalists, archeologists and photographers, were considered. Some accepted, but later, upon hearing how very hazardous the trip would be, backed out. Finally the party was completed as follows: Charles E. Mace, a former newspaper photographer, who had been with the Signal Corps of the American Army in France and had taken more than 1,500 pictures in action, was our “still’ pho- tographer. Frederick E. Dunham, a camera man for‘one of the big moving picture week- lies, who had performed many unusual feats in getting pictures throughout the West, was our “movie” photographer. Burt Moritz, jr., of the University of Colorado, an_exceptionally fine swim- mer, with a fair knowledge of geology, was our “man of all work,” and myself, as leader and chronicler. 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Just Below E Phone Franklin 8725 Foreign Legatioris Closing Summer Headquarters (Continued from First Page.) visit her brother-in-law and sister, Mr, and Mrs. Harry Payne Whitney. ‘The Minister will not return to this country until November. The Minister of Denmark, Mr. Con- stantine Brun, has returned from the Summer legation at Bar Harbor, Me., and opened his house at 1605 Twenty- second street. The Minister of Finland, Mr. L. Astrom, who has been in his native country since early Summer, will re- turn_ to this country the middle of October. The_Minister of Panama, Senor Dr. Don Ricardo J. Alfaro, will return to ‘Washington this evening from New York, where he has been for several days. ‘The Minister of Persia, Mirza Dovoud Khan Meftah, is spending the week end in New York and is expected in Washington the first of the week. Lithuania Appoints New Minister to Washington. ) The newly appointed Minister of Lithuania, Mr. B V. Balutis, will arrive in this country the middle of October. The recently appointed Minister of e Ready TR 3B B LT T T Costa Rica, Senor Manuel Castro|Goodhart before her marriage in the | will leave shortly for London, has are Qui rrived in Washington Tues- | Spring was Miss Janet Phillips, daugh- | rived in Washington to assume his new day and, after passing several days in the Wardman Park Hotel, has moved ‘? t{xe legation at 1830 Nineteenth street. ‘The charge d'affaires of Germany and Frau Kiep will return to Washington the first of next week and take pos- session of the house at 3219 Idaho ave- nue, which they have leased for the ‘Winter. Frau Kiep has as her guest at Man- chester, Mass., where she has been since early Summer, Mme: Lardy, wife of the counselor of the Swiss legation. ‘The charge d’'affaires of Spain, Senor Don Mariano de Amoedo, will return from New York this evening. The charge d'affaires of Czechoslo- vakia, Mr. Jaroslav Lipa, has returned from New York, where he went to bid bon voyage to the Czechoslovakian Minister to the court of St. James, Mr. Jan Masaryk, who sailed on the Bere- gania for England, after spending a short vacation in this country. Mr. Masaryk is a son of the President of Czechoslovakia and was his country’s first diplomatic representative in Wash- ington, acting as charge d'affaires for several years. ‘The commercial secretary of the Brit- ish embassy and Mrs. Leander Mc- Cormick-Goodhart have returned to ‘Washington from abroad and are now at the Mayflower. Mrs. McCormick- ittt S e W sy T T T TS 2800 Ontario Road | (Overlooking the Park) Oct. 1 Large, spacious, outside rooms. Ample closet space. 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