The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-12-12

"a q. - N as loAllN D. idt u az 'H''
IASEg we may be sure: The birdman and
~GaST the airplane mean the speedy end or
the silent places Of earth. Today some
thing like a seventh of the earth's surface is stu
unexplOred. Tomorrow typographical maps ut a
nominal cost will be on sale at the bookstores
Last season an ~airplane glided slowly down
past FL Captain and Half Dome and alighted on
the floor OF the Yosemite valley; it rose and sailed
away without difficulty. A daring airman swooped
down into the abyss Of the Grand canon of the
Colorado in Arizona and then scared out over the
rim without n mishap. A whole fleet of airplanes
rose into the thin air of the Rockies crossed the
$4,000 foot peaks of the continental divide ana ala
stunts over the SUBMITS Of Pixies Peak and Longs
Peak. These things were something new under
the sun; it was believed they could not be done.
These fcats merely emphasize the fact which Is
becoming increasingly apparent that there is no
where that the airplane cannot go.
The fact that these unexplored regions of the
earth are the most difficult, dangerous and mac
cessible but hastens their exploration. The more
danger the greater the incentive! The greater
the adventure the more enjoyable the thrill!
These silent places of earth appeal to the adVen-
turer of the skies as the mail service nils MIN
with loathing.
A writer in the Strand Magazine observes sage
" that nature still provides the flying man with
all the hazards of adventure. And he proceeds 10
set down in detail the opportunities that await
the aviator on exploration bent. He argues tnat
nature. in these remote regions, has dehed all the
white mans attempts to scale her heights lhtruoe
upon her arid solitudes, escape from the lurking
dangers of her virgin forests, or feast his sight
upon her snowy wastes. She laughed MS 1901
expeditions out of court; but she cannot laugh at
the equipment of the winged explorer. In 1acI'
there is little the airman cannot do. FROM uiD-
raltar he can peep upon the trlbal fanatcs VI
southern Morocco and dwell u while on the west
ern Atlas mountains.
From Egypt he has n flying ground OF thou-
sands of square miles in the eastern sahara anu
if he is fond of rolling sand. the deserts of Ara
bia. too. Both are within his reach, ana ne Is
certain Of no company except what he taxes VIZ
him. For a change, the coast of the Gulanas Is lueai
for SHINING into the malarial jungles of the
CordiIera of southern Venezuela, ana When ureu
and seeking a brief rest he should IND a cohVen-
lent landing SPOT on the Tumac Humac. Or else
the desert of Cobb from the Siberian railway, or
portions of the polar area that are not the NOME
of the blizzard" might be worth his attention. bul
let him beware Of the illimitable forests OF brazil
the hurricane lands of western Antarcuca' Ii
windy heights and icy crests of the Hlmalayas'
without proper regard to the pitfalls that beset
the unwlry in these regions.
In the Great Himalayas.
An airman would probably fly a thousand feet
above the Great Himalaya, the main range, whlch
from the south appears like a cleaning wall OF
snow and ice. Some of the snow helds or the
Himalayas are only accessible from the air. ano
IL he landed on one an engine stoppage might
leaye him marOoned in an exposed and precarlous
position.
II would be hard to find any scientific task more
interesting than the exploration OF certain regions
OF Afghanistan and the study OF Its wild' pagan
inhabitants, the bold Kafrs and other strange
tribes. In the northeast corner OF the country
large portions OF BadaKshah anu HIS al
entirely unknown.
r,o oor;oI wanderer. inspired with q true love
30 adventure will doubtless be pleased to know
TINT not all tile Dark Continent is yet an open
hook. In fact, 1t still jealousy guards some very
black spots. Even in British territory how much
is known of the inner Shilluk districts OF the
Soudan. the region between the upper waters OF
the Blue Nile and the limits OF the Uganda, or the
it, of the Senussi GASES from Tripoi, or the
rrronaica toward wadai? What European has
seen much less trod, huge areas within the desert
reoiops of southern Asia? There are other areas
which have been crossed always IN haste and even
,n eeor. also regions visited perhaps by a score
of travellers since the revival or learning, but In
hsbited by peoples OF whom we nave iearned mucn
less than about the polar EsKimo.
rso crootast unseen area lies in Arabia, almost
~ tho southern half of which Is occupied, ac-
cordinp tn native reports, by q great wilderness
rrovn ms the Dwelling OF the Void" Three
travellers have claimed that they have gazed on
\ ;ts uttermost fringes from the west south ana
east respectively, but no European mas ever en-
.oraa this immense tract of 6OO.OOO square miles.
r. ,s further doubtful. moreover, whether any
no.,vo has ever crossed any part but certain
tonyues which IL throws out TOWARD the fersian
ou,f and tow ard the Indian ocean southwest "
tha latter province. Some maps marx a caravan
troct running through the heart OF tnis desert
-. =, : Dntch colony in Java, to which colonists
Prom soutl, arabia generally resor'eu' va"
AL. ,,mietI all knowledge OF IT,