New-York tribune., 1920-07-18
Perils of Two Americans
Who We're Shipwrecked in
Land Where Cannibals Rule

widest of animals and hungry cam
nibals that is being shown at the Astor
Theater under the title "Shipwrecked
Among Cannibals." The fact is, ac-
cording to the producers, that many of
the pictures were taken as secondary
matter, the chief object being at the
time the films were made to save the
lives of each other as the two Ameri-
can explorers made their way home
ward after actually being shipwrecked
and landed in spot where animals
never seen or heard of before were
their common visitors in the night and
in the day time.
Fourteen months were consumed in
the gathering of the interesting and
at times thrilling scenes that were
brought back recently by Edward
Laemmle, a nephew of Carl Laemmle,
featuring Company, and William F.
Alder, member of the Southern Cali
fornia Academy of Sciences.
The expedition was known as the
Laemmle-Alder expedition and was
under the direction of the Southern
California Academy of Sciences in
conjunction with the Universal Film
Manufacturing Company. 1t was their
intention to photograph strange sights
in the Orient and islands in the South
Seas, and until they set sail for Java
on their way to New Guinea their plans
went according to schedule Then one
night their ship was blown off it's
course and wrecked and Laemmle and
Alder found themselves far beyond
their destination on the shore of can
nibal land
"In JAVA" says Mr. Laemmle,- "with
letters from the Secretary of State
and Secretary of the Navy we called
on the Consul General of the United
States, who in turn gave us an intro
duction to the Consul General of Nhe
Netherlands. He gave us letter to the
Resident of Ambon, informing him of
our mission and requesting his aid.
We then equipped in Java and set sail
for the south coast of New Guinea.
This place is, SO far as | know, the
widest, blacklist spot on earth. After
twenty-one days on the steamer we ar
rived at little port called Merauke.
This is little military post in Dutch
New Guinea maintained by the Dutch
government for the protection of Brit
ish subjects in New Guinea. Merauke
has but q few troops, commanded by
native officers. The resident in charge
of this fort, upon reading our instruc-
tions to him, kindly lent US a two
masted schooner called the Natilus, in
which we started for cannibal land.
We had native captain and a Malay
crew.
after being at sea two days we ran
into foul weather and soon the sea
was running high. The fifth day out
heavy squall drove us up on a reef,
where our schooner was pinned. 1t
was not long before the heavy seas
opened up her bottom and the water
entered her. The cameras were trans
ferred, with all the film we had, into
our dingey and taken to shore under
great difficulties. Our next thought
was for our provisions. We were very
lucky saving these, losing only three
bags of rice.
On landing we were surrounded by
hundreds of grotesque savages. Their
welcome was not very cordial; in fact.
they indicated by gesticulations thai,
we would be safer if we left the island.
However, we explained to them through
one of our Malay boys who had lived
among the tribe that we meant them
no harm, and that we were their
friends. They consented to allow US
to remain for the time being.
After getting our equipment and
stores ashore we set up rude shelter
on the seashore. That night we alter
mated at guard duty. l taking the first
watch while Adler slept Never will
forget that first weird night, as
watched these devils dancing on the
ghostly sands. After few days we
gained their confidence by distributing
gfts among them, such as trnkets,
looking glasses, tobacco and shining
axes. We soon felt somewhat at ease
end dared to start taking photographs.
We heard about missionary who
mad Evec among the tribes for some
years and started to call on him. On
reaching his hut we learned that ne had
been killed a few months before we
came. The little mission over which he
had pre- sided looked a sad and desc
late wreck in this place
On our way to the interior we met
sentincls. Every bush seemed to con-
tam menace. However, we were there
anG We had to make the best of it. We
intended to photograph these people at
all costs. On entering the village the
women, seeing US, became frightened
and ran away. The men, however, stood
as If to bar our way. We didn't know
just how to take this welcome.
"The chiefs hut was decorated with
skulls. However, we introduced our
selves and started the old method of
handing gifts.
soon we were in fair way to gain
ing their favor. The women returned
and we gave them necklaces and little
shining trinkets which savage vanity
appreciates. We lived with this tribe
Tor some time in peace, getting very
many good pictures of them and their
customs. But things seemed to be
gong: too smoothly. One morning we
found several of the savages had died.
Around them were clustered the
women mourners. They were swayinp
and walling the loss of their tribesmen.
we could see by the glances of both the
men and the women that they thought
we were the cause of the deaths in the
tribe. Immediately the thought of the
missionary who had passed came to ns
That night Mr.. Alder and l took pre-
eautions against surprise. All night
long we could hear the wailing and
mourning of the women and their
biood-curdling death song and boom;no
OF the tom-toms as the men danced and
sang. anu
The next day the camp was IN :.
restless state. We were met with surlv
looks everywhere. Even the elements
seemed to be against us. AS if to con.
trm their troubles, the air became snd-
denly deadly calm. This lasted about
one hour. Not a breath of air was
sslrrlng and the heat was intense. Then
tne skies opened and torrent of rain
came down upon US, followed by crash
ing peals of thunder, and bolts Of
hghtnlng seemed to rend the yerv
earth from under us.