Evening star., 1925-01-13
EXPLORER ON HAZARDOUS
TRIP TO LOST CITY OF BRAZIL
Col. II. III. Faucet Seeks
Proof That area
Cradled Race.
Faces Desperate Tribes,
Snakes and Disease
For Science.
Special . snatc TO The Star.

it was revealed today. to smash
through 900 miles of swamp, jungle
and desert 10 a hidden ancient city in
the heart of Brazil, which he be-
lieves VIII give proof that South
America, and not the Valley OF the
Euphratcs, is the cradle of civiliza-
tiun.
The expedition is sanctioned and
aided by the Royal Geographical So
ciety of England. the American Geo
graphical Society of New York and
by the Museum of the American In
dian, Heye Foundation. Col. Fawcett
goes also as correspondent of The
Star and the North American News
paper Alliance.
1t is perhaps the most hazardous
and certainly the most spectacular
adventure of the kind ever under
taken by a reputable scientist with
the backing of conservative scfen-
tific bodies. 1t is the elimination
of Col. Fawcett's years of eXplora-
tion in the South American jungles
which have revealed discoveries of
such astounding interest that he has
guarded them zealouSly, awaiting an
opportunity TO bring back final and
convincing proof.
Ancient Civilization.
He already has gone far toward
valuation of his contention that there
existed In this region a majestic
civilization of an unknown white
race. perhaps 10000 years old, ante
dating Egypt; that it held the secret
of a mysterious light. possibly de-
rived from some knowledge of basic
atomic forces; that these ancient peo-
pie knew astronomy and mathematics
and that they had. perhaps, the old
est highly developed indigenous cul-
ture in the history of the world. He
has so far analyzed and articulated
his findings that, as he now says,
he is ready to announce his con-
clu"ions and risk his scientific repu-
tation upon them.
We have known of Col. Fawce tt
for many years as a man of sound
est character and the highest integ-
rity.' said DIR. Isaiah Bowman of the
American Geographical Society to-
day. we have the highest conf
dence, both in his capacity and his
competence and reliability as a scien-
tist"
Desperate Tribes Guard City.
The ancient city-and this Is not
an incredible chapter from King
Solomon's Mines" but stateme mt
hy the holder of the Founders medal
of the Royal Geographical Society
IS guarded by tribes of desperate
ferocIty and encompassed by all but
impenetrable jungles. Col. Fawcett
and his companions must brave ar
rows, pestilence. giant anacondas'
savage black panthers, and all the
creeping. crawling. flying creatures
bred in the slime of the jungle; they
must cross arid desert wastes and
ascend to a desolate, blasted vol
canic region, where for ages the
litter of a once opulent civliization
has been walled and guarded by the
mountain peaks.
Col. Fawcett has spent the greater
part of the last Is years In TINS
wilde trness. He has seen men i'm
nailed by the arrows of the Indians
and has seen mule crushed oy
5O-foot anaconda. So great are the
hazards that he is taking only two
men with him. his son, Jack raw
rett. 81 years old, and Raleigh Rlmell'
"a Young Englishman whom he sas
known from birth, who for the last
three wears has been living In Los
Angeles.
Amy larger party would stand
small chance of surviving, said Col
Fawcett. "Krupp, the German IRON
monger. spent $4,000 on a great ex-
pedition into this region few years
ago II was annihilated by pestilence
and Indians. With only three men,
we have a splendid chance of enter
ing-and returning. l speak the
language of the Indian tribes, and l
know what TO do when they attack
me with their bows and arrows-as
tbey have done, many times before
If | took a large expedition, it would
surely be wiped out.
Land of Black Dwarfs.
The site of the ancient city lies on
the south watershed of the Amazon,
between the Xingu and the TapoJoz
Rivers. The expedition viii visit the
country of the black dwarfs, pit
dweuers who live in holes covered
over with leaves and STICKS; IL VIII
skirt the country of the Mundurucus,
robust. reddish Indians, between the
Topoioz and Paranatinga Rivers
having woman chiefs; on beyond the
ancient city lies the country of the
Amazons; to the east is the dwelling
nlace of the Asurinis, or white In
dians; farther to the east lie the
buried ruins of another ancient city,
of majestic Cyclopean architecture,
which Col Fawcett has previously
visited and which he hopes some day
to excavate.
TO the north of the Asurinis are
the Roncador Ridges, the land of the
Snoring mountain" which rumbles
and groans necessarily, in its sleep
of centuries, over volcanic fires; far
to the west lies the site of the ancient
City of Truxillo, where. in the
eighteenth century, the Portuguese
found the little fish," jeweled
fetch which sold in Spain fer
81. .O0O. 900. The records show that the
big fish," still hidden there, might
be worth far more. On some future
expedition, but not on this one, Col
Fawcett hopes to search for the big
fish,