Evening star., 1928-09-23
BY A. G. BIRCH.


Special Dispatch to The Star and the North
American Newspaper Alliance.
DENVER, Colo, September 22.-One
day, sitting in the Office, in Denver, of
O high official of the United States
Cadastral Survey, l was told of blank
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 800
miles from Denver-there is a greas
river canyon. 20 or 80 miles long,
through whose depths no white man
has ever passed. 1t remains completely
uneXplored"
Where is it?" asked in amaze
ment
In the extreme northwestern corner
OF Colorado" said the surveyor, where
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 wild tumble 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 It
In one spot. 1t winds about like a
snake through gorge that is from
2,500 to 1000 feet deep, finally empty
ing into the Green River at Pats Hole,
q 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 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?" I asked.
1T might" the surveyor answered
thoughtfully. But it would pe very
risky business! However, the attempt
certainly would be interesting. 1t is one
of the most romantic sections in the
whole United States.
Unsayory Region.
"The Yampa Canyon is the heart of
that unSavory region known in frontier
days as the "Hole-in-t -the-Wall." No
torious murderers and bandit gangs had
their refuge down under the Yampas
rim-places whose only approach could
be held by one man against regiment.
ksN officers of the law would go in there.
"1t is rumored there are fine pre-
historic Indian cliff dwellings in this
canyon; but no man knows.
1T is a lost country mysterious and
wildly beautiful. It would be worth
while to look 1t up!'
cid look it up. I even went over to
the Yampa River Canyon-a journey
requiring time and beset by many diff
culties: First to the END of steel on
the Denver & Salt Lake Railroad;
then 8O-odd miles by automobile, and
finally a couple of days travelling by
horseback and on foot. But the quest
Grew more interesting every day.
The nearest SettlerS-a few Old Nor
mons who had drifted in from Vernai,
Utah, and were living near-starva-
ton existence +rlnflin' "a few cattle,
some miles back from the canyons rim
seemed in complete ignorance and
awe of the great cash in the earth.
They never went down there. Ihey
had known StrangerS-prospector
who had gone into the canyon. Some
had been dragged out very soon. and
the rest never again were heard OF.
The history of the outlaws in that
region 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,
60 the north; the Denver & Rio Grande
ran through Colorado, to the south. Ine
bandit gangs could hold up the trains
of one road, dash down and repeat the
performance on the other line, and
then retreat to the fastnesses OF the
canyon.
And the proximity of three State lines
was a valuable asset. A few hours ride
would place the outlaws 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 Desperate Gangs.
The terrible Butch" Cassidy gang
train robbers, 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
RADIO, and evaded capture by retiring
periodically to cabin below the YAM
pas 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
rest the most blase travellers attention.
Moreover, one expedition sent out by
the Colorado State Historical Museum
had traverSed the canyons rim for a
short distance and had found evidences
of prehistoric Indian habitation. But
this expedition had been so poorly
financed that it returned in few days
l 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,
with 54-inch beam and unusually high
sides to keep them from shipping water
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