The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1929-03-28
RED LODGE MAN TO
HEAD EXPEDITION
John H. Provinse Will Pene
trate Jungles of Borneo in
Interests of Science.

What youth has not marveled over
the old circus poster depicting "The
wild man from Borneo?" Google
eyed we stood in front of the afro
cious wood-cut, plastered on the side
of the wayside barn, and wondered
what would happen were such a
blood-thirsty, undressed savage to be
turned loose in the neighborhood.
Our imaginations ran rife and many
were the discussions as to where he
lived and what his habits were and,
last but not least, was there such
creature that lived, a personification
of our own body with so little intel
lect. A savage that knew but little
more than a dumb animal.
AS we grew older and more learn
ed, we became convinced there was
such a place as Borneo and that such
people of lower scale. of life in
habitated the island But that is
about all we ever LEANED, as much
of this country has not been explored
yet today. A Dutch colony has been
in pc<3ession Of the southern part of
the island for almost 200 years, but
these gentle, Industrious people have
not been able to penetrate the jungles
which are thickly infested by the
savages and such other white men,
who have endeavored to cultivate
their acquaintance, have succeeded but
little better.
Today we know as much about the
natives as in years past. 1t is with
an idea of learning the habits, the
traditions and the religion, if any, of
khese people that an expedition was
organized in Chicago this winter for
the purpose of learning these things
and furnishing data for the future
histories and Biographies. This ex-
pedition is being financed by the ALL
American Mohawk Corporation,
Chicago radio company. Three men
compose the party and Red Lodge
man heads the group, none other than
John H. Provinse, who was born and
raised in Red Lodge. He was gradu-
ated from the Carbon County high
school and two years ago was gradu
ated from the University of Chicago
law school, Upon completion Of this
course he then took up the study of
anthropology with the ultimate aim
of securing the Phi. D. degree. Two
years of study necessitates his having
one year of field work and this is the
aim of the present trip.
Mr.. Provinse, in order to secure the
above degree, must by some unusual
form of work, contribute to the adj
vancement of science and education.
Ee is to be classed with DR.. Roy
Chapman Andrews of the Cobb Des-
ert expedition or Commander Richard
E. Byrd who is now in the vicinity
of the South Pole.
In the expedition is Theodore D.
Seelmann, an ethnologist, who will
penetrate the jungles with Provinse
as his only white companion Harry
w. Wells, radio engineer for the
Mohawk corporation, will go with the
above men about 200 miles inland
where he will install radio station,
which will be maintained hereafter by
the company. This station is being
installed in order to clear up many of
the mysteries now confronted in that
new art, and he will at all times be
in connection with the outside world
He will install an outfit identical
with that which is now being used at
the South Pole by Commander Byrd.
Provinse and Seelmann will have
radio outfit with them at all times
during their travels and they will
thus be in touch with friends and
home. Mr.. Provinse has made all ar
rangements to send messages to Or
vile Viers of this city. At any rate
the messages to and from Red Lodge
will be relayed by the amateur radio
men of the world, just as they have
done in the past with all exploration.
The amateurs have done more for
radio than any of the famous engi-
neers and young Viers is able to con-
verse in code with many distant parts
of the world
Mr.. Provinse, accompanied by his
wife, has been visiting in Red Lodge
with his mother and family since
Sunday. They leave today for Sea-
attic and on April 8 they will embark
on the japanese steam ship "Iyo Maur"
Continued on page 8.)