Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-10
Wife of Pennsylvania Ex-Gov-
ernor Tells Her
Experiences.
Fishing for Sharks and
Studying SnaiIs Provide
Interesting Diversion.
BY GRETCHEN SMITH.

Seamy sides of lava-covered mountains
in search of scientific specimens were
but a few Of the experiences of Mrs.
Clifford Pinchot during the eight
months cruise with her husband
through the South Sea Islands, from
which she has recently returned.
Leaving Key West last March on the
yacht Mary Pinchot, Mrs. Pinchot was
the only woman accompanying the SCI
entific expedition conducted by the for
mer Governor of Pennsylvania. Includ-
ing members of the crew, two scien-
tistS-Dr. Pillsbury of the Academy Of
Science of Philadelphia and DR.. Fisher
of the National Museum-13-year-o
Clifford Pinchot and young comrade,
H. H. Cleaves, scientific photographer.
and Mr.. and Mrs. Pinchot, the party
consisted of % persons. The purpose
of the expedition was scientific re-
search into bird and shell life of the
southern islands. Mrs. Pinchot's inter-
est was centered for the greater part
in the work of Dr. Pillsbury, an eminent
conchologist, whose study Of shells and
snails was conducted with the hope CT
throwing some light upon the origin of
these little known islands of the South
Seas.
Clothed in sailors trousers and Jump
er, with rope-soled native sandals, Mrs.
Pinchot frequently started early in the
morning with the man members of the
expedition, hiking up the rough noun
tain sides under the tropical sun, her
pack consisting of two or three Or
angeS, handful of raiSinS and couple
of containers in which to place her
finds" various Snails to be studied
later by the expeditions conchologist.
Becomes Snail Conscious.
st had nrser noticed a snail in my
life" laughkd Mrs. Pinchot, until I
went on thet trip. Then learned TO
see what a great variety there was, each
in way contributing something to SCI
ence, until could see the tiniest snail
hidden away in a mountain crevice or
clinging to the side of a tree. I actu-
ally became snail conscious"
The party's first research work COM
menced in the islands of the Carib-
bean-Grand Cayman, Swan Island.
Old Providence and st. Andrews.
We obtained great number of birds
on these Islands," said Mrs. Pinchot,
land it seemed almost shame to have
to shoot them, they were so tame. On
st. Andrews Island Dr. Fisher found a
rare species of hummingbird which 1t
Is believed is the first Of its kind to be
After leaving the Caribbean Islands
the Mary Pinchot sailed south to the
home Of the San Bias Indians, believed
to be one of the purest racial tribes in
existence.
"A report which came a short time
ago that group of white Indians had
been found in this part of the world
doubtless came from the curious fact
that occasionally an albino baby, with
lightish hair, white skin and pink eyes.
is born into the tribe. Although that
in itself is extraordinary, considering
the child's parents may be the usual
dark-skinned Indian type it is not true
that the Indians as a race are white.
One reason, perhaps, for the reten-
ton by these people of their pure racial
strain Is that intermarriage is forbidden
under the pain of death, and therefore
as far back as can be traced these peo-
pie have never intermarried with other
tribes
On the journey down the coast to the
San Bias Indians Mrs. Pinchot said
short stop was made at Porte Bello,
once the stronghold of the famous pi-
rate Morgan. and here may yet be seen
numerous ruins of the old buccaneers
fort.
Pass Through Canal.
From the Atlantic coast the expedi-
ton passed through the Panama Canal
to the islands of the Southern Pacific.
THE first island we reached was
Cocos," the lady explorer said, IAN
island OF romantic beauty, and the only
one throughout our entire journey
which was wholly covered with a lux
uriant tropical growth. Although the
place Is uninhabited, due perhaps to
the excessive rains, tradition has it that
1t is the hiding place Of rich treasures,
buried there by the pirates in the days
Islands. This Is probably quite true"
Mrs. Pinchot continued, because only
a few years ago some lucky treasure
seeker unearthed about hundred thou
sand dollars. To this day people visit
the island yearly, in hopes that some
of the treasure buried there will be
discovered by them"
Due to the constant rain, Mrs. Pin
chot expressed regret that the pictures
taken on this island of SURPRISING
beauty were not as clear as she had
expected them to be.
ON the Cocos," she continued, 1--WE
as 1t may seem, few of them were bril-
liantly colored; all were of a rather
dun-colored plumage."
From the Cocos visit was made to
the Galapagos and Marqdesas Islands,
then on to Paumotous, where the party
witnessed the diving for pearls by the
natives.
The entire party dived at different
times during the journey to the South
sea Islands, and Mrs. Pinchot, not to
be outdone by the man members of the
party, did not feel the slightest trepida-
sion at having the heavy helmet placed
over her head and submerging beneath
30 or 40 feet of water.
Water Bed Visit ENJOYED.
Attired in a bathing suit, with the
divers helmet weighing on her Shout
ders, Mrs. Pinchot thoroughly enjoyed
her visit to the waters bed.
ut was lovely" she said, land the
sea life and numerous fish were so in
teresting. No, I saw no sharks wher,
I dived, although other members of the
party did. However, no one was ever
bothered by them and I never gave
them thought when I dived."
Despite the fact that she entertained
no fear at the thought of the IMAM
eaters" with which the waters In which
she dived were filled, Mrs Pinchot new
ertheless firmly believes that If shark
is sufficiently hungry he will readily
attack human being.
we gathered indisputable testimony
TO this fact" she remarked, through
out our entire voyage"
Fishing was one of the many sports
enjoyed by those on the Mary Pinchot
Mrs. Pinchot held her share of the
honors in the catches made by the pas
sengers and crew.
"All kinds of fish were caught" she
continued, which frequently through
out our cruises in out-of-the-way places
were used as very acceptable additions
10 the days menu when the fresh-meal
supply had run low"