Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-27

petitions in history we're recalled to
washington explorers yesterday by the
death of Richard K. Peck, who was
killed in test flight at Chicago yes
terday.
Peck was the pilot Of the Smith
sonian expedition in 1924 into the
totally unknown Charles Louis Noun
tains Of Dutch New Guinea. which
opened up to science probably the
largest UNEMPLOYED area OF the habita-
BILE world. Two years later he was the
pilot of the Department of Agriculture
expedition headed by DR.. E. w.
Brandes. which few thousands of miles
over the great interior rivers and i'm
penetrable Jungles of British New
Guinea.
The Smithsonian expedition, Joint
undertaking with Dutch scientific
agencies, was headed by Mathew w.
Stirling, now chief of the Bureau of
American Ethnology, discovered in the
mountain valleys race of pigmies,
probably the worlds most primitive
people, who hitherto had existed un-
known to the rest of the world, pre-
serving much of the culture of an
earlier day. The mountain passes were
separated from the coast settlements
by 300 miles CT impenetrable jungle,
which served as a barricade to the
home of the strange people Only fan
tastic rumors of them had seeped
through the forests.
Many Dangers in Way.
Stirling. who had just resigned as
curator of ethnolcgy at the National
Museum. formed the project OF flying
into their country. But it was project
as dangerous, in many ways, as the
various polar flights which attracted
so much attention later. There were
practically no landing places on the
way. Nobody had the slightest idea of
what conditions would be found in the
mountain foothills. There we're no
maps and most of the flying, because
of the continually overcast conditions,
would be blind, with only a compass
for guide. Once in the mountains
the Americans had no reason to believe
that they would be Hospitality received.
The strange inhabitants were reported
to be exceptionally bloodthirsty head
hunters. ss
Stirling started out with two, pilots
Hans Hoyt end Peck. Hoyt died CT a
fever in New, Guinea and most OF the
time Peck was the only pilot It was
largely due to his skill and courage,
Stirling said today that the expedition
was enabled to get safely into the
mountains and return Once there
Peck took over the motion picture pho
Biography and had, Stirling said, prsc-
tically perfect success under perhaps
the most difficult conditions ever con-
fronted by camera operator. Always
the light conditions were poor and the
natives would not pose.
Large Collections Made.
This was one Of the earliest uses of
the airplane by explorers. The polar
and transatlantic flights came later
partly influenced by the success of this
expedition. Once in the mountains,
having dropped out of the sky into the
midst of this people isolated almost
since the beginning of human history,
they were able to establish friendly re-
lations. Large collections were brought
out in the plane, including clothing,
musical instruments and weapons of
the pygmies and their grim trophies of
war, dried human heads.
After the first reconnaissance flight,
Stirling said today, the expedition made
numerous other flights, taking in al
together more than 5000 miles. All
was over totally unknown country
where forced landing would have left
the explorers with little chance of es-
cape Due to Peck's skill, none was
necessary. The American half of the
great collection now Is in the National
Museum.
Sugar Plants Sought.
This expedition concentrated scientific
attention on the great. UNEMPLOYED
tropical island, the worlds greatest
area of mystery. The next expedition
was for the exploration of British New
Guinea, almost equally unknown, for
varieties of sugar plants which were
reputed to grow there and which, it
was believed, might be introduced into
certain areas of the United States.
Peck was chosen pilot because of his
experience with the Stirling expedition.
The expedition was sent out by the
Department of Agriculture under the
leadership of DR.. E. w. Brandes, sugar
plant expert.
The project was to fly along the
courses of the great interior rivers of the
island and their tributaries, landing in
places where there were likely prospects
for plant collecting. This expedition
also came in contact with the mysterious
natives and brought back large collec-
ton of chronological as we'll as botanical
material. The cultural collection now Is
at the National Museum.
Peck" Stirling said today, was not
trained as scientist, but when con-
fronted with the work and peculiar re-
quirements of the scientist he met the
test we'll, to say nothing of his handling
of the airplane undsr the most difficult
circumstances. Because of participating
in both these expeditions 1 think there
is little doubt but that this man knew
more of the great island of New Guinea