Evening star., 1932-04-17

L hidden spacious Subterranean cavern, on
the Shiny floor of which human feet have
not trodden for three centuries
Ranged side by side here, and covered
with the dust and mud of years, lie about
80 skeletons which believed to hold in their
bony and long-dead hands the key to
absorbing historical mystery.
Vencmous snakes, whose very touch is death,
make this cave their nest and dart about among
the skeletal remains. For 300 years they have
guarded their grsly secret vigilantly and well.
But now an expedition is on its way to try
to solve the riddle of the Central American
cavern, to delve into the geology, history and
natural science Of this little known part of the
world, and to shed more light the Spanish
invasion of Central America.
Making the venture are several distinguished
scientists, Count Iya Tostoi, kin of the famous
Russian novelist; camermen-and Douglas D.
H. March, Philadelphia snake man" His
task will be to guard the party against attack
from reptiles-a task that he has virtually made
his life work.
1T was while he was director of the neotropical
station Of the Anti-Venom Institute, at Tela,
Honduras, years ago, that March bundered
upon the cavern, hidden by thick green plant
growths on the slopes of small hill
He did not dare to enter at that time, because
of the darkness and the possible danger lurking
within. But he heard the sound of an under
ground river, and he able to see that the
cavern extended for miles beneath the earth.
The skeletons he saw, he believes, are only
a few of the number actually there. From the
hidden location of the cave, and from the
natural breastworks which barricade it against
intrusion he thinks it probable that band OF
Indians, 300 years ago, here made their last
gallant stand against Spanish invaders-and
starved to death in the siege
Household too,s and religious emblems of
these simple folk are probably secreted some
where in the cavern, March believes, and may
throw new light upon the history of Maya
like people which cnce inhabited that region
Existence of the cavern has been kept secret
by March since he made his discovery until
now
Count Tolstoi Is the field director of the ex-
pedition, which is backed by Kermit Roosevelt,
and which left New York in February for
Honduras.
| lNTIL the last moment Kermit Roosevelt
~ had planned to be member of the expe-
dition Press of business duties however COM
PEELED him to withdraw and to take his thrills
Vicariously as its sponsor.
Sherman B. Pratt we'll known explorer leads
the party. DR.. George B. Shattuck scientist
seeks geological remains the trip and John
j. Speiden concerns himself with the botany of
the region. Floyd Crosby and Gerald Never
went along cameramen, and Mrs Crosby
and Virginia Furman, stenographer, are
included in the party.
Laden with a veritable arsenal of rifles and
shotguns, the expedition hopes to bag many
specimens of animal life for the New York and
Philadelphia ZOOS. Giant iguana and ant bears
will be hunted and snakes particularly sought
and that Is where Douglas March comes in
For 20 years he has studied snakes snake
bites and snake Serums. He makes dangerous
living by extracting venom from the fangs of
poisonous snakes for the manufacture of serum
in Philadelphia.
He even lets poisonous snakes bite him not
only In the cause of science, but some times
"for fun"
He makes pets Of them and understands their
ways-the rattlesnake, the deadly fer de lance
with menace in its every slithering movement,
the death-fanged reptiles of Central American
jungles and the treacherous water moccasin of
Southern swamps.
He likes snakes and has worked with them
for more than 20 years.
He has achieved recognition as one Of the
worlds formost experts snakes and snake
serums For many years he labored In the
green, moist fastness of Honduras as director
OF the anti-venom laboratory.
He Is as famili1r with jungles and jungle
ways as he Is with the expanse Of lawn in his