The Daily Alaska empire., 1945-06-08
Bu RALPH MORTON

by hALfH MOnI ON
 HOLLANDIA, Dutch New Guinea, June 5.-Delayed) A wartime air tragedy has unlocked in dramatic fashion the mysterious Hidden Val ley of Shangri-la."
 Paratroopers-the first men from the outside world to invade the iso- lated home of six-foot, spear wield- ing tribesmen-are building glider field in the valley. 150 miles south west of Hollandia, to rescue 30- year-old WAC and two Army air men.
 GA dispatch today, June 8, from Manila by Associated Press Corres- pondent Dean Schneider, said the rescue still had not been effected, but the survivors were safe and living comfortably
 The trio are the only survivors among "A Army personnel in a transport plane which crashed into the four-by -25-mile jungle-sur- rounded valleys Aranje mountain wall "A days ago during a sight seeing trip.
 To Make Rescue Eight Filipino paratroopers and a medical assistant have been para chuted to effect the rescue. The plan is to build the landing site, send in the glider, then jerk it into the air with low-flying CAT by means of grab-line.
 The trio are in constant contact with circling planes, using para chuted -talkie. They are in good spirits and ask about world news.
 Food and medical supplies are dropped to them. The natives, while slow to make friends. have not been hostile.
 Funeral Services
 An odd funeral service, with Catholic and Protestant rites observ- ed II ,O00 feet above the wreckage in a circling aircraft, has been held for the dead. Twenty crosses and a star of David for a Jewish victim were dropped.
 The surviving trio:
 WAC Cpl. Margaret Hastings, Os- wego, New York. It. John B. McCollom, Trenton, Missouri.
 Sgt. Kenneth w. Becker, Kelso, Washington.
 21 Killed in Crash
 The CAT, in which 21 others were killed, crashed about p. m. May 13 against a mountain which rises up to 17,000 feet. The mountain helps form the wall around the fabulous valley where an estimated 50,000 to 100000 natives live in walled com- munities, completely shut off from the world outside by jungle and mountain areas largely unexplored.
 Apparently warning on each other, the walled communities keep sentin- els atop tall posts. They till the fertile valley intensively. terrace the mountain slopes and raise enormous hogs.
 Wreckage Spotted May 16 the wreckage was spotted high on the mountain wall and the two men and the woman could be seen alive near the burned fuselage. They were suffering from slight burns and shock
 Lieut.. McCollom said the explosion and bright glare of the burning plane attracted natives from the valley.
 Most of Cile natives. once thought possibly to be head-hunters, remain aloof but officers believe they will not attempt to harm the Americans.
 T am fine and enjoying it all" ]" said WAC Hastings in clear firm voice over the walkie-t -talkie. The 10O-pound Corporal wore reg ulation WAC slacks.
 Rites Over Site
 On May 26, the funeral service plane took off from Hollandia and arrived over the crash site just as the setting sun slanted it's rays against the perpendicular mountain walls.
 Out of the depth have I cried unto Thee, oh Lord" intoned Col August Geardard, Catholic priest, of Milwaukee, Wis.
 It. Col Carl Mellberg, Dayton, Ohio, conducted the l9-minute Protestant service.
 | One of the fliers over Shangri-la describe it as richer farming area than any part of the United | cs4nf es al. Cntaa An ---