The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1948-06-17
Up and
DOUn :
the Street

We wonder how many of our
readers ever heard Of HeadleSs
valley-which happens to be
one of the worlds mystery spots
Ia dale of legend and death.
We read something about it not
long ago, but We never expected
to meet anyone who is actually
going to explore the place.
We did though. The gentle
man In question is Al TorriS.
secretary-treasurer Of the Ma
hanni expedition, organized at
the University of New Mexico
in Albuquerque. He and his
pilot, Jerry Eldred set their
private plane down on the fair
grounds airstrip Tuesday and
Nj. Torris was guided to Cur
office by a kind friend.
The proper name of Headless
valley is the Nahanni. 1t lies
within the Arctic circle and
prospectors and adventurerS
have returned to tell the tale
of its peculiar characteristics
only when they stayed close to
its outer borders.
It Is fairy well established
that the bodies of two pros
pectors-minus their heads
were found In the valley some
20 years ago, and there have
been unverified reports of other
headless skeletons. The valley
is dotted with hot springs, and
vegetation is lush in spots at
least. There are also rumorS of
a tribe of inhabitants in the
upper reaches who do not care
for strangers. The decapitations
which gave the valley its name
have been credited to these
mysterious people-but the more
literal minded have advanced
the theory that grizzly bears
might be responsible.
a CT who served in Alaska
and who heard obaut the Ma
hanni there carried the story
with him to New Mexico when
he went there to attend the
university. The group, which
will probably be composed OF
IL men, studied all aVailible
data on the area before plan
ming their expedition and will
keep in contact with the Can
adian Royal Air force by radio.
The group will gather geologi-
cal. anthropological and botan-
icai information. One of their
aims is the discovery of ore
beds of value. They expect to
write a book about their ad-
venture and will also take num-
erous still photos and about
1000 feet of motion pictures.
Mr.. Torris informed us that
the group will assemble in Ed
monton, Canada, and will fly
into the valley and establish a
base camp. Information gather
ed he said. would be dissemin-
ated to institutions of learning:
It sounds like a wonderful
adventure to us. We're going to
he anxious to hear what. these
modern explorers find. And it
inst goes to show that there
are always new frontiers, even
on our thoroughly explored
globe.
Rodeos always mean spills.
chills and narrow escapes, AND
fba COWBOYS take plenty OF
chances for their money. Ere
mIently it's the ones who dc
get hurt or who have very mar
row shaves that don't get any
part in the purses at all.
We've seen a. lot of hazar-
dous circumstances develop in
a rodeo arena, and this years
Hardin rodeo had its share. Gun
personal nomination for the
Iuckiest lad we've seen in many
a wear is Billy Three Irons. A
bronc listed as reservation on
the rodeo program unseateo
Billy in nothing flat, ana ne
hit the dirt hard. Before he
had time to figure outIwhat hao
happened the bronc ran across
his recumbent form, wheeled
and bucked across him again
but Bill was untouched.
We think almost everyone II
Hardin saw the incident, ane
q good many of the onlookerE
could hardly be convinced thai
the ex-baskethall star would bt
able to walk out of the arena
,,n5ar bic OWN steam. So