Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 July 1910 — GUIANA SNOW PEAKS [ARTICLE]

GUIANA SNOW PEAKS

Dutch Expedition Finds High Range of Mountains on Island. Existence of Glittering Ice-Clad Summits Prove to Be Fact —Other Explorers Hitherto Unable to Penetrate Wilderness.

The Hague.—-Until recently none of the many exploring expeditions sent out by England, Germany and Holland had ever succeeded in penetrating into the heart of New Guiana, the great island which is partitioned among the three nations. Swamps, forests and many other difficulties stood in the way, to say nothing of the natives, who were reputed to be savages devoted to head-hunting and cannibalism. Some progress, however, was made. The courses of several rivers were determined and the existence of a lofty range of mountains was verified. The goal of several Dutch expeditions had been the Orange range, the highest peak of which had been named Wilhelmina, and considerable information about it had been obtained. Several of the explorers claimed to have seen snow-covered summits, but about this there was a difference of opinion, some saying that the whiteness might be due to chalky formations of rock. Last year Professor Lorentz and a small party of Nether landers set out to reach these mountains which had seemed so elusive. The professor was familiar with the coast regions and the language of the natives, and he Blso had the assistance of the government. Following a river into the interior, the party succeeded in reaching a high table land never before visited by white men, but the snowy range of mountains could not be seen on account of the proximity of the foothills. Feeling sure that they were proceeding in the right direction, the party pushed on in spite of innumerable difficulties and at last saw the glittering goal of their journey in the far distance. One of the peaks they discovered was christened Juliana. Though most of the members of the expedition were suffering from fever contracted in the jungles, they continued on, leaving all unnecessary articles behind and establishing supply depots for the return trip. The (foctor in the party was too ex-

hausted to proceed and had to be left at one of the depots with some natives. Doctor Lorentz, J. Van Nouhuys and four natives made the final dash and succeeded in reaching the glaciers and fields of eternal snow on the summit of Mount Wilhelmina, more than 15,000 feet above sea level. Several photographs were taken at the highest point and the Dutch flag was planted. Then a hurried return was made, in the course of which Doctor Lorentz sustained a bad fall. He was internally Injured and his companions had to remain with him all night in an exposed spot on the mountain while a terrible storm of wind and snow raged about them. Other mishaps occurred on the return trip and the members of the expedition would have died from starvation if a relief party had not reached them at the last moment When they finally reached Alkmaar, the government coast station, they were welcomed with flags and triumphal arches as heroes who had suffered and accomplished much in the service of science.