FLASHLIGHTS IN THE JUNGLE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2628, 9 October 1909, Page 2 (Supplement)

FLASHLIGHTS IN THE JUNGLE.

NIGHT SNAPSHOTS OF WILD BEASTS.

A photographic expedition, armed with balloons, kites, and flashlights, is about to follow in the footsteps of Mi Roosevelt in Uganda, to “pot lions and lionesses, rhinoceroses, and hippopotamuses with the camera. Mr W. D. Boyce, the millionaire owner of the “Chicago Ledger ana the “Chicago Saturday Blade” —weekly papers with a vast circulation-—is repmisible for this most remarkable expedition. His aim is to enter the wildest parts of Africa, not ‘to shoot wild beasts, but to snapshoot them. He makes no secret of his reason in "oin o. He wanted an original idea, as lie put it, for the “Chicago Saturday Blade,” and he is going to spend £20,000 in carrying out h.s project ot photographing wild beasts- in their from captive balloons and boxkites. There is one man famous all the States over lor his wonderful photographs. He is the pioneer balloon photographer, and his name is George It. Lawrence. Mr W. D. Boyce showed an “Express” representative some of his photographs—marvellous pictures of ruins of San Francisco, football matches and crowds. They are taken at a high altitude by a special camera, and every detail is perfect. £2O A DAY. “I have hired Lawrence for a year,” Mr W. I). Boyce said, “and I am paying him £2O a day.” Mr Boyce is a gentle-faced, softvoiced man, with grey, thoughtful -eyes beaming behind rimless pince-nez, and the forehead of a born organiser.. “We have already shipped ten tons of sulphuric acid and ten tons ol steel filings to Nairobi,” he added, “to make our own hydrogen for the balloons. We expect to reach Mombasa on September 15th, where white guides will take charge of the party. Mr Judd, the guide, is getting the Safari together. We shall have 400 porteTs; each white man wants thirty porters, and there are seven of us, and then we have our balloons and appliances. “The equipment pf the party includes : 3 balloons 23 cameras Cinematograph. 10,000 feet of film. 6000 plates and film. Electrical plant. A whole shop of chemicals. 600 flashlight cartridges. 40 box kites.

10 high-wind kites. “The cameras measure from 3sin. by s Jin. to 22in. by 65m. The balloons and kites are on their way from America. There is an entire cinematograph apparatus, with screens for projections. “It’s an idea of mine to keep the natives quiet. I shall give them free cinematograph shows in the jungle,” Mr Boyce said. “1 havo also a dozen or so gramophones, with the latest re cords. We shall give them Tetrazzini or Caruso after a hard day’s work. Remember there aro 400 natives to be kept in order. t BATTERY OF CAMERAS.

“The box kites are for photography when the wind is too high for balloon, ing. From ten to twenty of them will support one of the large cameras. The greatest feature of the expedition is the battery of cameras. They are automatic instantaneous cameras, for flashlight purposes. Mr Boyce explained how they will work. “We shall place the carcase of some animal as a bait for the.prowling lions. Round the carcase will be six of our great cameras, and close «t hand will be a microphone transmitter, connected with a. cable. “Where shall we be? Why, two miles away at the end of the cable, you bet, with receivers over our heads, listening. If there are lions about wo shall hear them roaring and fighting over the carcase. ‘‘We ought to get some startled expressions on those lions’ faces. There’s no danger to them, but six flashlights are enough to scare the life out of any able-bodied lion, in the darkness of the jungle. We tried it on dogs in. America and got some fine pictures.” The expedition is being organised in London, and Mr Boyce is being assisted by Mr McMillan, of the "Wells Fargo Company.