IN THE “ROCKIES”

Hokitika Guardian, 8 December 1934, Page 8

IN THE “ROCKIES”

STRANGE EXPEDITION STORY OE FRENCH TRACTORS VANCOUVER,' December 1. Sensational disclosures have been made in regard to the Bedaux overlanding expedition that failed in its attempt to cross Northern British Columbia from east to west, through the Rocky Mountains. A millionaire Frenchman, Charles Bedaux, organised the expedition, and brought with him from Paris five powerful caterpillar tractors, with which he proposed to break trail over the most inaccessible part of the “sea of mountains,” which is Northern British Columbia. The expedition was eventually abandoned, as everyone expected. ► Curious stories began to be circulated. M. Bedaux has, since his return, been busy denying rumours that he brought five French military tractors to be tested, crossing the Canadian Rockies. But he admitted that certain of the tractors were deliberately destroyed,, and that a moving picture was taken of them. In one instance, a cliff had been mined, with the idea of hurting it down the canyon on the tractor. The tractor was lost, but the mine did not explode.