PHARAOH’S CURSE

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 172, 9 April 1923, Page 7

PHARAOH’S CURSE

WAS IT VISITED ON LORD CARNARVON? STRANGE CONTROVERSY

RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONTINUING EXPLORATION

By telegraph.—Press Association. —Copyright.

London, April 6. Lord Carnarvon's death has intensified tho controversy which has been in progress in England, 1' rance, and America since his illness commenced, as to whether it was due to the malign influence of the dead Pharaoh. Sir Arthur Conan tDoyle telegraphs from New York that powerful elemental or spirits were placed on guard by ancient Egyptian priests to protect the tomb of Tutankhamen, and these may have caused the death of Lord Carnarvon. He considers it probable that during the Tutankhamen era priests possessed the power to create guardian elementsM. L-ancelin, a well-known French Spiritualist, says: “Wo do not know the extent of the power of ancient magicians, but certain curses were undoubtedly uttered against any desecrators of Tutankhamen's tomb.” The superstitious point to a curious feature during the explorers illness, when the lights failed in Lord Carnarvon’s sick room twice about the time of his demise. They also point to the fact that tho specialist summoned from London was unable to arrive in time owing to the boat being late and miss-, ing tlie train to Cairo. Efforts to secure a special train were fruitless. The question now arises as to how I.ord Carnarvon’s death will affect the completion of the excavation of the tomb, as the financial responsibility was his own, and included the carriage of the most delicate art objects to Cairo. He had also undertaken the publication of books with experts’ reports upon tho treasures. It is believed that his will makes known his wishes regarding the tomb. t A legal authority in Egypt has expressed the opinion that the contract was a personal one between Lord Carnal von and the Egyptian Government, which now lapses on account of his death, thus allowing the Government to resume responsibility for a continuance of the work. It is, however considered that the Government will respect Lord Carnarvon’s last Wishes, which are believed to be that Mr. Howard Carter should carry on the task. Lord Carnarvon’s body is to be embalmed. and the burial will take place in England.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

OWNERS OF ANTIQUES PANICSTRICKEN RELICS SENT TO BRITISH MUSEUM (Rec. April 8, 5.5 p.m.) ... „■ v. .-.c.. : London; April-7. The “Daily Express” states that a panic has been created among many superstitious owners of antiques as the outcome of Lord Carnarvon’s death. An avalanche of parcels containing mummies’ shrivelled hands and feet, porcelain and wooden statuettes, relics of ancient tombs, has descended on the British Museum. Some of the relics are regarded as a valuable addition to the Museum. Others are admittedly ancient, but not of much account. - A Museum official said he hoped those who were panic-striken would forward valuable specimens, as scientists rejected superstition, but as a public servant he would not- make a statement. The Museum had had a similar experience before, when the story of the curse of the High Priestess Amen-Ra 'alarmed the superstitious. This arose from a story that a rich American who had purchased an actual mummy was taking it home on the Titanic when the liner was wrecked. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assii.. •

TUTANKHAMEN’S BODY LORD CARNARVON OPPOSED TO REMOVAL London, April 6. The voice of Lord Carnarvon comes as if from beyond the tomb, in answer to the strange and wild charges of desecration of sacred places and the commercial exploitation of the ancient dead which have been hurled at him by number of splenetic pens in Egypt and elsewhere. . “I hope,” he wrote in his last dispatch to the “Times,” “I can almost say I feel sure, that Tutankhamen s body will be allowed tv remain where it was placed so many centuries ago. “There are quantities of sarcophagi and hosts of kings’ mummies in the Cairo museum. I do not believe that anv Government can wish to add to their number. When we open the sarcophagus, which I hope to find intact with the body, photography will enable us to give the world a true portrait of the king. This is surely better than placing the body m a glass case. It may be possible te make a wax copy of the features.” —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.