FAMED ARCHAEOLOGIST

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19879, 4 March 1939, Page 5

FAMED ARCHAEOLOGIST

MR. H. CARTER PASSES

TUT-ANKH-AMEN'S TOMB

(Reed. March 4, 9 a.m.) LONDON, March 3.

The death of the archaeologist, Mr. Howard Carter, the discoverer of the tomb of the Egyptian ruler Tut-Ankh-Amen, has occurred. He was G 5 years of age.

The death of Mr. Howard Carter recalls tlhe strange legend of the curse of Ithe Pharaohs. According to a belief held in Egypt a curse falls on all. who disturb the tombs of its ancient kings. • -

Since the treasures of Tut-Ankh-Amen's tomb were removed, several people who were concerned in the excavations have died under unusual circumstances, and at least two by suicide, following fear of the "curse." The first was Lord Carnarvon, who died in 1923 in Cairo from art illness which originated in a mosquito bite on the face.

In September of the same year, Lord Carnarvon's half-brother, Coloned Aubrey Herbert, died in London. He nad entered the tomb of Tut-Ankh-Amen, and is reported to have remarked .at the time: "Something dreadful is going to happen to our family."

Others concerned in the excavations who have died are:—

Sir Archibald Douglas Reid, a famous radiologist, who had agreed to X-ray tile mummy, died in Switzerland on January 1, 1924. Professor Laffiieur, of McGill University, who won't to Luxor to see the tomfb, died there on February 9, 1924. Mr. H. G. Evelyn-White, the scholar

.;nu Egyptologist, committed suicide in Septeirioer, Ri24, and ielit a note in .vmch were these words: "I knew there .vas a curse on me."

M. Bcnedite, the French archaeologist, who was attached to the Department of Antiquities at Cairo, and M. r'asanova, botih of whom had takea part in the research work in the -Valley of the Kings, died suddenly in 192 G.

Mr. Richard Bethcll was another archaeologist to die while the work •vas in progress. The suggestion that Mr. Betholl had come under the •'curse" was raised when there.was. a series of mysterious fires at his home, .vhere some of the treasures' of Ttit-\nkh-Aiinen's tomlb were stored. A charge of arson was made against a footman, but this was reduced to a charge of wilful damage, and he was bound: over.

Subsequently, Lord Westbury. clad In pyjamas, fell 70ft.. from a seventhfloor flat in St. James' Court, London, lie had been worried about the death of his heir, Mr.' Bethel, in the excavation of Tut-Ankh-Amen's tomb, from, which a discussion arose regarding the curse of the tomb of the Pharaohs. At the inquest the coroner returned a verdict that Lord Westbury committed suicide while of unsound mind. He read letters stating: "I really, cannot stand any more horrors."