Curse Of Pharoahs Does Really Exist.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17878, 21 June 1926, Page 14

Curse Of Pharoahs Does Really Exist.

NOTED SCIENTISTS CLAIM POISON OR “ DYNAMISM ” CAUSED DEATHS OF INVESTIGATORS IN ROYAL TOMBS. J 3. Potent, secret poisons, designed to guard the tombs of the Pharoahs against molestation by the jewel thieves of early Egypt, have proved just as potent to-day as they were 2000 years ago. To them are due the deaths of Lord Carnarvon and two of his assistants, according to the statements of Dr Frederick Cowles, F.R.G.S., who recently returned to Egypt. Dr Cowles, in his statement, which was cabled from London last night, declares that poison in Tutankhamen’s tomb was placed in a coating over the sarcophagus. During the 2000 years in which the tomb remained the poison become dust, but was still so powerful that it exacted its deadly toll on the white despoilers as soon as the tomb was opened.

Dr J. C. Mordrus, an eminent orien- . talist, also has explanations to offer | concerning the mysterious deaths of j investigators. “ Unfortunately it does not surprise a bit,” said Dr Mordrus in an English interview. He sees in the tragedies an example of the inexplicable influence which the Valley of the Kings holds over the lives of men after thousands of years. The death of Lord Carnarvon was only a continuation of the long list, Dr Mordrus said, citing the similar fate of other’ investigators, including Dr Georges Benedito and Dr Casanova, who were collaborating in the work at Tutankhamen’s tomb. Dr Mordrus denies that he is a convert to mysticism, but declared the casualties were due to “ dynamism,” of which we have the most incomplete idea. The first example of this vengeance of the family of Amon, he said, was seen after the theft by the Hebrews of the Ark of the Covenant, which was in reality the Ark of the God Amon, and killed hundreds of priests and Levites who dared approach too close to it. The death of the Earl of Carnarvon during his explorations revived the

. ancient belief that the hand of Nemesis j pursues those who invade the tombs of j the Pharaohs. Scouted by scientists, ' who attributed Lord Carnarvon's death to an insect bite, the belief still persisted that he was a victim of this fate. Marie Corelli was said at that time to have a. book translated from the Arabic, which said that the Egyptian tombs contained boxes of secret poison, presumably placed in them to kill those who despoiled them. Dr Mordrus, who is best known as the translator of “ The Thousand and One Nights,’’ in further bolstering up his case for dynamism, cited the deaths of George Jay Gould, Wolfe Joel and Sir Archibald Douglas Reid, all of whom died of mysterious complaints whilst pursuing explorations in Egyptian tombs. The Egyptians venerated their Royal dead highly, and went to extraordinary lengths to protect them and their tombs from spoliation. It is stated that during a period of 7000 years they knew how to condense around their numbers a “ dynamism ” by means of a magic ritual and amulettes charged with now* unknown fluids and thus avenge their dead against anyone who despoiled their tombs.