PHARAOH’S CURSE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20221, 3 February 1934, Page 23 (Supplement)

PHARAOH’S CURSE.

23 Deaths Have Followed Opening of Tomb. HOWARD CARTER DEFIANT, J*ECENT MENTION in the cables of the mysterious death of Mr Arthur Weigall, a famous Egyptologist who was present at the opening of the tomb and sarcophagus of Pharaoh Tutankhamen, in the Valley of the Kings at Luxor, a few years ago, and the report this week of the “ baffling illness ” and death of Mr Albert Lythgoe, an American scientist who was also in the tomb, recalls the astounding chain of coincidences in the form of violent deaths which has come to be known ' as the “ curse of the Pharaohs.” At least 23 people who were at the opening of the tomb have died—by murder and suicide, by accident and illness. All this may be just plain coincidence, but many prefer to believe, as all Egypt believes to-day, that a curse rests on that ill-starred party. Science does not attempt to explain it. Dr Mardrus, the famous Orientalist, went unchallenged by Western savants when he declared that there was “an immeasurable, dynamic force with which the ancient Egyptians surrounded their mummies—a force of which we have only the faintest idea.” The tale of disaster commences with the death of Lord Carnarvon, who financed the expedition, headed by Dr Howard Carter, to explore the tomb of Pharaoh. lie died from a mosquito bite on the face just six weeks after entering the sepulchre. In Egypt, when Lord Carnarvon was dead, they whispered a startling thing: ‘‘When the men in the tomb looked at the mummy of Tutankhamen, they saw a mark on his face. The mark of the mosquito bite was in exactly the same place on Lord Carnarvon’s face.” A few months later Lord Carnarvon's half-brotVer, Colonel Aubrey Herbert, died in London. He had entered the tomb, too, and is reported to have said at the time, “ Something dreadful is going to happen to our family.” Others associated with the expedition who have died are: Prince Ali Fahmy Bey, a rich Egyptian, who was shot by his wife during a quarrel in a London hotel. She was acquitted after being charged with murder. Hallah Ben, the prince’s secretary, who died shortly after the death of the prince. Mr Jay Gould, the American millionaire. He died from pneumonia shortly after visiting the tomb with Lord Carnarvon. Mrs Waddington-Greely, a wealthy American, who committed suicide in Chicago. Mr 11. C. Evelyn-White, the Egyptologist, who committed suicide. Sir Archibald Douglas Reid, who had intended to X-ray the mummy of Tutankhamen.

Professor Laffleur, of M’Gill University, who died at Luxor. M. Benedite, French archaeologist, in the Department of Antiquaries at Cairo. M. Casanova, his colleague, who took part- in research work at Luxor. Hon Richard Bethell, heir to Lord Westbury, who died in his West End club in November, 1929. Lord Westbury, aged 78, who jumped from the seventh floor of his London flat in February, 1930. Dr Jonathan Carver, an Oxford graduate, who assisted Howard Carter, killed in a motor smash m Texas. Mr Arthur Weigall, Egyptologist and author, who died in London only four weeks ago after a mysterious six months’ illness. Mr Albert Lythgoe, American scientist, present at the opening of the tomb, who died last Monday after suffering from a baffling illness. Six French journalists (up to 1930) who entered the tomb at its opening have since died; while a child, Joseph Greer, aged 8, was knocked down and killed by the hearse at Lord Westbury’s funeral. In an interview in 1930 Mr Weigall, a recent victim, admitted that some very strange things (“ call them coincidences if you will,” he said) have followed the Luxor excavations. “ When Lord Carnarvon first entered the tomb,” Mr Weigall added, “ he was in a very gay mood and uttered several jocular remarks. I said, half jokingly, ‘lf he goes down in that spirit I give him six weeks to live.’ . . . Exactly six weeks afterwards he died from the effects of a mosquito bite.” The Hon Richard Bethell named his daughter Nefertari, after the Queen of Tutankhamen. A series of mysterious fires broke out at his home; and he was found dead in his rooms at the Bath Club, Mayfair. But Howard Carter, head of those who broke the peace of the tomb, still defies the curse—and laughs at it. He even stayed in Egypt, saying: “What are these mysterious forces which lurk within the portals? No place in the world is more free from risks!” Be that as it may, he was himself stricken with illness and on the point o§ death at one time, though he recovered eventually.