The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-02
The Mystery of DIR. Lcichhnrdt.

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Men are still living who remember II
famous journey Of the young German dO
tor. LUDWIG LEICHnARDT, who nearly n ha
century ago travelled for sixteen months
the interior Of Australia, far surprising n
his predecessors in the extent of his discoN
cries. Just as tho notable services OF 81
JOHN FRANKLIN amid tho Arctic leo wer
almost forgotten In the absorbing intcres
of the mysterious tragedy that ended his life
so the memory OF DR.. LEICHHARDT's brillian
success has been dimmed by the long-dis
cussed mystery Of his second great under
taking. He was swallowed up somewhcr
in tho thirst lands Of inner Australia, leav
ing no trace that search parties and oxplor
ers have ever been able to find. Now comes
the news that relics OF the Inflated explore
have been discovered in northwestern Aus
trala and so much credence is given to thu
report that the Melbourne branch Of tn,
Australasian Geographical Society has Sent
an expedition to see il the mystery Of forty
two years ago Is solved at last.
DR.. LEICHHABDT was an enthusiastic nat.
uralist. and the book he wrote on his years
Of exploration and geological studies in
New South Wales made him we'll known
before he undertook his first great journey.
Perhaps no other journey so important was
ever accomplished with such slender re-
sources. The equipment that DR.. LEIGH
HARDT and his seven comrades took on their
sixteen months tramp over $500 miles Of
inner Australia cost only S62j. 1t is need
less to say that they picked up their living
as they went alOug, though nothing was
previously known OF tho resources of the
country they traversed. Starting north
from Moreton Bay, near the site OF the pleas
ant city Of Brisbane, they entered the I'M
known, pushing northward through the
heart OF Queensland, discovering many a
mountain range, many an unheard-of river
and savage tribe, passing from the temper
ate to the torrid zone, mapping the large
Mitchell River from its sources to its mouth.
and then following the coast far west and
north to Port Essington, one of the most
northern points of the continent.
1t was great journey, and LEICHHARDT's
book describing it still has many readers
From end to end it was revelation of the
unknown. Its author never saw the book,
for while it was being printed in London,
and before its appearance in Germany, the
restless explorer was of on his second great
whose mysterious and evil
IDENTIFY tragic termination was destined to be
the talk OF geographers for years.
He started from Moreton Bay in 1S47 to
cross the continent through its central ror-
ton from east to west. Four months later
the last tidings ever heard OF him came from
FitZroy Downs, in inner Queensland. He
tril
was much anxiety felt regarding the little
party. Then began the series of search
expeditions, stimulated by offers Of large
rewards to those who should relieve LEIGH
HARDT or learn his fate. For the next twenty
years all sorts OF rumors were current. One
party alleged that 1t had found his day book.
Another reported that it had met one of his
who was living among savage,,
and learned OF the tragic fate OF the party.
But no trustworthy explorer was ever able to
any Of these stories, all OF which
we're discredited. No relics of the unfor-
5unate party were ever produced and the
reward offered for tidings Of LEICHHARDr
has never been paid.
The present report seems to rest on IL
'ather unsubstantial basis, though many
IRE very hopeful that the right clue has |
,een found at last. A number OF months |
lgo Mr. ALEXANDER MCPHEE, who is said to |
No responsible person, heard at La Grange |
Bay in the Kimberley district, on the north
vest coast OF Australia, that white man
vas living among the natives several days |
Quincy to the southwest. He visited this
ribe and found among them II man an.
rOachlng white III color who, however, WIS
learly OF the Australian type. This result
I his journey had no Importance, but
@ was told by the tribe of another
eople living further southwest, who pos
essed hatchct and quite number
other relies OF party of white men who
lany years ago had died of thirst not far
ON them. Only the older men of the tribe
puld remember the white men. The party
1ns!sted OF two whites and two clothed
lacks, and they had two horses. They
anne from the northeast. This part Of the
australian waste is almost destitute of
alter except in II few rocky reservoirs. The
atives said they would not tell the whites
here water might he found, Tor their own
lppiy was scanty. Tho party pursued
Heir desperate quest and shrr ~ aftcrward
ne natives founi the remains Of The horses.
no liau evidently persisted first. and then
ir h" Ties of the men wrIr discovered. The
hbe had still in th"i r"ssr- sion. besides
ne hatch"t, some .mplcmrHis ana straps
'uLd ON the horses and bones 18th of the
len and animals
Mr.. MCPHEE was not able TO pursue his
lquiiies further but he took the whitisb
australian who is evidently an albino, To
lelbourne and aroused much interest with
Is story, Not a few Australian OK
lorers have lost their lives in the interior
astes, but the fate Of all OF them, except
lat OF LEIcHHARDT, has been clearly re.
called. Fit Is true that explorers persisted
ear the northwest coast of the continent
lere Is no doubt that 1t was the LEIGH.