The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-25
A TALE OF N0AH'S ARK.
A CHALDEAN ARCHDEACCN SAYS
he FOUND 1T ON MT. ARARAT

/
Ararst, and If 80, Did He Find tn 9
Ark He Discovered
Mountains Of Gold aud the Source
of the Nile.
From the Neto York World
A curious gentleman with a rather odd
name, who claims to be a genuine Chaldean
archdeacon, whose field OF labor is Babylon
and Jerusalem, has recently landed in this
country, and in addition TO his peculiar
mannerisms and style of dress he brings
with him some very interesting stories that
make those of Rider Haggard and Jules
Verne seem prosy aud embarrassing. To
begin with, the gentlemans name is John
Joseph Nouri, with the double-deoked title
of D. D., LII D., trailing on behind.
He says he is archdeacon of Babylon
and Jerusalem and pontifical delegate
general of Malabar aud ex-grsnd
secretary of the Metropolitan archdio-
cese Of Persia and India. It is pre-
sumed he Is in direct line OF promotion for
whatever may be to the right of the line.
The gentleman wears hat that measures
"a feet in hight and about the circumfer-
ence of the common stovepipe. His coat is
|
| and is quilted like the lining Of a smoking
| jacket. He likes nothing better than to
| collect a crowd around him and tell OF his
| adventures As a traveller he can give
statistics that Joe Mulhattan never, in his
widest flights of fancy, dreamed of, and
that even surpass in wonder those weird
stories of Col Ochiltree Of Texas Since
leaving his native home in Babylon
or Jerusalem, wherever the pontifical
demesne may be located, he has
travelled 100000 miles. This has been ac-
compllshed, too, In the remarkably short
space Of seven years, and nearly all on foot.
| Before DR.. Nouri will have reached his
home again, which he thinks will not be
for five years, he will have covered 100000
| miles more, or. in the twelve years journey,
total OF 100000 miles. He never pays
| car fare when the pixies are in
good condition, he says, and scorns any
] well-intended offers of assistance from one
I place to another. A TRIVIAL fact that may
be worth mentioning is that this remarka-
| bic doctor has worn the same pair of shoes
| since the time he started, all OF which goes
to show that Babylonian splendor has not
| altogether died out.
The purpose Of this long journey is with
| a view to eventually write a book on his re-
searches in the old and on the glories of the
new world, which he will have published in
every tongue on the earth. His stories of
| adventure among the mountains OF the
moon in East Central Africa, while trying
| to discover the source of the Nile, are as
| fanciful and weird as those Haroun al
Raschid related to the Great Prophet. He
| speaks of great chunks Of solid gold thst
cannot be lifted by the united efforts of ten
men and which shine SO brightly on
clear day that shields must be worn over
the eyes The doctor exclaimed that
his calling alone prevented him from Load
ing his ship with the valuable metal. He
strongly advocates the formation of a stock
company of enterprising AMERICANS who
shall go over and take possession of these
gold fields. II doesn't have to be quarried
or drilled for it lies in loose solid lamps
ranging in size from robins egg TO a Leer
| keR. The shortest route to the mountains
Of the moon, he says, is to set out from
Alexandria, by way of Cairo, thence down
to Cedar and into Knartoum 10 the Nile
valley. Then to the city of Timbuctoo, the
worlds market for Arabian horses and
camels and elephants. The journey is made
by donkey back on camels, elephants and by
foot in the high regions. The gold fields
begin TO appear after the traveller has left
Timbuctoo about 200 miles TO the rear,
and their wealth of mineral re-
sources increases as the explorer advances.
DR.. Nouri suggests that this would be
grand opportunity th do little profitable
missionarying II the syndicate were made
up of the right kind Of people. He re-
conmends the not unhappy idea of send
ing the ships over filed with Bibles and
hymnals ana copies of the unrevised West
minister confession of faith of the Presby-
| terrain church and bringing them back
lndened with nuggets and powders of pure
| gold. This" ne says, would amply re-
pay the syndicate for any.disagreeaole feat
ureS they m ght enc lunter on the voyage"
which remark might lead the reader to be-
lieve that that 81 foot hat Of the doctors is
all filled with head. He doesn't state
1 hat hn- Ar or ttn Ttt1lt Tra al.
Accident Association insurss Americans
against mishap who invade that country
| for the purpose of carrying a way its wealth.
This is all very interesting, but the most
startling feature of the DOCTORS expert
ences has yet TO he told-the piece de
resistance probably is the proper
| term when SO important matter is referred
| TO- All the gold of the Mountains OF the
| Moon, all the lavish entertainment Of King
| John Of Abyssinia OF wilton he was the re-
cipient, were as nothing compared with his
| great archaeological find One bright morn
ing in March, after a hsIty breakfast of
hot rolls and surprising coffee, the doctor
and his half dozen Abyssinian followers
started out to continue their researches.
| They we're then on the historic Mount
Ararat and Is 900 feet above the sea level
While blowing along through the deep
| snow. stumbling over icy rocks and cursing
| their tough luck generally, the doctors foot
happened to strike something that gave a
| hollow sound as though made Of wood.
20, ho!" said he, whats this" The
| further they investigated the more they be-
gan to see that they had come upon an old
hulk of the long, low rakIsh build, Could
| it be possible that this was the ark of Noah?
| Frantic with excitement the doctor gave
orders for ''all hands to lay to" and remove
the top crust of suow from this mysterious
| bark.
By noon this hal been accomplished, and
the doctor led the way on tour of investi-
cation of the craft. When within a few
| feet of the mizzenmast one Of the men STUN
| bled over something which, upon examiRa-
ton, proved to be golden cherub such as
| the Lord commanded Noah TO place in the
| two ends of the mercy seat. The doctor
couldn't carry the entire cherub with him
but he clipped off one Of the wings, which
he now carries for a pocket piece.
There were no live preServers or menu
cards or old Dresden dishes lying about
whereby the name of "Neah" might pos
sibly be found, but the archdeacon says that
| he took measurements OF the boat, and that
there can be no doubt as to it's being the
only authentic ark, for they correspond
with the measurements given In the Bible.
| When asked in what condition be found this
| wonderful vessel he replied with the same
| 10 hat in eaA in .@HI