The sun., 1896-02-25
RemRrkRble Story that Mohnmmednn
Holy Mnn Hns RrOuEht to Ernnce

Messaud Djebari. sheriff. and therefore a
very mrortant Mohammrdan. has been travel.
ling in the sahara, and since then las made n
sensation in France BY asserting that members
OF the famous F!a,ters expedition are still alive
among the Tuaregs OF tac desert. lie thinks It
likely that Col. Flatters himself is among them.
This Is important II true. Mos, Of the French
newspapers are disposed to be skcptical. but
la Geographic prints all article i.vorins the
idea that here may be somcthus in this aston
ishing Information.
For about it:ccn years IL has been supposed
that most Of the members OF the Fla,,ers cxpe-
Gition. including every European in II.
murdered by the treacheruus ruaregs In 1881
Col. Flatters. after very successful rx pioration
In the desert during tho preceding year led
large party south from Algeria. He was nearly
half way across the desert when. according to
all reports. one Of the greatest tragedies OF
African exploration occurred. \ large band OF
Tuarrgs had gathered TO murder the cxped tion.
The Tuarrg guides who were pllo;tns Col Flat
tcrs party led IL. by arrangement. directly
into the trap prepared for ii. Col. Flat
ters. who with one OF his French comrades
were In advance OF the column. and some of his
camel drivers and came.s. WAS suddenly nt-
tackled and he and his friend were killed Then
the Others were set upon and PUT 10 flight, after
a number had been killed. They abandoned
could travel. and out OF nity-nue men. thirty.
including all the Erroprnne, persisted during
this retreat. This .put an end to exploration Ia
that part OF he sahara for many years.
Mr. DJehari ASSERTS tha' some OF these white
mon, and perhaps Col. Flnit"rs himself. were
not killcd. but have ed ever since among tho
Anc!!mn.iarn lGar"g.. "A little sou,h of the
placr wher. the party were attacked This
branch of he lnaregs. ne says. live secluded
from other tribes. have scarcely any CONNER.
cial rriniiun. with any other leoplr. and
through their isolation they hav" been able to
con irca. tie lHCt thai any S.rNiNDIs OF the
dition are living among them.
Those French geographcr- who have faith in
the statements OF Mr.. bJchnI call attention 20
murder of 60" finrtcrs. The stories told by the
natives who escaped we're contradictory. som"
OF the statements ot rntivrs, who asserted that
they saw his body months afte- the tragedy,
stance. that they saw h!- body covered with
branches an! brush. though 1t Is now KNOWN
that III That region there il no vegetation whnt.
ever except the desert saNnOuI. Others said
by the " KEPT d'ordonuancc" Which he wore. but
II turned out that neither be nor my OF his
party wore this sort II hcnd gear. These g""E,
rapIers say II Is not NJ al SURPRISING, iI IT,"
were taken prisoners by Va" IunTcgs and theT
declare That the French Government should
Investigate very carefully the story that Mr.
DJ"har has brought to Europe.
Though they declare this to be national
du'y. there have been no ~'gns. within tn" past
few weeks that the Government intends 10
lively few men IN France who think the story is
worth INVESTIGATING: but 1t IL interesting, NJ
least, that hftesn years after France muGrncl
the irretrievsble loss OF the Flattrrs mission. 10
presage the rapid advance Of France southwarh
to the Soudan, the report shonlI gain currency
and find believers that members OF the party
should still he living In state Of slavery IN the
a n n