The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-26
IS FLATTERS STILL ALIVE?
Remarkable Story That Mohammedan
Has Brought TO France.

Messaud Djebari. sheriff, and therefore
very important Mohammedan, has
been travelling In the Sahara, and since
then has made a sensation in France by
asserting that members of the famous
Flatters expedition are still alive among
the Tuaregs OF the desert. He thinks IL
likely that Colonel Flatters himself is
among them. This Is important II true.
Most Of the French newspapers are dis
poscd 10 be skeptical, but La Geographic
prints an article favoring the idea that
there may be something In this astonish-
ing Information.
For about fifteen years II has been sup
posed that most Of the members of the
Flatters expedition, including every
European in 1t, were murdered by the
treacherous Tuaregs. In 1881 Colonel
flatters, after very successful explora-
tions In the desert during the preceding
year, led large party south from Alge'
ria. He was nearly half way across the
desert when, according TO all reports,
one OF the greatest tragedies OF African
exploration occurred. A large band OF
Tuaregs had gathered to murder the ex-
petition. The fuareg guides who were
plotting Colonel Flstters' party led II, by
srrang ment, directly in TO the trap pre-
pared for it. Colonel Flatters who, with
one of his French comrades was In ad-
vance of the column, and some OF his
camel drivers and camels, were suddenly
attacked and he and his friend were
killed. TLen the others were set upon
aud pot to flight, after number rad
been killed. They abandoned their bag
gage and started north as fast as they
could travel, and out OF fity-nine men,
thirty, including all the Europeans,
perished during this retreat. This put
an end to exploration in that part OF
the sahara for many years.
Mr.. Djebari asserts that some OF these
white men and perhaps Colonel Flatters
himself, were not killed, but have lived
ever since among the Auelimmiden Tuar-
egs, little south Of the place were the
party were attacked. This branch OF the
Iuaregs. he says, live secluded from other
tribes, have scarcely any commercial re,
lations with any other people, and
through their isol tio1 they have been
able TO conceal the iCct that any surviv-
ors OF the expedition are living among
them.
Those French geographers who have
faith in the statements of Mr.. Diebari
call attention 10 the fact that there was
really no proof Of the murder of Colonel
Flatters. The stories told by the natives
who ecaped were contradictory. Some
Of the statements of natives, who asserted
that they saw his body months after the
trag dy, were evidently fantastic. They
said, for instance, that they saw his body
covered with branches end brush, though
it is now known that in that region there
is no vegetation whatever except the
desert saxaoul. Others said that they
recognized the body of Colonel flatters
by the "kepi 'ordonnance" which he
wore but il turned out that neither he
nor any Of his party wore this sort OF
headgear. These gee graphers say that II
is not ar all surprising IL the leader Of
the expedition and some OF his men were
taken prisoners by the Tuaregs, and
they declare that the French government
should Investigate very carefully the story
that Mr.. Djebari has brought to Euorpe.
though they declare this to be ma
tional duty, there have been no signs,
within the past few weeks thst the gov
ernent intends TO take any action. In
fact, there are comparatively few men in
France who think the story is worth
investigating; but il is interesting, at
least, that fifteen years after France
mourned the irretrieyable loss of the Flat
tiers mission, to which the whole nation
had looked 10 as likely TO presage the
rapid advance of France southwark to the
Soudan, the report should gain currency
and find believers that men bers OF the
party should still be living in a state OF
slavery in the center of the sahara.