The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-22
TOMB OF NOAH.
New York Explorer Returns
With Photographs
Located at Kerak, 60 Miles
Southeast of Jerusalem.
INFALLIBLE PROOFS.
Also Discovered the Rock Which
Moses SmOte.
Strange Legend of the Native
Tribes Related.

New York, Nov. 22-The finding of
Noah's tomb in Palestine by Charles Alex
ander Hornstein on his recent trip of ex-
ploration identities one of the most ancient
landmarks of Biblical history. It forms
a connecting link between the present
time and the age of the Deluge.
Mr.. Hornstein has brought back with
him the most infallible proofs of his dis
covery-photograph showing distinctly
the tomb of Noah, the place where Moses
smote the rock and drew forth water, and
some places and objects of the surround
ing country.
miles southeast of Jerusalem The course
which Mr.. Hornstein and his party took
in making his discovery was made by way
Going down to a point on the shore
nearest Jerusalem they set out on Sep
@enf Sal boa Th pead sea Mas eGoss9d
In southeasterly course in three hours,
J and the boat then cruised southwark along
Upon Mr.. Hornstein's trip a storm arose
bar. For hours the waves washed over
the little party of explorers. At daybreak
taken, and the long, steep climb up over
the hills, was begun. The ride was
continual ascent for seven hours, The
party stopped twice on the road to rest.
rms part OF the Journey was also made by
night, to avoid the intense heat of the sun
Kerak was reached early the next morn
Ing. 1t was then necessary to obtain per-
mission from the resident Turkish gov
graphs and explore the town and vicinity.
Mr.. Hornstein was received with cour-
tesy by the governor and obtained favors
which have rarely been extended to trav-
elers in that region. In addition to an
nished By By the governor. With their as
S1Stance Mr.. HOrnStein was able quickly
70 Tho9gh near tR 3 City ~ Of Kera famous
for its ruins, this spot Of such deep and
looked by travellers and pilgrims to the
on a rocky knoll opposite Bybars
tower a little to the northwest of the
city. Mr.. Hornstein found the tomb bear
ing marks of extreme antiquity. 1t was
9 feet long. The face of 1t was clean and
free from debris. In the native. tongue
it was known Sidna Nuh-NOah's tomb.
Even to the Bedouin tribes there was
the 6eTioa Of +l 6eIi1Ie t0 InodeItn tiTnas
has been held sacred for ages.
The top of the tomb is covered to a
great height with bits of pottery, glass
vessels and sticks with pieces of cloth
attached, presented by the natives as vo-
tive offerings at shrine.
Walls have been built around the tomb:
other tribes make pilgrimages to the place.
These people have a story accounting
for why Noah selected this as his burial
place There was a certain knoll of this
| lofty plateau, just outside the town. where
he used to go and g,2ze out over the vast
| sea 5000 feet below and the winding river
Jordan leading away to the north All
about were steep ravines, yawning chasms
and deep valleys of the most wonderful
The. natives think the patriarch was in
sPired with the PROPHETIC thought, that IN
! be worked out. So he entreated God that
he might be allowed to end his days and
there to prepare his sepulcher
The patriarch's prayer was granted, but
shortly before his death he again commit
ted the sin of drinking the wine and be-
coming drunk For this offense it is said
| that God cut off part of his tomb by caus-
ing a great landslide. Noah was a very
tail man; in fact, he was a giant, for it is
| of that period that the Bible says, There
were giants in the earth in those days"
Because Noah's tomb had been cut in
! two he could not be buried at full length.
! It was necessary to double his legs under
his thighs to fit his remains to his tomb
Southwark of Noahs tomb is where
Moses struck the rock and brought forth
water: Its approach is through the Six.
! This is narrow passage or chaSm be-
| tween high rocks, which rise either
| side from so to 200 feet.
1t is about 10 feet wide in the narroWest
part and 40 feet in the widest. The bot
| tom of the passage is covered with oIean-
| der bushes, through which the waters of
! the Ain Musa flow. The length of this
passage is about a mile.