The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-06-25
STORY TOLD by ELLIS.
Man who Occupied state Room Wi


Man who Occupied state Room with
Loomis.
Paris, June 24.--The officials here
are rot seriously apprehensive of the
whereabouts of Kent J. Loomis BROTH
err of Francis r. Loomis. the American
assistant secretary OF state, who dis.
appeared shortly before or after the
arrival of the North German Lloyd
steamer Kaiser wilhelm II at Ply
mouth. June 90.
The inquiries made tend to show that
Mr. LOOMS wandered off, when the
steamer touched at Plymouth One of
the passengers, GUSTAV Flamm, of
Sac Francisco. on the Kaiser Wilhelm
81 today furnished the American EN-
bassy here with a specific statement
IT, the erect that he saw Mr.. Loomis
go down the gang plank at Plymouth
sith the ether passengers who landed
thcre.
However. the failure of Mr. Loomis
thus lar to report his whereabouts
creates a perpiexing situation, owing
to the governmental mission with
which he vas charged.
The statement of the London Daily
Telegraph that Mr.. Loomis was bear
ing important papers to the Ameri-
can ambassador here. General Porter.
Is denied. The fact is that Mr. Loomis
was proceeding to Abyssinia to deliv-
er to Emperor Menelfx the recently
signei commercial treaty between the
United States and Abyssinia, negotfa-
.ed in the latter part of last year by
the American consul general at Mar
settles, Robert P. Skinner. who went
- Abyssinia for that purpose.
The French government had been
asked to facilitate the journey of Mr..
Loomis and hi caravan through
French Somaliland to the frontier Of
Abyssinia.
1t has now been arranged with will
liam II. Ellis, who accompanied Mr..
Lcomis from New York. to proceed to
Abyssinia with the treaty. which was
wit hthe baggage of Loomis and was
brought here from Cherbourg.
1t is understood that the Abyssinian
treaty was deposited in a safe on the
steamship and later was turned over
TO Ellis. who brought II here. Loom
ISIS baggage, consisting of one trunk
and three valises, also was brought on
and deposited today in care of Consul
General Gowdy. The latter also heard
a lengthy statement prepared by Ellis,
relative to the voyage. This gives de-
tails of Loomis's movements each day,
but does not disclose his present where
abouts.
Ellis has a dark skin, and Is said to
be a Cuban. He occupied a stateroom
with Loomis and II Is understood that
they intended to proceed together to
Abyssinia.
Ellis left for Marseilles tonight,
where he will take the steamer Oxus
tomorrow for Jubutil. from which port
he VIII proceed inland to the capital of
Abyssinia.
Ellis positively declined 10 state
whether he had the commercial treaty
between the United States and Abys-
sinia, but II has been learned from a
reliable source that the treaty is in his
Before his departure FL
lis wrote lengthy letter to one of the
relatives of Loomis. reciting the cir
of the Iatter's disappear
ance The letter says that Loomis re-
manned up late for several nights and
that. therefore. his absence from his
berth on the night the steamer touched
at Plymouth was not noticed. Towards
morning. finding that Loomis was still
absent, Ellis notified the captain and
steward. and thorough search was made
without result.
While Ellis was here, he was in fire.
quent communication with the Ameri-
can Embassy and the Consulate GEN
eral assisting in the telegraphic inqui-
ries which were made in the effort to
locate the whereabouts of Loomis.