Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1904-07-09
[BY H. J. MAHIN.]
Washington Bureau Of the Courier.
WASHINGTON. D. c., July 8.

WdSiiIitSSotiS ~ Ssy vuly os
There appears to be considerable in
side history to the mysterious disap-
pearance of Kent Loomis, brother Of
Assistant Secretary of State Loomis.
who disappeared from the Kaiser Will
helm H. while on a recent trip to Eu-
rope. 1t has developed that young
LOOMS, who lives in Virginia was
carrying a treaty between the United
States and Abyssinia to the latter
country. The usual way to transmit
treaties is through an ambassador or
consular agent, but as Abyssinia is
about 600 miles from any American
representative, special messenger
had to be used in this instance.
The most mysterious feature of the
whole affair centers about Mr. Loomis'
travelling companion. one w. H. Ellis.
Ellis was with Loomis on his trip and
now that the latter has disappeared
has been intrusted with the Abyssi-
nian treaty which he has left to de.
liver to King Menelik, the king of
that country.
Ellis is well known in Washington.
Here he is known as the Duke of
America" or the Hawaiian Count of
Monte Cristo." 1t is said that he as
pires to succeed King Menelik on the
Abyssinian throne. He has been in
Washington frequently and has spent
his money lavishly and during all his
visits has posed as an Hawaiian,
which made him welcome at the best
hotels where negroes are usually
barred. To tell the truth, Ellis is a
mulatto.
Ellis History Investigated.
Since the disappearance of Mr..
Loomis officials of the state depart.
ment have been making some careful
inquiries about Mr.. Ellis. They find
that he is undoubtedly man of large
means and that he has influential
commercial backing in New York, but
the stories of his Hawaiian ancestry
are not credited. 1t is said that he
claimed to be half Cuban, but it is
known that he was born of negro par
ents in Dallas. Texas. He has had a
most remarkable career and has made
large sums of money out of various
enterprises. A friend in Chicago re.
Gently said that Ellis made his start
! in life by promoting negro coloniza.
tion scheme in Mexico. When Ellis
was in Washington at his next to
last visit he represented that he had
sugar estates in Hawaii, coffee plan.
tations in Cuba, copper mines in Old
Mexico and diamond mines in Africa
He had collection of shining gems
worth kings ransom
At Ellis previous visit to Abyssinia
he had met King Menelik by whom he
was dubbed Duke of America" He
has had business in establishing trad
ing posts in that country and the fur
therance Of that scheme is understood
to have been the chief reason for his
visiting the country again. When he
left here he represented that he was
on his way to big lion hunt in Afri
ca. He said he was going to take
about twenty friends with him ant
that the junket would cost him owe,
| $4,000. The only pleasure I get out
of my fortune" he said, 'is giving m,
| friends a good time"
Knew of Treaty.
Ellis, it is understood, had become
acquainted with the fact that the
| United States had treaty which they
were going to send to Abyssinia ant
had asked to be allowed to carry it
| DuG LIS lcluSoL hlu DCCll IlGI WlLl,
refusal. About May 29 he left Wash
ington and did not appear again unit
June 10 when he arrived in town IL
company with young Mr. Loomis. The
two men put up together and appear
ed to be very chummy. When Loomis
with the treaty in his care, left fol
\ Abyssinia Ellis was with him.
AS nothing more is known except
that Loomis has disappeared, each one
must draw his own conclusions. Ger
tain it is that whether Mr. Loomis Is
alive or not, his sudden disappearance
has splendidly fitted in with Ellis de
! sire to present the treaty to King Men
elk in person. 1t is said here and else
where that he is desirous of maxine
a good impression on the old king anG
would not be averse to making him be
lieve that the United States was righ,