Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-28
Countess to Venture Alone
In Worlds Worst Spot

times as large as Great Britain and upon
which no European foot is known to have
trod.
only three European travellers have
claimed even TO have gazed upon the
uttermoSt fringeS OF this vast desert,
while the bones of those who have per-
ished III the attempt to do SO now whiten
the path from the Yemen to NeJran.
! These facts. however, do not deter the
Countess Molitor. who already has wan
Iered. with only d small escort OF native
bearers, through savage southeast Africa
and been captured there and held for
ransom By native torturers; who has ad-
yentured, too among the TuregS OF the
Saharan desert, known as the most blood
/ thirsty tribe earth; who has crossed
! the Alps in balloon. made between six
/ ty and seventy flights in aeroplanes and
/ waterplanes been attacked By Apaches
/ in Paris and narrowly escaped from
, them, and who has nursed in the hos
pttais of Germany ard carried on rescue
work In the SlumS of London. at the
outset. she thought of gratifying what
she calls the strain OF gypsy in me- only
by taking a trip around the world-and
the blame for putting the ''across-Ara-
I bia project into her head les at the
door Of DR.. Scott Kettle. AS soon as
tile famous secretary of the Royal Geo
graphical Society found that the countess
! not only was ia king his suggestion seri-
ously, but going mis- original idea about
a thousand per cent better. he hastily
!.
! once the coast has been left behind,
apparently. the whole land of the Arabs
/ is practically unknown territory, whose
most familiar areas have been crossed,
| as one writer puts it, always in haste
and often in fear and 40 doubt when,
some seven weeks ago. the Countess Mol
! itor came over from Paris and told Dr.
! Kettle that she wanted. please. to do
| some exploring. the latter in mentioning
/ Arabia had in mind some comparatively
| short journey inland. which a woman
| might conceivably succeed in accom-
| plishing. though most OF the men who
have tried such have lost their lives In
the attempt
But once DIR. Kettle, carried on by the
seographers enthusiasm. had spoken of
the great Ruba el-KhaH desert some
| cVo.Wp square miles In extent with its
possible buried cities and probable mines
OF precious metals. and its tabled inhab,-
tants. he kindled d flame which he
couldn't subsequently, extin"uish So the
countess made up her mind TO ATTEMPT
the l.lU-nile journey between Jedda on
the Red sea and Mascat on the Gulf of
Oman.
She has decided To sail from South.
ampton for Port Said before the end ot
I December. and hopes by January y &c
reach Jedda. where she exHects 10 devote
sever, Gays 10 arranging her caravan buy.
ing caineis and getting men. At present
in spite of being everywhere counseIe 81
10 have. at least. a male European COM
panion. she is planning to travel with a
party of only seven or eight natives com.
prising one drasoman. five or six men 1,
look after the cameis. which will mum
Der about twenty-five, and one guide
The minimum time in which she hopes Il
comp etc her journey Is between four and
live ronths. and she estimates the ,oe,
Of IL at $1,000. all of which she is bear
. ing herself.
My brother Capt. Otto Won LincIle is
anxious to come with me-" explained IN,
countess, but he is the most imposs biz
man of all TO go with me. as he is the
tallest man in the German army as wei
as one of It's most experienced av.ators
Otto attracts attention wherever he goes
even in Europe. and my wish above al
others. when l get to Arabia is to be in.
cons picuous. Yes. ! shall dress as n ma.
tive woman, but l shall not pretend I.
tie n native. In fact. my great desire I,
To he able to make all those with whom
L come into contact believe that I an
more or less supernatural being ant
/: for this purpose i am going to take al
sorts Of little balloons. electrical device.
and other apparently magical contriv
ances l have thought quite seriously
too. of taking an aeroplane with me- fol
Il ann quite an experienced aviator. and
) you can ntgine what sensation i