Evening star., 1923-02-08
Removal of Treasures IN Annex
Halt Progress to Sealed Tomb
EacaratOrs Believe NO,U Some Time Will
Elapse Before Tutank1tan,en's Num-
my Viii Be Reached.

uOndon Times. world eopyrsht. BY arrange
ment with the Earl of Carnsrvon.)
by Cable to The Star.
LUXOR. Egypt, February S.-Since
Tuesday, in addition to the private
dahabeahs. three large tourist steam
ers have been moored against the
eastern bank of the Nile here. adding
considerable to the seasons population
of this most delightful spot AS was
naturally expected, there was a rush
Yesterday morning for the valley Of
the kings 70 view the tomb OF Pharaoah
Tutankhamen, but all were doomed to
disappointment. in view of the ur-
gent need for Mr.. Lucas and Mr.. Mace
to complete in the laboratory certain
work on which they are engaged, 1t
was decided not to remove anything
out of the tomb today.
The latest arrivals include Lady
Somerleyton, Sir Philips Sassoon, Sir
Louis Malet and Lady Juliet Trevor.
Lord Carnarvon. accompanied by Lady
Evelyn Herbert, has gone to Cairo
on personal business. and is expected
to return on Friday.
Impntience II General.
While there is much general impa-
li"Hce. anu the curiosity or the dis
coverers themselves must be great.
10 definite date for the opening of
the inner chamber has yet been fixed
No definite date has even been consid-
cred. II may be soon or 1t may be at
some time distant. The removal of the
objects from the outer chamber is nearly
finished, but before more articles are
brought out into 1t, reconverting II
into sort of lumber room. the search
OF the chamber must obviously be
r0h l,~ e
all the sand dust on the floor. This.
IN fact, has been going on intermit-
tently.
Then there is the problem of the
so-caIled annex. You have been In
termed CT the general nature of the
annex, which is a second apartment
opening out Of the present cham
Der and absolutely packed with OBJ
Iects yet untouched.
The only present access to this
apartment is a small hole close to
the ground, still half concealed by the
sole remaining royal couch. This
hole was made by robbers and is
large enough TO admit the head and
shoulders of man. The only view
of the interior of this apartment yet
obtained has been by a privileged
few who have been permitted to
crawl under the couch and put their
heads through the hole. holding an
electric bulb in their hand.
Floor Is Lower.
The floor of this inner annex is
some feet lower than the outer cham
ber, so the person who is looking in
gazes down on the whole area of
the floor below. That area is crowd
ed from wall to wall with objects of
more or less beauty and value. In
general these articles are smaller
than those found in the outside
chamber, but opinions differ as to
whether they are more beautiful and
more precious or not.
All agree, however, that this apart
ment alone contains more bewilder-
ing collection OF stuff. much of which
is unquestionably of great beauty.
than that lighted on in any previous
discovery.
The problem of getting the things
out of this annex is most serious. The
robbers. in making their hole. pushed
the stones inward instead Of pulling
them out. and crushed some of the ar
ticles. The floor below is so crowded
that there is no clear space for any one
to step down. Somehow. presumably.
the hole must be carefully enlarged
and sufficient articles be lifted and
brought out to make sufficient space
In which to stand.
May Use Big Lever.
Perhaps this may be done by thrust
Ing through plans fastened down at
the interior end on a lever principle,
making a sort of staging from which
the things below can be lifted and
passed back through the hole until suf-
hcient room has been cleared to per-
nit investigators to step down. This,
however, is only one of the suggestions
discussed. and the difficulty will Some-
how be coped with.
The Immediate problems are of an
other kind. Through this hole, now
that the outer chamber is open. some
cir must be leaking into The annex.