Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-02-22
iUTS COFFIN
FOUND INTACT
Case Enclosing Rulers Num-
my One OF splendor
FACE ws1FULL BEAUTIFUL
Noted Scientists Witness UnwrappIns
OF Linen Revealing Pharaoh's
Great Golden Form
Coffin on Sleigh

Luxor, Egypt.-The greatest dis
covery in the history Of Egypt
ology, even, as many claim, in
archaeology, was made in the
plainly adorned sepulchral cham
ber of Tut-ankh-Amen in the Val
ley of the Kings.
In the presence of a gathering rep
resenting the elite Of Egyptology. the
lid Of Tut-Ankh-Amen's great pink sar-
cophagus was raised and stupendous-
ly magnificent mummy case, covered
with plates Of solid gold, was brought
to light.
The moment was the most dramatic
in the history of the discovery of Tut
Ankh-Amen's tomb. By general con-
sent Of those present the mummy
form case which indubitably encloses
the kings mortal remains, immeas-
urably surpasses in splendor and
beauty even the previous magnificen
treasures the excavators in this tomb
have brought to light.
The mummy case is intact. 1t is
described as one of the most wonder
full things of its kind that ever has
been found. The Pharaoh is repre-
sented in high relief, covered with
sheets Of solid gold, more than twice
life size. his serene and beautiful face
exquisitely incised, with glittering
eyes of aragonite and long upcurved
beard Of solid gold.
The fail and sceptre which the king
grasps in his crossed hands are Of
gilded wood, more than three feet
long. From the waist down the broad
wings of protective goddesses meet
across the knees to shield the Pha-
raoh from danger.
When the lid was raised the mum
my-case was found to be covered with
three thickness Of linen, Drowned with
age. This linen when rolled up dis
closed to the bewildered eyes Of the
excayators, "a cleaning. golden man" >"
The mummy case stands in coffin on
what seems to be wooden sleigh on
which doubtless priests dragged 1t to
the Valley Of the Kings.
To picture the scene of this tre-
mendous find one must visualize a
narrow. low-roofed vault, the walls of
which are decorated with rather gar
ish religious scenes which King Ay
had painted in honor of himself and
his predecessors; in the foreground a
group Of guests, bareheaded, in shirt
sleeves and unpleasantly warm. jost-
ling one another in the heat Of the
tomb; in the background, beneath
scaffolding, pulleys and ropes, the
plain, huge mass of royal sarcophagus,
brilliantly illuminated under the blind
ing rays Of an S000-candle-power cleo
trio lamp.
When all had assembled In the tomb
Mr.. Carter turned to the tall. swarthy
figure of the Egyptian Secretary OF
State for Public Works and requested
permission to begin the work of rails
ing the lid of the coffin.
Gentlemen" said Mr.. Carter, I'VE
are going to raise the lid of the sar-
cophagus, and we hope to find the
King within" So saying he placed
himself at one of the ropes running
through pulleys suspended from either
end of the coffin, attached to four iron
clamps gripping the corners Of the lid,
and with four white-clad native fore
men at the other ropes. the work be-
gan.
At last halt was called and the lid
remained suspended good three feet
above the coffin. Mr.. Carter was the
first to glance within. He saw only
a mass of dirty brown cloth, strangely
billowing up 1t was tense moment.
The twenty odd men were for the first
time in history written in the annals
of their science gazing upon the in
violate tomb of king of ancient
Egypt
Mr.. Carter and Mr.. Calender bent
over the coffin and. starting from the
foot. began to roll up the veil. Slowly
and carefully they went about their
work. At first a blackened mass ap-
peared. But then there came glimpse
of gold, and as the covering was drawn
on there was disclosed before the
amazed and enthralled gaze of the
little group Of guests huge golden
figure OF the King.
The King was shown wearing the
mems or folded head dress seen on
the sphinx, and in the center-of which
In lapis lazuli was the sacred ureaus
or cobra. side by side with hawks
head. Framed in the golden folds Of
the wing-like head-dress Tut-Ankh-
Amen's face appeared; it was that
wistful, beautiful boyish face which
is seen so often in the hunting scenes
adorning his chariots. his bows. his
boxes and his chairs. with cleaning
eyes Of aragonite, strangely lifelike, a
slender, finely curved nose, all ex-
quisitely carved sensitive mouth and a
chin adorned with the traditional
....u l.