The tribune independent of Michigan. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1933-1935, 1934-03-10
'CURSE-RIDDEN' TOMB
VISITED By 100000
Death of Writer Recalls
Tut" Superstition.

Washington.-The death In Lon
don OF Arthur r. r. b. Weisall.
writer and Egyptologist. who en-
tered the tomb OF King Tut-Ankh-
Amen shortly after II was opened
In 1923, has recalled the supersti-
ton In regard to "Tut-Ankh-Amen's
curse" believed by the credulous
to pursue those who had TO part In
uncoverIng the Pharaoh's last rest
ing place. communication to the
National Geographic society from
DR.. Maynard Owen Williams, who.
as correspondent for the National
Geographic Magazine. entered the
tomb with Mr.. Welgall. tells OF the
many persons who have gone into
the Tut-Ankh-Amen burial cham
Der, hewn from the limestone cliffs
near Luxur. Egypt.
Tourists View Chamber.
"The Official opening OF the In
ner chamber was on February
IS, 1923" writes Doctor Williams.
Prior to that time. probably q dozen
workers and supervisors had been
In and out OF the chamber contain
Ing the kings mummy. though
none OF them knew that the shrines.
sarcophagus and rich collins had &C
tually survived 80 centuries OF
grave robberies. On the 10th a score
OF Egyptian officials visited the
tomb. and on the nth a party OF
about ten Egyptologlsts entered. On
tho day of the official opening the
queen OF the Belgians was the honor
guest. and went In with q group OF
about a dozen companions and on
cIals. On the following day nine
foreign correspondents were admit
ted. including Mr.. Weigall and my
self.
"Soon after this the tomb was tenn
porarlly closed; but after the art
objects had been removed and pro-
tected. the tomb with its sarcopha-
gus and mummy was opened for Wis
Its by the public. Probably 100000
visitors in all have entered the
tomb Twelve thousand visited IL
during two months In 1926.
"rhe finding OF Tut-Ankh-Amen's
tomb became world news. Thou
sands OF columns OF newspaper space
were devoted TO II In every coun-
try. Never before in history had
an archaeological discovery so cap
tured popular interest.
Business men throughout the
world pleaded for the right to use
those 3,3OO-year- designs for
gloves. sandals. jewelry and textiles.
One American silk manufacturer es-
tabllshed a scholarship for study Of
the designs.
Museum Holds Treasures.
"The Incompatible treasures from
Tut-Ankh.Amen's tomb. whose sal
wage and preservation required
years OF arduous work. are now
mere exhibits In the Egyptian mu-
scum at Cairo, where they occupy
several galleries y, 10. C ,s y -; 2
Iasha.
"Soon after the tomb was closed
at the end Of the 1923 season, Lord
Carnarvon. who had backed a
thankless task which led TO q bril-
liant discovery, died az a result Of
an insect bite and pneumonia, and
soon movie producers In BerlIn boz
gan q film. 'Pharaoh's Revenge
based on the theme of evil spirits. In
regard TO the suggestion OF malevo-
lent influences. Mr.. Weigall. al
though q scientist, declared that he
kept an open mind He devoted
to the subject n fantastic chapter
In his volume Tut-Ankh-Amen and
Other Essays
"Such curses AZ we're ascribed
In Egyptian tombs we're designed TO
scare away possible tomb robbers;
but at Thebes the very men who
dug the underground chambers for
the dead and prepared the sarcoph-
agi for the royal mummles some
times tunneled under the site. Thus
they were ready to break through
the floor and the base OF the sar-
cophagus and so withdraw the num-
my and Its jewels. The upper sur
face OF the royal sepulcher would
give no hint that the body had been