LOST BARONET MYSTERY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 444, 24 December 1908, Page 4

LOST BARONET MYSTERY.

Sir Arthur Curtis Declared to be Alive.

The sensational statement that Sir Arthur Curtis, the English baronet who disappeared ten years ago on the overland trail to the Yukon, is still alive and living ahormil-liko existence in British Columbia, is made by Thomas W. Cole, an explorer and frontiersman (says a New lork message of October 23rd). Sir Arthur Curtis accompanied the “Star Pack’’ train, which left Ashcroft, on the Canadian Pacific Railway, in June, 1898, for the Klondike goldfields. He disappeared during the journey, and eventually a skeleton was found which was identified as that of the missing man. Mr Colo was a member of the same expedition, and lie now declares that Sir Arthur Curtis is living in the Ashcroft district of British Columbia, trapping animals and trading their skins for food. Ho alleges that Sir Arthur Curtis told him that he was overburdened with troubles, and hence his present life.

The provincial police authorities have been instructed by the Government to investigate and report on this new development in the remarkable mystery. The disappearance of Sir Arthur Curtis, and the long search for him by the other followers of the “ Star Pack ” train, nearly brought disaster to the entire expedition. After a rough experience, the expedition arrived on June 10th, 1898, near the Nine-mile camp, on the overland route to the Klondike. Five of the horses had strayed away, and members of the party slartcd after them, Sir Arthur Curtis being one of them. He failed to return with the other men.

The search, in which some Indians co-operated, lasted nine days, and was then declared hopeless. The members of the expedition suffered great privations owing to scarcity of food. Mr Boger Pocok, who was in charge of the “ Star Pack ’’ train, and who relates the story of Sir Arthur Curtis’s disappearance in his autobiographical work, “ The Frontiersman,’’ adds : “ For months there were luri d de • tails of search expeditions, of Indians holding the body for ransom, of a skeleton identified by a . ring with armorial bearings, then came rumours of the man himself being seen alive in England. I have no facts or theories.”

After the Probate Court gave leave to presume bis death, Lady Curtis married Colonel Boberl Maziere Brady 8.G.A., of Buncrana, Co. Donegal. Sir Arthur’s son, Roger, who succeeded to the title, is now twenty-two, and resides in Hampshire. The mystery is deepened by the statement by a member of the expedition now in England to the effect that be has no recollection that any person of the name of Cole took part in it.