FAMOUS EXPLORER'S DEATH.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 165, 14 April 1916, Page 3 (Supplement)

FAMOUS EXPLORER'S DEATH.

Sill CLEMENTS MARKHAM. MAX WHO MADE QUININE CHEAP. The death occurred recently of Sir Clements Markham, at his house in Eccleston-square, London. Sir Clements had been confined to his room at his house for some days with an attack oT gouF, and it was his practice to read in bed with a lighted candle by his side .

Lady Markham had been sitting with him 011 Saturday afternoon, and Had only left him a few infinites when her maid heard cries for help coming from Sir Clement's room. She hurried there and was met by a cloud of smoke coming from the bed, which was on fire. In response to her alarm the butler picked up a rug, and, rushing to the room, wrapped it round Sir Clements, who had been trying to extinguish the flames, which had set fire to his own night attire. Sir Clements was carried downstairs and medical assistance summoned, but lie ha a' received severe burns about the upper part of his body and he died on Sunday evening. It is thought that in getting out-of lied Sir Clements knocked the lighted candle on to the bedclothes, which immediately caught fire and quickly involved the other contents of the room, which was gutted before the outbreak was extinguished.

ROMANCE OF QUININE

Sir Clements was born on July 20, 1830, so that he was a mouth older than the Austrian Emperor. He came of a famous naval family which has given England many brilliant officers, and in the natural order of things he entered the sea service in 184-1. He remained in it only eight years, resigning to give greater scope to his passion for travel and scientific investigation. He was one of the survivors of the Arctic expedition of 18-10. Two veara later ii<; began the exploration of Peru and the unknown forests of the Eastern Andes. There tho cultivation of the cinchona or quinine tree attracted his special attention. On his return home he was appointed a member of the Board of Control which then governed India, and at once he began to press the importance of introducing the quinine plant into Inc.ia for two purposes—to reduce its price and to supply the natives in the malarious districts with the niost precious of drugs. In 1 BGO he went to South America to obtain trees. At that date quinine Was 10s an' ounce in London and £'l an ounce in Calcutta. The wise men treated his mission with cold scorn and even Huxley scoffed at his proposals. None the less, he established the cultivation of the cliincona tree in India and as one result of his splendid work, from which lie personally derived 1 110 profit, brought down the price of quinine to only « shilling an ounce in London and a penny an ounce in India. It may be doubted whether any single man has conferred a greater benefit on the human race.

ARCTIC IXTERESTS. The next adventure of his life was his service as geographer with the Abyssiaian Expedition of 1867-S, when he witnessed the storming of Magdaia. In 1874 he accompanied the Arctic Expedition under Sir G. Nares, twenty years after he had accompanied Sir L. MeClintoek in an Arctic expedition, which was noteworthy because in it sledge travelling was tried for the first time. His interest in Polar discovery remained strong, and' he was one of the organisers of Captain Scottt's first expedition wilich achieved such wonderful results. He had to plead hard with the Government and public when Captain Scott was icebound on the Antarctic continent and a relief ship became necessary to rescue him. After 1913, however, he thought the importance of Polar expeditions had passed and was inclined to discourage them. He is well known to a very large section of the public by his work in London as indefatigable president of the Royal Geographical Society. He remained hale and vigorous into extreme old age, combining the gentle, kindly sargaeity of a Xestor with the achievements of a Ulysses. His publications are very numerous, and among them Avas a defence of Richard 111., for whom he entertained a quaint enthusiasm.