THE CHINA MAIL, OCTOBER 27, 1989
TO-DAY'S STRANGE STORY OF REAL PEOPLE
A FATAL MISSION
TO ABYSSINIA
By VINCENT TOWNE
Early in 1904 the American Gov- ernment ratified an important treaty with King Menelik of Abyssinia, who, like ex-King. Haille Selassie, also
called himself Emperor of Ethiopia and boasted of being a descendant of the Queen of Sheba, mentioned in the Scriptures.
The Assistant Secretary of State, F. B. Loomis, commissioned his brother, Kent J. Loomis, as his con- idential representative to bear the treaty to the dusky monarch at his capital, Addis Ababa. The mission was one entailing little responsibility and much interesting travel, and Kent Loomis, being the editor of a news- paper at Parkersburg, W. Va., had the mental equipment to both enjoy and fulfill it. After delivering the treaty he expected to hunt big game in Abyssinia.
DISAPPEARED
Stating that he would be gone two months, he bade his wife and child goodby in their southern home, and on June 14 sailed for Cherbourg on the Kaiser Wilhelm II. But before! the ship reached its destination he was missed and no sooner had the cable flashed word of his disappear ance than all sorts of puzzling rumours sprang up from various
sources.
For That
Feeling!
"
DECK AN HOUR LOOMIS WAS LAST SEEN ON
OR TWO AFTER MIDNIGHT
INCOME TAX STRAW VOTE
The
most
easiest and amusing pastime in the world is to play around with suggestions for new forms of taxation or for increasing the levels of existing taxes, with a neat and natural tendency to choose those least likely to affect the selector's own poc- ket.
Government has proposed Income Tax in Hong Kong as a special war contribution, in the bellef that its In- cidence will be more equitable than any alternative tax or taxes.
Investigation showed that Loomis | clue to the mystery. Then followed
A vote which provides a cross- had been last seen an hour or two reports that the lost man had turned
of public opinion on the after midnight, June 19, when he had up alive at Paris; that he had been section gone on deck following the usual cap-found dead at Cherbourg; also that straight issue is likely to prove more than vague wanderings tain's dinner, which had been given he had been placed in a sanitarium valuable on the eve of the vessel's arrival at at Plymouth-there to be kept until round the fiscal field, and the "China its destination. Shortly after that he might recover from a fit of abstrac-Mail" offers the following question- time the ship made a stop at Ply- tion. This fit, according to the last-naire to its readers: mouth, England, where one passenger mentioned rumour, had seized him was positive he saw Mr. Loomis land about 2 o'clock on the night of his with the crowd, in which he was disappearance, and while he was act- borne along in what was described ing strangely in the company of a as a sort of dazed condition.
man and woman on deck.
VAIN SEARCH
INCOME TAX STRAW: VOTE
Do you approve of Income Tax in
principle?
YEB Do you approve the Government's
tentative proposals? YE8 Would you be affected by them?
YES
NO
NO
NO
If you feel the burden to be too heavy, would your objection be met (a) by an extension of the allowances.
YES.
NO by extension of the initia! 'five per cent. basis to cover, say, the first $6,000 of taxable income, against the first $3,000 as now
YES now proposed? (c) or both?
YES.
'NO NO.
(b)
BODY WASHED ASHORE All sorts of contradictory statements But the Kaiser Wilhelm's captain
as to Loomis' fate continued until July and head steward, who both had 16 when four weeks after his dis- stood at the gangway when the pas-
appearance his body was found sengers alighted, were equally as sure washed up at Warren Point, some 15 that Uncle Sam's confidential mes-
miles from Plymouth. Under his senger did not leave the ship with
right ear was a circular wound, which " Tired
the other passengers. Finally, when
appeared to have been inflicted before the vessel reached Cherbourg, whither his death, and, based upon a post- When you feel unwontedly tired and he was booked, a vain search of all mortem examination of the lungs, the dispirited it is more than probable that of the cabins was made for the vanish- verdict of the coroner's jury stated your liver is in a sluggish condition. To ed passenger.
A promoter, William
that death had been caused by a blow correct this, and speedily to restore H. Ellis, Loomis' cabin mate and tra-
drowning. rather than by
Against happy well-being, all that is usually velling companion, and who claimed needed is a dose of Pinkettes. These to be a Cuban, stated, when ques-lost his balance and accidentally fal- the theory that the young man had tiny laxative pills activate the liver, banish that, 'too-full' feeling, prevent tioned, that the editor's absence from len overboard was advanced the argu- ment that the sea on the night of his biliousness, correct flatulence and sour his berth had not alarmed him after stomach, sweeten the breath, restore the vessel touched. Plymouth, late at
unusually calm disappearance was blithe spirits, quickly relieve piles. night, since the young man had been
and that the rails of the two main Pinkettes are non-griping and non-up very late the several previous
decks of the Kaiser Wilhelm II were habit-forming, they are a mild yet nights.
high.
The questions are posed on the thoroughly effective liver regulator and laxative. Obtainable at all chemists,
The circumstances of Loomis dis- basis that the purpose of Govern-. appearance from the, ship will pro-ment's desire to raise additional re-
venue is endorsed. bably remain a mystery of the sea
Additional, comment by readers until all watery graves yield up their
will, of course, be welcomed. uncanny secrets.
PINKETTES
Add
Keep you cheery-alert-well.
NO CLUE
Ellis continued on the journey to Abyssinia, bearing the- tin box con- taining the treaty, and a week went by without the appearance of a single
Strike out the answer inapplicable.
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