Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 65, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 March 1910 — SEEKING SOLOMON’S TEMPLE. [ARTICLE]

SEEKING SOLOMON’S TEMPLE.

English Expeditionto Palestine Has Found Nd Trace Thus Far. King Solomon’s temple, the ark of the covenant, Aaron’s rod and the seven-branched golden candlestick which stood In the holy of holies — these are Just a tew of the treasures for which a party of young Englishmen are now excavating in Palestine in the neighborhood of Jerusalem, the New “York Times’ London correspondent says. The majority of experts are of the opinion that these treasures are not to be found where they are now being looked for, but the members of the expedition have other information upon which they place reliance. This Is < cryptogram which Is said to have been found In the Talmud by a Finnish engineer and which is thought to give a clue to the place where the treasures of King Solomon’s temple are hidden. Exactly what this cryptogram Is has naturally been kept secret by the Finnish engineer, but he has convinced his supporters In the enterprise of its reliability and already a good deal has been done toward a practical demonstration of its accuracy or Inaccuracy. Perhaps even more interesting than this search for King Solomon’s treasures is the composition of the party engaged in it. At the head of the syndicate is Clarence Wilson, brother-in-law of Lady Sarah Wilson, and a very wealthy man. Then there Is Robert Vivian Duff, commonly known as Robin, a lieutenant In the Grenadier Guards and husband of Lady Juliet Duff, perhaps the tallest, as she- is certainly one of the most beautiful women In London society. With these is associated the Hon. Cyril Ward, a brother of the Earl of Dudley and of the Hon. John Ward, who married Miss Jean Reid, daughter of the American ambassador here. Cyril Ward, like Wilson and Duff, Is a man of means, having married the Baroness de Brienen, A great Dutch heiress. Other members of the syndicate are Capt Montague B. Parker of the Grenadier Guards, a brother of the Earl of Morley; and two other guardsmen, the Hon. Mr. Walah and Mr. Foley. Three months ago, the necessary permits having been obtained from the Turkish government, the party sailed for Palestine in a yacht specially purchased for the purpose by Mr. Wilson, and work was shortly afterward started In the neighborhood of the Pool of Siloam. Sixty men were engaged as laborers and the excavations went merrily on. They are still going on, but, perhaps less merrily, for up to the present nothing has been discovered to resard their labors. One by one the hseda of the expedition are returning to England, and Clarence Wilson got

back home this week, some of the others having preceded him. Capt. Parker, Mr. Walsh and Mr. Foley still remain fn Palestine, and it is supposed that the party have not yet given up hope of discovering the treasures they set out to seek.