HC Deb 26 October 1882 vol 274 cc176-8
MR. JOSEPH COWEN

I wish to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, What efforts have been made by the Government to ascertain the existence and whereabouts of Professor Palmer, Captain Gill, Lieutenant Charrington, and their companions?

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

Sir, no effort has been spared by the Government to ascertain the fate of Professor Palmer, Captain Gill, Lieutenant Charrington, and their companions. The conduct of the search from Suez has been intrusted to Colonel Warren, R.E., an officer who has been connected with the Palestine Exploration Society, and who is well acquainted with the district and with the habits of the Bedouins. I need not repeat the account, which has already appeared in the newspapers, of the preliminary steps taken by Colonel Warren previously to the 20th instant. On that day Colonel Warren, with Lieutenants Burton and Haynes, accompanied by about 150 Bedouins, including all the principal Sheiks who could be collected, left Suez for Moses' Wells on their way to Nakhl. We have to-day received from Captain Stephenson, the senior naval officer at Suez, a telegram dated October 26 (this day), which I will read to the House— News from Warren by four Bedouins, dated 23rd, top of Wady Sudr; stopped at mid-day, 22nd, at Wady Cahalin, where Palmer's party last encamped; swept up valley in extended order, short distance found remnants of baggage about a mile from Spring, came on spot where baggage was looted, three private letters, some notes, also volume of Byron's works belonging to Charrington; nothing found belonging to Palmer or Gill. About 17 miles above Spring and 1,000 feet above the sea saw three Bedouins, captured one belonging to Aligal Tribe wearing tobacco pouch belonging to Charrington, states it was given him by Ali Murshed, Sheikh of Terebin, who is said to have killed Palmer's party; hope to get him shortly, as we have captured his wife, children, sheep, &c. Shall not reach Nakhl for a few days; endeavouring to obtain persons implicated in this neighbourhood. All party doing well. Besides this search which is being conducted from Suez, inquiries are being independently prosecuted from Gaza, under the direction of Mr. Moore, Her Majesty's Consul at Jerusalem. Her Majesty's Government have every hope that in this way the truth will soon be ascertained. I may add that we have been careful at once to communicate to the relatives of the members of the missing Expedition every item of intelligence as received.

MR. MACFARLANE

May I ask the hon. Gentleman the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether he has considered the propriety of sending a vessel up the Arabian Coast of the Bed Sea, as possibly by that means there may be a chance of finding these missing gentlemen?

MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN

Sir, every step that has been taken has been taken under the advice of those on the spot—Mr. West, Consul at Suez, and the various Egyptian officers—who are best acquainted with the Bedouins and their habits. Colonel Warren, before starting for this Expedition, had been up the Eastern arm of the Red Sea, and had been for some time at Tor, engaged in obtaining all the information that could be had.