The Carlyle Expedition, led by 24-year-old Roger Carlyle, a millionaire playboy who inexplicably turned from the life of a wastrel to fund and lead an archaeological expedition to Egypt, departed from New York in 1919. The principal members of the expedition were Aubrey Penhew (age 54), titled, wealthy, and a noted Egyptologist; Hypatia Masters (age 27), a beautiful society girl, accomplished photographer, and linguist; Jack 'Brass' Brady (age 36), mercenary soldier, weapons expert, and Carlyle’s confidant and bodyguard; and Dr. Robert Huston (age 52), fashionable psychoanalyst and interpreter of dreams.
The expedition members in America sailed to London to consult with Sir Aubrey Penhew on matters concerning ancient Egypt. Sir Aubrey then joined the team. After a few weeks in England’s capital, they departed for Egypt. Using Cairo as a base, the expedition performed several short desert excavations. An important find was rumored, but the expedition refused to comment to reporters.
The principal members departed for Mombasa, Kenya, and quickly went inland to Nairobi. At the beginning of August, the expedition hired 20 bearers, headed into the wilderness, and then vanished. In March 1920, a Kikuyu tribesman told authorities in Nairobi of a party of whites near the Mountain of the Black Wind, a local name for one of the high Kenyan peaks. Later, rumors indicated that inhuman forces had destroyed the expedition.
On hearing about the missing expedition, Roger Carlyle’s sister, Erica, traveled to Africa and hired a search party. After ten weeks of effort, Erica, with help from the local authorities, found the remains of the expedition. The corpses were remarkably preserved, although what little was left appeared to have been pulled apart and torn to shreds by animals—a horrible death. The encampment was totally destroyed. Despite reports to the contrary, the remains were strewn about in the open, and no effort had been made to conceal them.
The blame was quickly pinned on Nandi tribesmen. Some mention was made of a powerful pagan cult in the area, but the authorities scoffed at the idea and did not follow up on such whispers, nor were such things mentioned in the subsequent trial. Fingers were pointed at some tribesmen, who were tried and then hanged. The expedition members were declared dead, and the incident was forgotten.
The Friends of Prospero
Peru: Episode VIII • Peru: Episode VII • Peru: Episode VI • Peru: Episode V • Peru: Episode IV • Peru: Episode III • Peru: Episode II • Peru: Episode I
The Two-Headed Serpent
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