The Coolidge Examiner

From Paris to Timbuctoo and Back Again by Air

The Rook-Wauthier-Sahara Desert Air expedition which has brought back by airplane from Timbuctoo the authorized memoirs of Pere Yakouba with priceless documents and notes covering the history of "the mysterious city" since its first occupancy by the French. The expedition, organized with the permission of the French government authorities, was piloted and scientifically directed by Capt. Rene Wauthier of the French army in a four-seated plane. Aboard were William Seabrook, American adventure writer, and Marjorie Worthington, American novelist, who collaborated on the Yakouba memoirs. Pere Yakouba came to Timbuctoo about thirty-five years ago as a white father and decided to discard the robe to marry a native girl with whom he has had thirty children. Father Yakouba was born in Chateau-Thierry. He has been devoting a great part of his time to studying languages and the various African dialects. He is very highly considered by the French government. He returned once to France since he established himself in Timbuctoo, but preferred his new home, and quickly returned. He says that he is much happier in Timbuctoo, having no worries brought by modern civilization such as telephones, elevators, newspapers and conventions of all kinds. The last American he had seen before Seabrook was Floyd Gibbons whom he met while making an attempt to cross the desert in 1921 with the aid of donkeys and camels. When Father Yakouba saw Seabrook arriving by air, he said that the Americans, since Gibbons, had made a lot of progress. On the left in the picture is shown Georges Etienne and William Seabrook exploring a well which connects with subterranean aqueducts, bringing water under the Sahara from Hoggar to the oasis of Reggan. At the top, left to right: Dubois, civil administrator of Timbuctoo; Pere Yakouba, penning his memoirs for William Seabrook, who is looking on.