Expedition after death of WE Cutler, 1925

Sheilds Daily News, 24 Sep 1925

The appointment of Mr. Frederick WE Nigoed as Leader of the British Museum East African Expedition in succession to the late Mr. WE Cutler, has been made just in time to give him a chance to save the valuable specimens, already found, from being irreparably damaged by the oncoming tropical rains (says the “Morning Post”)

The situation created by Mr. Cutler’s death from fever in the Tanganyika district a few weeks ago, caused grave anxiety to the British Museum officials, for the maze of material which he had succeeded in excavating and bringing together was know to be still unpacked. The rainy season is approaching, and if the fossil dinosaur remains, which comprise a large part of the collection, had been exposed to the rains very serious damage would have inevitably resulted.

It is devoutly hoped that Mr. Migeod will sail for Africa on the 8^th of next month, will be able to pack and despatch to England the entire collection just before the wet period sets in.

Mr. Migeod has lived many years in Africa, and possesses an extensive knowledge of the inhabitants.

The purpose of the expedition, it may be remembered, is to excavate the fossil remains of prehistoric animals in the strata of the Tanganyika district, which are peculiarly rich in this respect. Some work was carried out years ago by the Germans, but since the war the British Museum has taken over the task of excavation.

In an interview with Sir Sidney Harmer, Director of the British Natural History Museum, a “Morning Post” representative was informed that to perform the work adequately and to bring it to a satisfactory conclusion it was necessary for the expedition to be out there for a number of years.  Money, however, was the trouble.

The funds were sufficient to continue the work for a certain time, but unless subscriptions were received towards the heavy expenses of such research it would be necessary after that time to close what might be rightly described as one of the most promising fields of investigation ever discovered.