As a young professor at Wilberforce College in Ohio, Du Bois had initially praised Washington’s 1895 speech, telegraphing his congratulations “upon your phenomenal success at Atlanta—it was a word fitly spoken.”

“The scene which ensued when it became known that Col. Parker could not be found, can be faintly imagined, but the pen fails to describe it fitly,” the New York Times proclaimed.

‘We have not the time or the tools to bury our comrade fitly, or to raise a mound over him. A cairn we might build.’

This reference to that distinguished explorer, will, before the story of the coincident discovery is further told, fitly introduce a sketch of his career.

In fact the controversy of which he was the centre may fitly be compared with the earlier battles between the Maimonists and anti-Maimonists.