STORY OF A TRUNK.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 631, 7 October 1909, Page 7

STORY OF A TRUNK.

. IB* Tclefirapft.—Special Correspondent.!. ' ■ Auckland, October 5. Some four 'months ago Mr. Tom Bluiuueld Son of Mr. Charles Blomfield, tha well-known artist, having just finished a contract at Waimana.v in the Opotiki district, left there towards r evening with his tools and belongings in a . horse and trap for Opouriao. It was rather Ihte to start on such a risky journey, especially all alone, as the only road is by tho-river, which has to be forded eight times and has earned a very bad reputation for accidents. But being anxious to catch the next Btealner for Auckland, he would not wait for the morning daylight. The first four fords were safely, negotiated, but in crossing the fifth the horse, got out of his depth. • The cart was carried some ..two chains down the stream by the current, Where' it struck a snng and • overturned, throwing its occupant and all his belongings into ■ the water. Mr. Blomfield, who is a, good swimmer, followed the horse and cart some distance' further down, holding ion to his portmanteau, which' floated, but'seeing the horse in difficulties he was compelled to let the portmanteau go and assist the horse to find a footing. Just then the cart struck another stump and righted' apain, when Mr. Blomfield, with considerable managed to get the horse and . trap on to the bank, and without further mishan reached his destination about. 9 p.m. A salvage party searched the vicinity of the' accident the next morning, but fonhd nothing but a few tins of paint. A reward was offered for the loet articles, and some three weeks after a settler found the tools some distance down the river. The portmanteau was given up for lost. Now comes the singular part of the story. A week ago a party was fishing for whitebait near Whakatnne, and fished up the lost portmanteau, considerably damaged, but the contents were IntacV On-. ~n j j j om g of the outer clothes were chafed is if dragging on a stony boi.viii,' ~u. ,ae remainder, including a good suit of clothes, watch and, chain, razors, etc., were scarcely any the worse for the long immersion. That- a portmanteau should have > travelled all that distance, eleven miles, remained iinder watet for four months, and then bo found and returned I to 'its owner is certainly most remarkable