NEWS BY MAIL

Hokitika Guardian, 2 April 1921, Page 1

NEWS BY MAIL

WOMAN IN BANDIT GANG. NEW YORK, Jan. 23. Considerable uneasiness has been caused in the ranks of motorists by news of the depredations of a band of highwaymen who during the week-end were busy on the main roads of West Chester County, in the district corresponding to that surrounding Maidenhead and other up-river resorts. This district contains a number of hotels and pleasure establishments many of which remain open through the winter. Five bandits, one being a young woman, first stopped near Sleepy Hollow Country Club a party of men and women returning in the early morning to New York. All the party were thoroughly searched, and the robbers secured a pearl necklace, a valuable fur coat, a large sum of money, a number of rings, and other ornaments. Another party, which included four young women, were also stripped ol money, jewels, and furs. A third party sustained casualties when their two male members resisted and were knocked senseless with blows from revolver butts. GEM THEFT VICTIMNICE, Jan. 23. The visitor to one of the large hotels here who. witli his wife and child, was found apparently drugged, was Seller Aynlo, of the Peruvian Legation in London. Jewels and cash valued at IMS,OOO had been stolen from his rooms. The robbery, happening in the height of the Carnival season, has caused great 1 excitement. The victims, who occupy I a wuite of rooms, retired to bed early.! Their Japanese servant, having attended to various duties, retired, locking the door Irehind him. ft is certain that only someone thoroughly familiar with the premises could have carried out the theft, because tin' jewellery was in a secret drawer, in a position impossible for a casual visistor to detect. 3 lie money was in a drawer ol a table easily accessible. The police believe they are on the track of tlie thief. The robbed rooms face lull south on the first floor, and are similar to those previously occupied by the Duke ot Connaught. Many hundred guests ol various nationalities were in the hotel, and the a (fair has caused women who own valuable jewellery to take all the precautions thev can think of.

SCHOOL KINKMA PANIC

BERLIN, Jan. 23

A panic in which 5 children were killed and 20 injured has occurred in an elementary school in Breslau. A kiiiema performance illustrating Hans Andersen’s fairy tales had been promised them. It was to take plat”' in nn underground room ot the school building reached only by a narrow staircase. Some 1o() children, eager to see. the performance, arrived early upon the scene, before any ol the teachers bad appeared to supervise them.

'The narrow staircase l soon became jammed, and the underground room was overcrowded. The children in front fainted from the crush and the bad atmosphere and were trampled to death hv those behind.

NEW SIMPLON TENNEI

LI ,3X0,000 ENGINEERING JOB

YEYEY, Jan. 29

'The second tunnel through the Simplon is expected to be ready lor tradii ibis summer. Traffic between the Channel port's and those ol the Mediterranean should then receive a great stiniu-

The new tunnel was actually pierced simultaneously with the first funnel to facilitate the aeration of the workings. But its transformation from a mere gallery into an international high road was started only in December lhl- 1 . Colossal difficulties were encountered in making the first tunnel. Great hot springs had to tie harnessed and canalised. At a spot about 2.1 miles from the Italian opening the rock pressure was so great that 18 months was spent in advancing the boring •>!) yards at a cost of L'lliOJKin. Each tunnel is I ! miles long, of \vbieh n.l miles is on Swiss territory.

'The first tunnel, including the gallery for the second, cost approximately C3,o()0,()()(). Tlie estimated cost of tlie second is tH,350,000. Both tunnels are Lift high. Thanks to electric traction, the Simplon is the cleanest tunnel of any length in Europ®.

COMEDIAN’S TRAGIC SECRET

NEW YORK, Jan. 23

Though suddenly stricken blind last Sunday, Ren Welch, one of America’s

eading comedians, pluekily refused to brow up bis part in a new burlesque, rroduced at the Shubert 'Theatre. W aslingtoii. the next night, and lias since jlayod every evening without his aodi>nccs suspecting his tragic affliction. Mr Welch’s sight began to fail last uimmcr while lie was playing in London n “Jig-Saw,” the Hippodrome revue, lie went blind while stepping out of a raiii on Sunday.

“f’|l ‘earry-on,’ ” he said. ‘‘Just lay lawn a. carpet so that I shall know ,chore I am from the sound of my steps.” At the opening performance m Monday lie was led to the wings, Look his cue, and went before the footiglds to sing and joke and dance. Strips of 'carpet guided his footsteps uni kept him clear of obstructions. After his exit brother-actors led him to lis dressing-room. TTis secret was well kept, and it was only yesterday, when the facts got into the newspapers, that Lose who had seen him play learned hat his sight had gone.