EXPLORER ATTACKED

Southland Times, Issue 20080, 18 January 1927, Page 5

EXPLORER ATTACKED

MYSTERIOUS HOLD-UP IN ENGLAND. VALUABLE PAPERS STOLEN. London, January 16. Immediately after broadcasting a London talk dealing with his adventures in Central America, in which the explorer, Mitchell Hedges, declared that life would be very grey without excitement, he was the subject of a mysterious hold-up in a lonely spot. While motoring home to Bournemouth a man suddenly appeared in the roadway and appealed to them to stop and assist an injured man to the hospital. Mitchell Hedges’ chauffeur accompanied the man. When he did not return Mitchell Hedges and a companion followed and were amazed to discover the chauffeur bound by ropes on the roadside. Immediately five or six men attacked them and a struggle occurred. Eventually the attackers ran off in the darkness. When Mitchell Hedges and the party picked themselves up and returned to the motor car they discovered the explorer’s handbag, containing valuable papers relating tp business in Honduras as well as several specimens of human heads shrunk by Central American Indians by secret process, were all missing. Mitchell Hedges, obviously affected by the rough handling, is reticent. He made a statement that he did not want publicity thrown on the adventure, but he would give £5OOO to undo what had happened.—A. and N.Z. MITCHELL HEDGES INTERVIEWED. ANONYMOUS LETTERS RECEIVED. London, January 16. “It is either a practical joke prompted by my lectures, or an expertly planned plot to get possession of certain documents,” said Mitchell Hedges in an interview with the Weekly Despatch. “I cannot explain the nature of the documents, but they are of almost international importance and worth everything to me, as they concerned exploration work which is my life’s hobby. They would be very valuable to others who would be glad merely to destroy them.” He added that he had received threatening anonymous letters as a result of his attacks on milksops, knock-kneed adventuresses, and Charlestoning youths, one stating that unless he ceased these attacks he would be got at.—A. and N.Z. MERELY PRACTICAL JOKE. London, January 16. Mr Hedges announced to-night the receipt of a letter showing that tie attack was merely a practical joke by half a dozen youths who resented tie explorer’s recent condemnation of modern young men for lack of enterprise, pluck, and spirit of adventure. The explorer’s bag was restored unopened. Mr Hedges sportingly accepted the explanation and says the writer anyhow has a priceless black eye.—A. and N.Z.