MISTAKEN FOR A BURGLAR.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1519, 26 October 1883, Page 2

MISTAKEN FOR A BURGLAR.

I had lived at Bangalore about three years when 1 met. with the following adventures—My houso was in the

intre of tho town, and being a doctor,

I was one nigltt awakened at about eleven o'clock to see one of my patients who lived nearly four miles away. At

die tine of which I write the robberies Tvlncli occurred in the district were very numerous, and' those living at any distance from town were compelled to carry'firearms. My man-servant .having helped'mo to dress offered to accompany me, but being unwilling to keep the poor fellow out of his bed, I st'arted'alono.

I had gone about two miles, when I saw the bungalow belonging to Major B , i great friend of mine, looming in the distance. The path took me close to his- house, and whistling a merry tunt to keep up my spirits, I walked passed the gate. I had not proceedod more than five yards, howover,: when, to my amazement, a brawny native sprang out on me from behind a tree, and in a harsh tone bid m " Stand or die."

Instinctively my hand felt for my revolver," but, to my herror, I found I had left it behind me. I was about to spring on the villain and trust to Nature's own woapons, when I per ceived he was armed with a lavgo pistol. Noticing my look of horror, a smile of diabolical triumph played on his featuresthen turning slightly he whistled thrice, very softly, I looked towards the house and saw two men steal out, carrying a large amount of plunder in their arms } Jaying iti down they advanced and threw theraselvos 6ft mo. Befoi-o I could .utter a cry for help I was gagged> my hands tied, and uiy purse stolen. Almost immediately afterwards, having secured, their booty; they disappeared, leaving me in no very enviable plight. Luckily they had left my leijs unbound, so rising hastily, I rushed , into B——B house; finding his door open, I went in and awoke him. What was ray horror when, seizing me by the throat, he cried "Who are you f . In a moment I saw.the horrible predicament into which I had unwittingly thrust myself, and, with a shudder' remembered that; only tho previous week he had told me he always kept a revolver under his pillow, and that if he- found a fellow in his room he would "shoot him without

the slightest hesitation, I tried to pronounce my name, but only suoeeei ed in matiog a low gurgling mii)

and the room was too dark for him to recogniße , me. Thrusting his hand under 'drew oiit a pointing it at me, hoarsely, cried: Speak, or I will blow your brains out." Those who have had a'terrible nightmare, in whioh, threatened by some awful danger,all power' of speech _ or-flight seemed to desert them, can in a faint degree paint my feelings. • Shutting myeyes, I consigned myself to God, A snap (the revolver was not loaded) ; before I could congratulate myself, however, I felt the strong arms of B—thrown round my body. Resolving to fight hard for dear life, I. endeavored to shake him off, in order, if possible, to escape. I was too severely handicapped, however) for after a brief but violent struggle I felt my knees give way, while the wiry fingers of B—closed on my throat. It was a terrible position, feeling myself being throttled by a friend who would have risked his life for me.. My thoughts flew through, my brain with lightning-like rapidity, while my whole life seemed to pass.before me like a vast panorama; the bad deeds I had done looking so many and so black, aud tlie good so few—ah, so very few. Just as it seemed all up with me, the moon came out. from behind a cloud, and shone full on my face. With a cry of horror. Major B— sprang from my prostrate body, and, having struck a light, cut my bonds, Without giving him time even to apologise, I quickly related the facts which had placed me in such a strange position, while he hastily threw on a . few clothes, We searched the house and found no one in it ; B—'s own servants had robbed him. Having armed ourselves, we ran out of the house, taking the direction in which I had seen them vanish. After a hard run of nearly a mile we saw them, not fifty yards ahead. B—in a loud voice called " Lay down your arms and surrender." With a horrible oath one of the nativos turned and discharged his pistol, Tho bullet passed through my hat, the' next instant the poor fellow lay weltering in his gore from a well-directed shot from B—'s revolver. The other two, dropping their plunder, fled, while we ran up to their unfortunate comrado, We found him lying on his back; he begsjed forgiveness, and on this being granted a smile of thanks passed over his face, and the next moment he was in eternity. Deeply affected, B— and I closed the poor wretch's eyes, and, having sought help, carried him to the bungalow. The other two natives were never caught; but they gained lictle by their treachery, as, in the fright at the fall of their comrade, they dropped nearly all they had stolen, including my purse, Few people can boast of having gone through so many terrible experiences , in one night arid escaping scatheless.— Prize story, " Rare Bits,"

A DYING MAN AND HIS EMPLOYEES' The Ballarat Courier of a late date contains the following particulars of the extroadinary circumstances surrounding the death of a commercial traveller named Henry Edlin Yesterday norning the remains of a commercial traveller named Henry Edlin was oon'veyed to the Ballarat cedietary, tlie'funeral cortege consisted of about a dozen fellow commercials, who paid the last tribute of respect to the deceased, The story of deceased's illness and death is a very sad one, and may be told in a fow words: the correspondence below showing on one side the charity of a good Samaritan, and on the other a less pleasing developement, We do not intend to make any comment on the affair, but will leave our readers to draw their own conclusions from the following circumstances"On Thursday, August 30 last, Mr • Henry Edlin, a commercial traveller in the employ of Messrs E. Bowman Co,, tea dealers, Melbourne, became suddenly ill at Lester's Hotel, where he received the kindest treatment, and was attended by two medical men, at the request of Mr Lester himself. Sunday last, Mr Edlin was so much worse in health •that Mr Lester sent a letter to the firm of Bowman & Co,, couched in the following terms, and the succeeding telegrams will complete the story : "Lester's Hotel, Ballarat September 2,1983. Messrs R. Bowman and Company, Gentlemen,—Mr Edlin, your representative, is seriously ill, and unable to write. I therefore consider it my duty to inform you of his present condition.—Yours, <k, A. Lester," To this communication no reply was received; and on Monday Mr Lester forwarded a telegram as follows" sth September, 11.55 a.m. —Mr R. Bowman, tea merchant, Elizabeth street, Melbourne,--MrEdlin, your traveller, is still very dangerously ill." No reply. Mr Lester then sent another telegram to Mr B. Bowman Doctor thinks Mr Edlin is dying. The following was the torse reply:—"His wife lives at Oomo, Wangaratta,—R. Bowman and Co." The unfortunate wife having been communicated with, here is her answer, dated sth Septemberl have no money to come. What shall I do ?" The next telegram from Mr Lester to Bowman and Co. says"Edlin dead. Must be buried Friday morning early. Please send notice to his friends." And hero is the unsympathetic answer;—' "Mr Lester.—Be kind enough to return, us to-day sample cases and books left by Mr Edlin, as we want to send traveller to Ballarat at once.—R. Bowman and Co." This is the last of the correspondence, without a single recognition of Mr Lester's kindness or charity; but to the credit of the commercial travellers, be it stated, on the circumstance of the case being made, known, they at once subscribed the money' necessary to give poor Mr Edlin a decent funeral, and yesterday morning a dozen mourners followed the remains of the deceased to his last resting place in the Ballarat cemetery. 1 Thus far the story has gone; but at a meeting of liommerci&l travellers held yesterday, it determined to bring the whole matter before the Commercial Travellers' Association, •