The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-10-23
A COURIER'S STORY.

A COURIER'S STORY.
NV name is Carl Johann Roeckel BY
birth and nationality | am Swiss, but
cosmopolitan in every taste and habit.
In my early days | regularly followed
the profession of a courier, as | do now
occasionally when any of my old patrons
or their friends require such services,
which is rather infrequent, the taste of
the travelling public having degenerated
into haStv Journeys by express trains,
with the consequent loss of all enjoy
ment of the different phases of scenery
through which the travellers are pass
NO. In the course of my many years
experience | have been witness to many
strange occurrences, have assisted in
many secret and adventurous under
taking. and have been subject to many
perilS. From among such varied eXpe-
riences | give the following strange
story. SuppreSsing for obvious reasons
the real names of those interested.
Many years ago | was engaged as
courier 10 his EXcellency the Honorable
Frederick Eslington, Ambassador-eXtra
ordinary of his Britannia Majesty King
George. on a special secret mission to
one of the great Continental powers.
Having finished his duties and success
fully attained the object of his mission,
we started on our homeward journey in
the summer of 1S-. The period was
one to be long remembered, from the
political excitement which existed
throughout all Europe, almost every
Government having unsheathed the
sword. We had Travelled a censid-
cradle part of the first stage of
our return journey, when his
EXcellency, who was feeling the
fatigueS of the inceSsant travelling
in the heavy, rumbling carriage, said he
should stop at the next town we arrived
at, and take rest and refreshment, both
of which he was much in need of, be-
sides having important state documents
to transcribe. In due course we arrived
at the small town of s., on the con-
fines of Germany, where we put up.
We staid day and half there; and
was then instructed to have the carriage
and horses is readiness to continue our
Journey His EXcellency meanwhile
had completed his writings, to which he
had aSsiduously applied himself; and
told me. a. it was fine afternoon, he
would take short walk, and on his re-
turn resume his journey at once, and
must therefore make all necessary prep
arations. He accordingly left the hotel.
But he was never seen afterward, nor
was any thing known of his fate.
| waited for upward of an hour anX-
iously. and then made close search for
him. which | continued for several days,
but not q trace could | discover of my
master. \ villager, however, living
outside the town, brought to me at the
hotel pair of overallS, which he stated
he had found in a neighboring copse. |
recognized the garment as belonging to
his EXcellency, and at once repaired
with the villager to the copse, and close
" examined the spot, but found no trace
or -ign Of any struggle.
Finding it useless to prosecute the I.
search. | at once returned to London T.
with his EXcellency'S travelling gear, /
which I handed to his family. The /
British Government at once instituted I.
inquiries. rs also did his Excellency's .
family. and large rewards were offered 4
by both. and advertisements widely dis /
scmuated for any information respect /.
inc the missing Ambassador; but they 4
failed one and all to gain any informa- |
ton Of or the slightest clew to his fate. /
A certain amount of suspicion attached .
to me, but il was only momentary, and /
| AT once cleared myself of it, and as
sisted the distracted wife and her miss
inc husbands family as much as lay in
my mower. Well | remember the .
agonies OF anxiety and suspense caused 4
to the Ambassadors wife and family by
the distressing calamity. Magisterial
was made, experts were
employed. and every endeavor made to
the dark veil of mystery sur
the event; but all efforts were
One of his Maiesty'S Am
baSSadorS had completely and mysteri-
ously disappeared, without leaving a
clew to light up the awful obScurity
which enveloped the tragic occurrence.
Several years had elapsed since the
distressing event. and the memory, the
painful memory. of it was beginning to
AIDE from my mind, when | happened
o be In Antwerp on q short tour through
Beloium with patrons. And, while list
lesslv strolling by myself on the quay
one summers evening, watching the
passengers disembarking from the new
" arrived steamer. | was accosted by a
moan. haggard-looking little man of
beggmiy appearance, who spoke to me
n Flemish.
g" Are 1ou not Herr Roeckel the cour-
err hc said.
..Yes. replied I. "What do you
wan. with me? Who are your"
Il suppose you have quite forgotten
me? said be. tZ
[ stared At him keenly. The mans
eaturcs were somewhat familiar to me,
We was confused in my remembrance
u l.aD and where had seen him. 81
do not snow You, y said |.
.. kes You do. and very well, y replied
be My name is Ludwig Kuhl, and |
have frequently driven you the first stage