Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-01-23
The Wrong Trunk.

The system OF baggage checking in
general use on all railr ads in this
country NAV lie the best which can be
devised, but in its workings some very
curious and annoying mistakes occur.
In some instances the system has served
the purpose Of thieves. In the course
of six years experience as q CONNER
cial traveller, the writer has Observed
that in the science Of baggage transpor-
tation a point of absolute safety for a
travellers personal effects has not been
reached. The following incident will
serve as an illustration, and the same l
may possibly have briefly mentioned in
the course of newspaper correspond
ence
At the Gait House, in Louisville. KY,
1 made the acquaintance of a Mr..
Scott, who was very agreeable
young commercial traveller, represent
ing jewelry house in New York. His
small, square, heavily bound trunk con
tanned rare and valuable specimens in
the line of his business. We were both
going to Nashville, and my friends
trunk, before he was aware of it, had
been taken to the depot in the baggage
wagon, together with my own and many
others. He was little nervous about
the circumstance, having fully intended
to send it through to Nashville by ex-
press. We were late at the depot, and
had but moment to spare so, for
once, Mr.. Scott decided to check his
trunk. There was the usual noise and
confusion attending the departure of
train, and our baggage was checked
while we purchased tickets. The checks
appeared to lie all right, and the tickets
claimed to be Frst-class. from Louis
vile to Nashville"
The class of accommodations, I should
say. was rated too low, but the printed
legend is q characteristic specimen of
railroad modesty. Being unable to get
desirable quarters in the sleeping car,
we made bed out Of the cushions of
unoccupied seats.
Mr.. Scott, with an assurance which
was astonishing to me, besought lady
to loan us her shawl, and she cheerfully
complied. Having effected the best
possible arrangement for our comfort,
we proceeded to put in the night.
Arriving at Nashville we gave our
checks to the agent of the omnibus
line, and instructed him to take our
baggage to the Maxfeld House, where
we afterward found it and ordered it up
to our room.
The clerk, at our request, had as
signed US large room, which we occu.
pied together. My companions face
was radiant with satisfaction at having
his trunk once more where he could see
that it was safe, and, looking at it. he
said to me:
have been anxious about that
trunk ever since we left Nashville, and
do you know that l dreamed when
came to open it found it wasn't my
trunk at all. Ha, ha, ha as if didn't
know my own trunk" said he. |
l had never seen line of jewelry
samples, and I asked him to open his
trunk and let me see what he had got.
Certainly, to be sure I WILL" said
he, dropping on his knees before it, and
producing the key from his pocket.
The key didn't enter the lock readily,
and he blew into it then he tried it
again, and still it did not work. He
stopped lower to examine the lock, and
then he looked up at me with face so
white, and an expression 50 blank and
hopeless that l was frightened, and
staring at him, I said:
What ais you?"
Still he looked at me with terror in
his face, and said not q word.
had gone to him and was standing
by his side with my hand on his shout.
der, looking down at his upturned face,
when, by great effort, in a gasping,
husky voice, he exclaimed:
am ruined-this trunk is no,
mine!"
1t was cruel shock, and for some
moments he remained there on his
knees with apparently no more life thar
3 marble statue. Impressed upon him
the necessity of immediate action il
the way of me .sures for the recovery
OF his trunk, and succeeded in bring
ing him to realizing sense OF the sit
uation.
We began work upon the mystery b,
breaking open the trunk at once, anC
We found its contents to be tools. such
as might reasonably belong to carpen
ter or q burglar.
The outside appearance of the trunl
was so exactly like his own as TO lead t.
the belle. that IT had been purposel,
made TO fill the place, and had, in somt
unaccountable manner, been substituted
for ii somewhere between the hotel il
Louisville and our room IL the hotel a
Nashville. The great difficulty was Il
ind oct where the change had been ef
fected. 1t might have been accom-
plishsd at Louisville, before the bag
gage left the hotel, but not easily. ant
was mo'e likely 10 have occurred &f.e
the checking at the depot.
advised Ar. Scott to place the affail
In the hands Of a professional detective
and await tie result with as much pa
thence Is he could command.