The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-02-04
Select Storp.
THE BLACK BAGS.

Ii was on the 29th Of October. 1883.
that / was returning to England, having
taken the steamer Of Dublin for Holyhead.
Business had taken me ;lto Ireland-I am
a jeweler-and it had been necessary for
me 10 visit branch Of my own firm in
Dublin, / was bringing back certain val
liable jewels which required resesting-dia-
monds Of great value. and some other things
Of less Importance. but still valuable
/ found all the passengers talking on
one subject-the terrible and appalling
wreck which had occurred only three days
before. off MoeIfre, on the AIsglssea ccast.
No less than four hundred and forty-six
lives were lost that night when the Royal
Charter was totally wrecked She was a
screw steamer, commanded by Captain
Taylor. A large sum Of money-E700.- :
600 or ES0O, 900 in gold-was lost also, 1t
was supposed but have sinee heard that
some Of the gold was recovered am n
silent man habitually, and the awe ia the
voices. Of my fellow passengers struck me
forcibly but / had another reason, as viii
presently appear, in remembering my jour
ney from Dublin TO London ON this occasion.
/ carried the jewels which | have al
ready mentioned in small black handbag,
and 80 long as knew that il was safe,
was free from care. Arriving al Holyhead.
| took my seat in an empty frst-class rail
way carriage. Just as the train was NOV
ing of, however, gentleman suddenly got
in He sat down nearly opposite me, 80
had good opportunity of observing his
appearance. | noticed that he was young
apparently not more than four-and-twcnty,
that he had broad black band around his
hat, and that on his face were traces Of re-
cent sorrow, almost in fact of agitation. He
seemed relieved at having caught the train.
and being ike myself quite disinelined for
conversation, our journey proceeded in
silence.
My bag lay beside me, and quite under
my eyes / was tired after my crossing, and
fell into sort of doze, On waking | in
stantly glanced at my bag. There It lay,
quite safe. My companion, however, had
moved his seat. We stopped at Chester
and here / thought ! would get out aud
walk about a little, as We had ten minutes
to wait. took my bag and got out. On
my return TO tie train there was my copl-
panion apparently asleep. | got into the
carriage without disturbing him and We
continued our journey.
At Grove, our next stopping place, he
got out, and did not come back. Twas very
tired now, and fell into sound sleep with
my hand holding the handle of my black
bag. | did not wake till We reached Lon
don then getting into the frst hanson
saw, and still carrying my precious bag, of
which was heartily tired, | drove home
On my arrival, with a method which /
suppose Is habitual with a man in my trade,
Instantly went to the safe in which kept
my valuable jewelry, unlocked it, and, de
posting the bag on table / opened it.
Imagine my dismay at finding that, instead
of diamonds, it-contained only some rusty
bits of iron aud wooden debris My bag
was gone this other bag had been eleyerly
substituted for it, so cleverly, indeed, that
even the weight as well as the appearance
had been judged.
| put the affair into the hands of the
police, giving them exactly every particular
as have here written it. The bag was lost
4 year after the events narrated above |
was again travelling ON the line which takes
passengers to Holyhead 1t was in the be-
ginning of October as well as | remember.
travelled first-class, my usual custom
when | have a long journey before me.
During the year not sign had been given
of my missing bag or the jewels, but | had
not really despaired yet of recovering it,
for had a certain unaecountable feeling
about the whole thing that there was
some mystery about it felt sure,
Regularly every Wednesday in every
week | had called at Scotland Yard, and
had always had the same answer, Nothing
vet, sir. " The reward | had offered was
sufficient to secure certain interest, and
the police / firmly believe, were as keen in
the matter as | could wish.
On this October morning in 1860,
travelled with lady who was in deep
mourning. The day was chilly, and she
wore several wraps, bU: getting warm in
the carriage, she presently threw aside a
fur cloak she was wearing, and my eye was
instantly attracted by handsome brooch
she had ON, in which was portrait.
Without appearing to do so, and with a
sudden feeling of interest and curiosity for
which cannot account, managed to get a