The Savannah morning news., 1901-05-15
chow 1 SAVED eco, OOO."
The Romance and Risk of n Diam ond
Carrier.
From London Tit Bits.

Carrier.
From London Tit Bits.
1 think you will agree with me, said a
diamond envoy that any man who, like
myself has carried diamonds of an aggre-
capital of Europe to another, must have
had at least his share of the adventures
and risks of life-and, perhaps, a little
more than his share.
To no man is it more vital to have a
cool head, keen eye, and nerves of iron
than to the man. who is intrusted with
the anxious and responsible duty of car
rying precious stones, worth say $4,000,
from London to Berlin or New York
and this without any protection beyond
his own vigilance and a revolver which
he may not use except when in actual
danger of losing his life.
And l can assure you 1 have been
many times in danger of losing both
life and diamonds. On one occasion, when
travelling between Dieppe and Rouen. on
my way to Paris, with 100000 worth of
diamonds and emeralds, l was found alone
and unconscious in my compartment at
Rouen. My watch, chain and money were
intact, but every trace of my luggage,
consisting of a, portmanteaue and another
smaller bag in which l usually carried
my jewels had disappeared
At Dieppe, just as the train was on the
point of starting, a feeble, old, specialized
man had Joined me in my compartment;
but he seemed so harmless and uninter-
esting that beyond the exchange Of a few
remarks about the weather, l took no
notice of him.. Beyond this / remember
nothing of that journey until, as l say,
/ was discovered in an unconscious con-
dtion at Rouen.
l suppose l must have fallen asleep, a
thing / practically never do on my jour-
neys, and then must have been drugged
by my companion who was probably an
expert thief skilfully disguised and that
he had taken some opportunity OF seiz-
ing my portmanteu and slipping from the
train. l hope he was as satisfied with his
share of the spoil as l was with mine;
for while he was welcome to the collars,
etc, was delighted to find my diamonds
perfectly safe in their leather belt around
my waist. 1t was fortunate for me that
on that particular journey l had changed
my method of carrying my precious
burden of gems.
A diamond envoy has to be an expert
in DISCUSSES and articles, as you may
hudSlnes lOT ne Is NulCHeu Dy some OF
the keenest men In Europe, who know
him well, his destination, time OF start
ing and what he is carrying. One of the
strangest adventures I ever had will IL
lustrate one OF my favorite methods.
l had received instructions from my
employers TO carry a very valuable con-
signment of stones-worth nearly f6O, 900
TO Paris from London. From Calais TO
Amiens l had the compartment entirely
20 myself; but at Amiens charming
girl was put into the compartment by
benevolent old gentlemen, who appeared
to be her father. She seemed so distressed
at parting from him that very naturally
did my best to comfort her and make
her journey as agreeable as possible I'M
der such sad conditions. Before we had
proceeded twenty miles she had quite
recovered her spirits, and was happy in
the mixed occupation of eating chocolates
and chatting to me.
Won't monsieur be tempted with
chocolateT she coaxingly said, as she
handed a dainty box of bon-bons to me.
What could / do, but thank her and eat?
A few minutes later | began to feel
drowsy. and the last thing / remember
was struggling against my sleepiness.
until / awoke near Paris to find nv
charming companion-and my bag-dissi-
pated into thin air.
Then tho whole little plot dawned unon
men-and l laughed aloud In my bag
were continental timetable. a Tauch-
nitz novel and few personal belongings
OF no value. The diamonds, which for
once had sent on day ahead by a