Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1909-01-29
A Man OF Nerve.

copyright, 1908, by T. c. McClure.1
On the P and o. steamer Bonny
Castle, bound for Calcutta, we had
Lord Monson, lord high commissioner
FOR British Burma.
He had little baggage. he was &C.
companied by only two servants in
stead of by ten or twelve. He didn't
put on the pompousness and the side
expected of him. Instead of the icy re-
serve looked for and expected he
showed an inclination to mingle with
the other passengers. For this some
praised and some criticised him.
We found Lord Monson dignified. but
at the same time pleasant 1t proved
to be easy to obtain an Introduction to
him, and he was by no means cad or
a snob. Among the lesser magnates
were an Indian judge. civil service
commissioner and several military off.
GERS, but they were given but very lit
tie more attention by my lord than the
ordinary passengers. There was much
chagrin over this fact, but it had to be
endured Taken altogether, we were
pretty jolly lot, and we became quite
proud of the fact that we had live
lord among US, and it would have been
one Of the pleasantest Of voyages but
for what am now about to relate.
On all long voyages by steamer the
first class passengers are supposed to
hand over their money and jewelry to
the care of the purser. A few men
who are carrying large amounts Of
cash do this, and few ladies may put
a portion Of their diamonds in security.
but 1t is a rule observed more in the
breach than the observance. The men
feel safe in retaining at least few
hundred dollars each, and the women
must keep out enough jewelry to make
an appearance at the dinner table
AS soon as the second day out we
had a robbery on board A passenger
who had a StaterOOm to himself was
robbed by some one who entered it
The robber got $500 in cash and about
thousand dollars worth of dia-
monds. The loss was at once reported
to the captain, but as there was not
nothing could be done about it except
to advise the victim to keep quiet and
wait and watch. This was done, and
the robbery was known to only two or
three persons for day. Then came q
second
During the dinner hour a second
stateroom was robbed. This was occu-
pied by two men who sat side BY side
at the table and who lad been warm
friends long before embarkf1g. While
this robbery, which yielded over a
thousand dollars, was pretty well hush
ed up. the captain took steps to try
to find out the guilty party. 1t was
laid to some of the servants of the
ship, just as it would have been laid
to some of the servants of house
ashore. There were $50 of US, and yet
the captain went on the principle that
aboard Of his craft.
Nothing is more uncomfortable among
a large number OF passengers than q
mystery of this kind. They know that
thief is among them, and each one
feels that he has right to suspect an
other. 1t was reported that my lord
was very much perturbed; that he said
this and said that; that he was doing
his best to help the captain solve the
mystery. Meanwhile two more state
rooms were robbed. The trick was
done while their occupants were on
deck in the afternoon looking at 81
wreck. We now became ore of the
surliest. susr.. ioas ard most uncom-
Portable lot = people ever housed in
together.
So far do -Cas individually con
cerned, l solved the mystery next day
after the double robbery l was sitting
in the music room when a young lady
came in with package in her aand
which she was going to give the ours
err. 1t contained money and jeMelry
AS she was about to pass the piano
she stopped and sat down to play and
sing | was some distance away, but
l saw her lay the package on top of
The instrument. After momen: my
lord came in and stood at her side
moment to compliment her During
this interval saw him pocket the
package. 'Ihr:p We're eleven other
passengers - ~ room. but if any one
else sssTT' what ti!u he ke-i. Sii4nt for