Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1934-01-18

flying about India In an airplane. and
from all we could gather from vague
references in letter received from a
mutual friend, Alvin had expressed
fear at regular intervals, much to the
disgust Of the pilot, that the plane
would crash on the desert, smash ka
PUNK into mountain peak or descend
helplessly into the depths Of some in.
land lake at any moment while the
youth was passenger.
Yet, in spite Of everything, we chung
to the remote hope that Alvin might
eventually be cured.
In fact. IT wasn't until we received
a letter from the boy himself, in which
he utilized three pages fretting over
the possibility that submarine on
which he had been invited as a pas
senger during an exhibition voyage on
the day following. would fail to come
to the surface. that we admitted fail
ure Of our plan.
Strange as it may seem, Alvin didn't
come home following the completion
of his round the world cruise.
Apparently he had discovered things
of more interest in some foreign coun.
try.
1t was only natural, therefore, that
during the years that followed he
came less and less to occupy our
minds.
One or another of US heard from
him at long intervals.
Occasionally we CHANGED upon an
acquaintance who had met him In some
foreign port.
And, piecing together fragmentary
bits of information. we concluded that
he had established himself in England
and planned no more to frequent his
native land.
Our hopes that he might have over
come his pet obsession were shattered
whenever news Of Alvin was available.
Folks laughed when his name was
mentioned, and usually remarked
somewhat in this fashion:
ooh, he's the young man who's posi-
tive that the train on which he's rid
ing will run off a bridge" Or: "You
mean the chap who dislikes automo-
biles because If he rides in one there's
sure to be smash-up."
And so 1t went.
Alvin had become q chronic fatalist,
And, as Is usually the fate of all
fatalistic people, nothing ever hap
pened to him.
He rode In airplanes, on boats,
trains, submarines: he travelled in hos
tile countries, hunted wild game In
Australia and visited the jungles Of
Africa. And survived them all without
a scratch.
The years rolled by and letters from
Alvin ceased altogether.
Seldom now did we chance upon
people who had met him while travel
ing abroad.
Only at rare intervals was his name
mentioned at the club.
He no longer held q place in our
He became dim and distant mem
DRY, forgotten. though still somewhat
of a legend.
Recently l read of Alvin's death
The news was somewhat Of a shock.
1t was actually several seconds aft
er his name had stared back at me on
an inner page Of the London Times
that the familiar chord was stirred to
life. and I remembered; recalled the
whole story, and saw, in my minds
eye. a picture of Alvin with that wor.
ried expression on his face and the
fearful look in his eyes.
I read again the item. and, in spite
OF the tragedy Of it, a smile came to
my lips, and then laughed. "Ameri-
can Millionaire" the article read
KILLED in Accident. Alvin Winthrop.
late of Boston, Mass, q. s. A., q resi-.
dent of Shropshire during recent years,
globe traveller, adventurer, and big
game hunter was yesterday run down
and instantly killed in Piccadilly BY a
cyclist. Mr.. Winthrop was apparently
trying to avoid being hit by a truck.
ignoring the bicycle coming from the
opposite direction. The victim struck
his head against the curb in his fall.
to which fact Is attributed his death. !"