A COLONIST'S ADVENTURE IN LONDON.

Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 58, 5 September 1885, Page 1 (Supplement)

A COLONIST'S ADVENTURE IN LONDON.

What may happen to a colonist in London was shown in the case of Mr. J. B. Russell, the well-known barrister of Auckland, a few days ago. It was in broad 'day, he was in the Strand, stauding on the sidewalk, and looking as a colonist in London would at the passing crowd, when he became conscious of a' son Ration in the vicinity of his watch-pocket. Glancing l'ound, he espied a neighbour with a watch-chain in his hand. "You scoundrel ! You have got my watch," said the colonist, seiziug the Cockney by the collar. " Take care of what you say," said the man gravely, placing his hand behind his back, when, of course, the timekeeper passed into other bands. But Mr. Russell stuck to his man, who protested his utter innocence of any such meanness as appropriating a watch. Presently, however, Mr. Russell was jammed in a crowd and furiously hustled, one fellow getting his head under your countryman's arm and tossing him up. However, Mr. Bussell sprang to his feet and made for his man, who had meantime been seized by two young geutlemen who had witnessed the row, and who were now in turn being mauled by the mob. Clubbing his umbrella Mr. Russell went for one of the scoundrels, giving it to him right in the faco with such a will as to produce a moral effect on the mob. Wielding his peaceful implement with colonial vim, the New Zealander at bay gave the Londoners a specimen of colonial grit, and what with his height, his fierceness of visage, his litheness, and his umbrella, he fairly abashed and s drove back the, crowd from his two friendly helpers, who stuck tenacionsly to their man. With a feeling that for once they had caught a tartar the ruffianly crowd slunk away, while the colonist, with the look of moral elevation of a man who had taught a wholesome lesson, with a glance of withering Bcorn, and holding aloft his umbrellaas a banner of victory, he bade them begone! Then a policeman opportunely came on the scene, and received the man from his captors, when the whole party, surrounded by a crowd of admiring gamins, marched through the streets to Court, where justice promptly followed on the tracks of guilt. Even a lady who had personally witnessed the theft unexpectedly presented berbelf and gave evidence, when the fellow owned his guilt, and was sent six months to gaol. It would ha w e been an appropriate ending to my tale if I had been able to say that Mr. Russell's valorous conduct was rewarded in the restoration of the watch. r I am sorry that I cannot. That watch has gone on its travels, and he and it will meet no more. But Mr. Russell has devised an ingenious contrivance — I have seen it .myself — by which, without any risk of loss, he may be made aware of the felonious intent of any other who may desire to deprive him again of a watch, and I verily believe that he spends much time idly sauntering in the Strand in the hope of having another opportunity of teaching some Londoner of irregular principles the duty of walking in the paths of rectitude. — English correspondent.