HELD PRISONER.

Evening Star, Issue 12926, 14 April 1908, Page 8

HELD PRISONER.

A Balham gentleman had a most mr pleasant experience at Victoria station' London, the other evening, bein' l ' held captive by an automatic boot-cleaning machine for nearly a couple of hours. The “shoeblackis worked ou the “peuuy-in-thc-slot” principle. Immediately the penny is dropped and a lever pulled, the foot is carried forward on a pedestal into the upright body of the machine, and the brushes operate. The gentleman dropped in bis penny ; his boot and foot were carried forward, and the brushes commenced to work. Unfortunately the foot was held fast in the machine, and no amount of tugging would release it. An attendant was called, aud advised another penny. This was tried without result. Other pennies were dropped into the machine, which, however, resolutely refused to release its grip. lu the words of the attendant: “ There the gentleman waited calmly while we stood around and made suggestions. We tried to pull his foot out, hut were afraid of his leg giving way before the machine did, I could not gc; at the hoot to unlace it, for it was right inside the machine, with no room at the I side for my lingers. Presently the gentleman got tired, and someone held him up while he filled his pipe and lit it. Then we got a chair, and he sat down. He didn't get angry, but took it all very quitely. 1 This is a nice way of spending the old year,' he said. When the station inspector came on the scene he decided to smash the machine. We fetched a heavy coke hammer and a chisel. Pang went the hammer. ‘ Hurry up, said the gentleman. Then hang again, aud soon the lock was broken and the front ul the machine open. It did not taka long to unscrew the top brush, aud the gentleman stood up, stretched himself, yawned, and was a free man again. He walked quickly away without any fuss, and 1 do not think he even gave his name. Vou should have seen the crowd ; it was like a Lord Mayor's Show da}'. The people filled the place aud thronged the con ire of the station. They cheered and cheered when he got away, and sang ‘Auld Pang Syne’ and ‘He’s a jolly good fellow.” ‘ Birmingham Post,’