AN ENGLISHMAN'S MISFORTUNES IN SWITZERLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6966, 15 March 1884, Page 10 (Supplement)

AN ENGLISHMAN'S MISFORTUNES IN SWITZERLAND.

On August 10 (writes a correspondent to the Times), going on foot from Como through the Engadine, I passed the bridge leading to Sils, and shortly afterwards perceived a man hurry over the bridge gesticulating, as I supposed, to the shepherds on the hills above. Looking round again, I perceived he was addressing himself to me. When he came up he seized hold of mo, 6houting in Romansch that I must go back to Sils. He being a powerful man, and very excited, I submitted to being taken towards Sils, asking who he was and what be wanted. At length I observed the Swiss arms on his shepherd's hat, and asked why he arrested me. This he refused to say. X insisted on beiug taken before a magistrate, and, after some delay, he proceeded with me to Silva Plana Arriving there about half-past eleven, I was taken to the telegraph office, where was an official who professed to understand French, but only spoke Romansch. At another inn we found a third official speaking excellent French. I showed him my card with name and address, produced letters directed to me at various places where I was staying, and asked to be brought on to San Moritz, only two miles off, where were my luggage from Como, and friends who had known me many years. This was refused, and I was detained at the inn. About two o'clock I insisted ou telegraphing to the British Minister at Berne, asking him to find out what was the matter. About six o'clock my repeated request to be brought on to t-'an Moritz was granted, and the police there finding my luggage and niy friends, 1 was discharged. Next morning, however, orders arrived from Cbur to renew the arrest. My friends, luckily, knew German thoroughly, and made out the local authorities. After much negotiation and telegraphing, an inquiry was held in the aftornoon. I and my friends, who could speak to knowing me and my family for some sixteen years, were examined at length. It turned out that a police bill offering £100 reward for the arrest of a fugitive Englishman had excited the vigilance of the landjager at Sils, and the first Englishman he met walking at a good pace he regarded as this mine of wealth. The report of the court was telegraphed to Chur, and late in the evening I was set at liberty, and my friends were able to start for Basle next day. Had they gone on a day or two earlier, and had I not had the comparatively rare advantage on a summer ramble of having at hand old friends thoroughly acquainted with the language of the country, 1 could hardly have escaped many days, perhaps weeks, of further annoyance. The Foreign Office now tell me that aiter some months' correspondence they have failed to convince the Swiss Government that the offioials at Sils and Silva Plana are inefficient representatives of their police administration.