A ROER IN A BOX.

Otago Witness, Issue 2509, 16 April 1902, Page 44

A ROER IN A BOX.

The Morning Leadpr of the 10th February publishes a statement by an officer of on* of the Uniou Castle mail steamers of the discovery of an extraordinary attempt at escape by a Boer prisoner who had concealed himself as a stowaway. The officer's story was: — " On 16th December we left Capetown for England, via St. Helena, Ascension, and Las Palmas. We arrived at St. Helena on 22nd December, discharged p»s3engert, mails and baggage, and cargo. Amongst tho latter was an innocent-looking ea9e addressed to a captain of the 4th Gloucestershire Regiment. Its exact dimensions were 4ft 3in by 2ft 4in, of Jin deal, with two lots of battens round it at about one-third of its length, and two more across the ends. Little did anyone think what the case contained. " At 5.30 qn Christmas Eioming tfe* Imj*. gage Hatch was opened to get the mails and parcel post on deck, two of the crew going down below to sling them. When they came on deck one of them reported that there was a stowaway down below, but as we were close up to the anchorage at Ascension, the hatches were put on »nd a hand left to see that nobody came up or went down. '"After the ship was anchored, I went on to the bridge and reported the matter to the captain, afterwards going down the hatch to find the man, but could see nobody. Thinking rhat perhaps the man had imagined he had seen someone, I questioned him aboub it, but he was confident, and said the stowaway had asked him not to give him away. I continued the search, looking everywhere, even searching the hold, which he might posfibly have got into by means of a small ventilator, but no signs of him were to be found. " The captain, wondering why I did not bring the stowaway along, came to the hatch and asked where he was, and I told him he was not to be found. He then questioned my informant, and got the same story as he had told me. However, he had to be found, so we determined to get all the baggage up, but on hearing the order given a voice said, ' J will give myself up,' and then a head and after it a thin body and a pair of thin legs appeared from the wooden case referred to. "As soon aa the man was out he said. ' This has been woifp than h ,' and I can believe it. After he had squared himself up a bit, I took him to the captain, who was on the promenade deck with Colonel Evans, the military officer commanding the troops at St. Helona, who at once recognised him as Commandant Smonnberg;, a Boer prisoner of wax on parole. Smonnberg stated that he had been in the case since Friday, 20th December, and had not been able to get out until the 24th, when some baggage had been shifted. ".Taking advantage of tho opportunity ho came out to stretch himself, but went to deep, and did not awake till he had been seen, but managed to Flip back into the ca6e in tho darkness of the place, thus accounting for his disappearance when looked for after the ship waa anchored. " His experience of being tumbled about; in the case was bo awful that when he heard what was going to happen he knew he could not stand it again, and gave it up. One cau fancy how he must have felt, being 6ft :n height, shut up in a case measuring 4ft 3in. He was very weak, and had to be helped 1 along, hardly able to stand, but after having some breakfast and a bath he was better, and felt more inclined to talk. •' Had he managed to e?efc to England, he said, he \va3 going to wait his chance to get out of the case at night, and wait till the warehouse door.? were open, and watch !iN opportunity to get away to Harwich, ami from there over to Holland. Water was jiu greatest want ; he had only enough to h -.1 two more days, and had heard tho men ?ay it would take tho ship nine day 3to get io Las Palma*. so that was another rea3ou that, promoted him to give up the attempt. " Stowed in the case were a bag of bidruits. some tins of extract of meat, two bottles of water, two clean shirts, an overcoat, a pair of trou.ser3. two pairs of ECCiB, a tin containing candles and matches, a bradawl, gimlet, an old mortising chisel, ar.fi a flafc water tin marlc to bo enrried about the pcreon -without being noticed. . " On being searched Sroonnhertj w:is founrt to have in hie possession £2 4s fad in money."

—In Japan most of the horses are shod with straw. Even the clumsiest of carthorses wear straw chocs, which in their ease are tied round the ankle with straw rope, and are made of tlie ordinary rice-straw, braided so as to form a sole for the foo* iin think.