AN EMBARRASSING SITUATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2722, 16 May 1906, Page 50

AN EMBARRASSING SITUATION.

At the conclusion of a meeting 1 at Deauyilie some years ago the Duke of Hamilton, in company with another wellknown racegoer, Mr T. Wombell, discovered that the train which should have borne them nearer their native land had departed a few minutes before their arrival. His Grace was especially anxious to reach Loudon with the least possible delay, and as a last resource hastened to the coast, where, together with his companion in misfortune, the Didke endeavoured to charter a vessel to convey them to Brighton without loss of time. Even the persuasive eloquence of the belated nobleman, however, could not persuade the fisherman to embark for the journey, which, judging by" the outlcok, threatened to be a perilous one. At length, however, the Duke heard of a man, likely to undertake the task, and, bidding his companion wait at the hotel, his grace ventured forth to the address given, confident that he should succeed in obtaining the necessary aid. In the meantime the fact cf two strangers offering large sums to anyone willing to convey them from la belle France was quite sufficient to set people talking, the gossip in due course reaching the ears of a gendarme, who promptly informed his superior officer of the circumstance, with the result that Mr Wombell was considerably surprised when the representatives of law and order informed him that he would have to consider himself under arrest, they also desiring to perform the same kind office for his companion. Just as the indignant Englishman was forcibly protesting against the restraint imposed upon him, the Duke arrived from his unsuccessful search, and before he could realise the situation was also in the power of the gendarmes. On producing his card, however, the sporting noble was immediately released, with many apologies for the mistake madfe, the same also being tendered to his fellowsufferer. But, the police explained, two men were "wanted" for welshing at Deauville races, and, hearing of the strenuous efforts made to quit French soil by vhe twain, who were known to have come from the races, the officials deemed it their duty to act in the manner described. Welshing was then regarded by the French authorities as a very serious offence, and when eventually the offenders were captured, they were each sentenced to five years' imprisonment with hard labour— a fact to which the Duke used to refer when narrating the above incident.