SHANKLIN MYSTERY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7702, 11 May 1903, Page 2

SHANKLIN MYSTERY.

COLONEL'S DAUGHTER EOUND

THROUGH A DREAM.

The body of Miss Madge Lumsden, who disappeared mysteriously" from Shanklin, Tsle of Wight, recently, was washed ashore at Luccombe Chine a fortnight later.

The srtory is a remarkable one. Miss Lumsdea was the youngest of four daughters -of. Colonel Lumsden, and was only twenty-one. On Feb. 10 she was playing the schoolgirl Millie, in a performance of ♦'School," which was organised for the benefit of the local Volunteer corps, -and was wearing a light, short dress, and her hair was hanging down her back. When! she left tho hall she was seen going in the direction of the cliff, and was never seen again. A reward of £50 was offered, and the whole country round was scoured time after time, but no tidings of tho misging girl could be obtained, and all hope of hea' being alive was abandoned. The discovery of the body was eventually made_by the wife of a fisherman named Silas Kemp, who lives in a cottage near the mouth of Luccombo Chine. She had a dream that the body was to be found Vlying among the rocks along the shore, and as she could mot induce her husband to act upon her dream, she started out herself and earned the £50 reward.

At the inquest, Coastguardsman Manger, who was on duty on Shanklin Esplanade dn the night in question, deposed to seeing a lady in light attire go, on the pier a few minutes before eleven o'clock. 'Mrs S. Kemp, wife of a fisherman, deposed that after dreaming of finding the body among the rocks she went in search, and there in the water she aixw the glitter of rings on the hand of a form which appeared to be a heap of seaweed. She told the jury that she felt she was going to find the bodyWhen, she saw it she called her husband, •and they proceeded to Shanklin to report the discovery. Tlio body was identified by means of the clothing and rings, but was otherwise unrecognisable. Dr-Cowper expressed the opinion that death was due to drowning. Colonel Lumsdeny father of the deceased, said he could give no evidence that would throw any light on the matter. The 'jury returned a verdict of " found drowned," and expressed deep sympathy with Colonel and Mrs Lumsden in their bereavement.