"ARRESTED."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11506, 30 September 1915, Page 7

"ARRESTED."

| ADVENTURE IN SWEDEN. CHRISTCHURCH MAN S EXPERIENCE.. Mr Harry L. Bourk, oi Chriitehnrch, had been for fourteen months in .Norway when war broke out, ruicl then wont on to Sweden (says the " Briti&hAustra.lasia.il). Wandering about Stockholm one day he saw a large gate open, ami a. party of people being received with some ostentation. He joined the little throny; from curiosity, and found himself admitted to important naval dockyard, the guest, in whose train ho was assumed to he, being a famous general. Lying in dock \va« a w nrship unlike any .\lr Bourk has seen in hi.-, somewhat- extensive travels, and while, ho was standing examining the ship he was accosted in Swedish by an official. Ho replied in Norwegian, being unable to speak Swedish, although he oould understand it. Instantly he Was taken into custody, removed to a. room, interviewed by the police, and searched. Two letters only were found on him, one written in Norwegian from an American friend, introducing him to a man in Christiana. nnd l.h« other a- 'postcard from a Swedish friend. The travel diary, which would have complicated motk-rs exceedingly, and which he carried in the inside pocket, of his waistcoSt, they did not find. Knowing, from experience in the United States and in Norway, that the Norwegians emigrate iu large numbers, lie gave his birthplpee as Milwaukee, Wisconsin. U.S.A. Ho vouchsafed no information save in answers to definite questions, reserving his two items of truth for his name and present address, which happened to be the Hotel England. The. police at once rang up the"hotel, and asked whether a man of his name was staying there,_ address ho gave. "San Francisco, :: was the reply, and again the traveller wa:-; jblo to thank " his lucky s.tars that it Had not been ;i Xew Ze-dand." The inforniniiou appeared to be correct, the police officer said. Ou the other hand it might not bo. He inquired as to Mr Bourk's plans, and finding that he was travelling through the country, advised ""him to make it convenient to conclude Ins tour of Sweden hoi ore the next morning, j This Mr Bonrk did, and came on to England. No less than four of his brothers are lighting in the Dardanj ellcs, one at present being in hospital wounded. He hopes that he may be I able to join tho Royal Flying Corps.