PANDEMONIUM IN NEW YORK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17569, 20 June 1925, Page 12

PANDEMONIUM IN NEW YORK.

ROBBERY DURING A TREASURE HUNT. (Special to the “ Star.”) LONDON, April 29. Fifth Avenue, tho city’s central thoroughfare, was the scene yesterday afternoon of three distinct bub simultaneous events which turned the roar of tho jammed traffic into pandemonium, says the New Yor correspondent of the “Westminster Gazette.” While an amateur treasure hunt was. going on in motor-cars, mounted police were chasing a real thief and the “Strong Arm” Squad were charging an illegal parade of the Communist, wing of tho Amalgamated Clothing Workers. Tho treasure hunt craze is familiar to Londoners, for it hail a short run of popularity in your city until frowned down by outspoken magistrates called upon to deal with tho excesses of the speed limit and the accidents which the reckless driving involved. Three hundred male and female members of what calls itself the Younger Set met at the Plaza Hotel in the name of a crippled children's charitv, lunched, paid £2OCO in entrance fees, and received a blue ticket plus tbo first, cryptic clue to o hidden : £2OO gem given by Messrs Ney and i Cartier, the jewellers. Dashing into I limousines, with which speed laws and | traffic signals were disregarded, the j merry mob hurried to Park Avenue. where their tickets were punched and ! new clues were distributed. The chase ! continued down Filth Avenue inlo i hotels and shops, to the amazement or visitors and shoppers. TEAPOT FIND. After two hours Air Eric Wood, nosing out his competitors, dashed into the Hotel Roosevelt, the final clue bringing him to the) bottom of a green teapot, where was hidden a pair of crystal studs. While the treasure hunt demoralised | traffic, two lads with pistols drawn ! entered a 47tli Street stationer’s store, took £IOOO, and ran out, followed by ' the proprietor shouting. “ Stoo thief!” j The crowd joined the traffic police I in this now real hunt down the avenue. The thieves separated near •« I subway station, and only one was cap- ; tured. ho without the loot. ' To add to the confusion. 2000 of the Union determined to parade without ' a permit. 'flic police assembled in ; side si roots, and .-barged and sca‘- ! tered (ho crowd. Banners were flung j down, men and women trampled upon in their hurry to avoid tho horses Tliero were no serious injuries, aud no Then the skies suddenly darkened, thunder rumbled afar, aud a downpour of rain swept the streets of all traces of the hunt, the thieves and parades. It was the end of a perfect New York day.