Incredible Story

How Lost Bag of Gold Was Recovered

THE following description of an inci dent in Papua is always given a prominent place among “Incredible Stories.” Yet it is absolutely true.

It is amusing to recall that the story was once written by a certain Bishop, and sent to a magazine that publishes “only truth” ! It was returned with thanks, and a reminder to the above effect.

Henry Dexter, writing from England to the editor, recalls the story, and re marks that Percy Leigh, the diver con cerned, and Sandy Christy, owner of the salvaged bag, were at the wharf to say good-bye to him when he left the Terri tory last November. Dexter retells the story in the book he now is writing.

A cutter from the North-east Coast of Papua was nearing Samarai, and there was much bustle on board as the miners stacked their goods on deck, ready for disembarkation. There came a sudden squall from the nearby mountains. The cutter was thrown on her beam ends and four bags, containing gold, slid gently overboard and sank.

The skipper kept his head, and imme diately gybed the cutter and took cross bearings to mark the spot. Then he went on to Samarai; and, soon afterwards, re turned with diver Leigh, and Christy, the frantic owner of the gold.

The cutter was jibbed about until the marks were in line, and Leigh went over board. They were right on the spot, and three bags were sent up. But a long search failed to reveal the fourth; and the despondent Christy said that that bag contained gold worth about £1000.

The diver, finally, gave it up, and climbed aboard.

“Heave up, boys!” called the skipper, and the native crew slowly raised the anchor.

A native, looking over the bow, sud

denly yelled:’

“Pusa yen-o-o Talbudda!” (The bag is there, Taubada.) And there it was.

When the anchor was dropped, it fell onto the bag, hiding it from the diver.

When the anchor was raised, one of its flukes caught one of the shoulder-straps of the bag and brought it to the surface, and into the hands of its anxious owner.