A walk in the woods
player accounts
From the journals of Dr
Watson, Player A
However a broad track led
away to the right and Holmes said “Ah, I fancy this may lead us to the factory.
If it does it may lead to a less obvious approach than directly from the road.”
So dutifully we trudged after him. In the full daylight beyond a broad field, we
could see the green mass of the Ashdown forest. It covers many square miles of
forest that have become denser with the demise of the Charcoal burning industry.
The track skirting Arcadia Wood curled round to our left, with a wooden fence on
its right. A young woman approached us carrying a basket of wild roses. She wore
a linen apron but her scarlet frock looked to be of good quality. She bade us
“Good morning.” But Hastings demanded to know who she was and why she was out so
early in the morning unattended.
“I am Lorna Gray and am staying with my
friend Miss Aspasia Warbleton at Elysia Lodge. I am collecting roses to make a
Pot Pori. Whilst in a town it might be appropriate to be accompanied, these days
free Englishwomen can go where they like in the country Sir!”
“But you might be attacked or taken
hostage by the escaped prisoners!”
“What prisoners?”
“Miss there has been a mass break out
from Sladewood Prison and they have been committing murders.”
“Oh. I did not know that. Perhaps I had
better return to the Lodge?”
“For your safety you had best accompany
us!” growled Hastings.
“Well, yes it is as easy to go back the
way I came as go along the road.”
However hardly had we
started on our way again when we heard two shots ring out from behind us. As one
we turned and went back to investigate. There were more shots but when we
reached the road the action was over. A wounded miscreant was being treated by
some mounted officers. Chief Inspector Carslake then told us that everything was
under control. Hastings suggested that Miss Gray stay safely with him but she
refused, saying that she was going back to Elysia Lodge no matter what any of us
said! Carslake then sent his police clerk to accompany her so as allow us more
freedom. So we all headed back up the track. On the way Miss Gray indicated the
wild rose bushes from which she had cut her flowers. Then a terrible smelt smote
us and Miss Gray said. “Oh yes. That is a dead cow that must have sneaked into
the wood. I found it earlier.”
We hastily moved on to the
end of the wood to where the track turned sharp left. Holmes said “It seems all
clear out here. I think we should best go back into the wood.”
Miss Gray objected “Well I
am going back to the Lodge! You can do what you like!” So she carried on with
the police clerk following her.
Turning into the wood on
the first path, we stumbled on the ruined Factory. I and DPC Longscape entered
it through a gaping hole in the walls, as some ruffians left. “Back! There is
bomb!” shouted Holmes and to be sure there was a black ball with a lit fuse on
the floor. We dodged back out and waited as it fizzed and spluttered.
I took a long time before it actually exploded. I was starting to wonder
if it was just a ruse to keep us occupied, when the Ruffians started taking pot
shots at us. Then the bomb blew up inside the building covering Longscape with
dust but harming nobody. “Come
Watson we will take them in the flank!” said Holmes. So whilst Hastings and
Longscape returned the Ruffian’s fire. A Ruffian fired at me and I emptied my
revolver into him in return. Holmes went for another who was readying a bomb to
hurl at us and a shot to his head put him out of the game. At this two others
put their hands up whilst another could be heard running away towards the road.
The surrendered pair were unarmed fugitives Jason Jermaine and Vernon Vessinter.
The action appearing to be over I went to tend the fellow I had shot. I was sure
I had put five bullets into his chest but could only find two wounds in his
thigh and another breaking his humorous. We discovered much later that his name
was Ernesto Galletti and that of the bomb thrower Frederico Parmigiani. He was
their leader apparently. It is typical of Holmes to be the one to down the
leader! Holmes’ bullet had creased the right side of his skull. He remained
unconscious until we had lugged him and Galletti all the way to Chief Inspector
Carslake’s Dutch Barn. They were Italians, presumably hired to trap us and to
help the fugitives. There was a woman also, whom was brought in by the cycle
squad. Only she and Parmigiani could speak English. Even so they would only give
their names and ages and I think she lied about her age! The one who got away
from us was caught by some police from Sharpthorne. His name was Rudolfo
Subisari. I remained with the wounded at the barn until they could be
transported to Sladewood Prison Hospital. Holmes with Hastings and Longscape
returned to the ruined factory to lie in wait for Lennie Mead. By lunch-time
things had quietened down completely. However Holmes being Holmes we remained
starving in that accursed wood until six o’clock! Then we obtained a lift back
to Sharpthorne where we had an excellent dinner and stayed the night.
I fancy that Lennie
Mead and some of the other prisoners were spirited away by a completely
different route. Moriarty had indeed set a trap for us and it was only through
the incompetence of these Italian ruffiani that we took no hurt. Within a week
one hundred and fifty-seven prisoners had been recaptured. The authorities were
remaining rather coy about how many were still on the loose.
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Lennie Mead’s report
Player B
Yore Benevolens,
Yore plan worked a fair treat. I done the two door blasts and we was out. Then
wen the screws bunched in the yard a stick sorted them good an proper! Then big
Humf and the lads got their weapons and opened the B an C wings, whilst I set
the three wall sticks. They went of almost the same. Big Humf sent the B wingers
through the west hole and the C wingers through the east. So some warders that
were still about went after them and it went quite. Then we headed up north into
the dark. We cam thru many hedges but then we found the mules and the boy
Desmond. He gave us the flowers and told us the passwords. We got dressed and
the boy led us across more fields. It is not so easy walking in a frock yore
benevolens! Then wen the wood cam he told us all to scater whilst he led me an
Jason an Vernon to cum with him. I think he got a bit lost in the dark becos he
said best wait till the sun cum up. When it did we was not far from the house
after all and he led us to the shed with the bike in it. He pointed the way to
Wych Cross and I biked of. I’ve not done no biking before so I was a bit wobbly.
I see Jason and Vernon meet a geezer acrost the road so I thinks they will be
alright.
So I bikes off
along the road and I sees these three peelers on horses acoming. Well I was a
mite nervous like and cos I was not used to the bike I coudnt show me derringer.
But just as I nears em some of our lads fires shooting at the peelers from the
wood. Two jumped off their prads and starts shooting back but the third who took
their horses rains says stop Miss. Well to be honest I did not know how to stop
not having ridden a bike before! So I dodges past him and on me way. There was
more shooting but I dusnt look back I would have gone in the ditch else. Ahead I
sees three more peelers on bikes going slowly. They had a woman pushing a pram
but then they turned off to this barn with no walls. So I gets past them and two
diggers what was coming my way. Then there was three toffs with rifles and more
peelers behind them! So I thinks just keep going and maybe Ill get past em. So
one of the Toffs say good morning Miss Warbleton! which was who I was supposed
to be. So I says good morning back and rode on past. Another Toff says that is
not Miss Aspasia! But the pistol peelers was watching back up the road and I
gets past them too and away. Then down the road I met yore contact and rode into
the hedge to get to stop and I was safe!
PS I now hears that Davido
and Lenardo Robusti, Basil Ludd, Wilton Rugge, Lester Malcolm and Lawrence Fitt
got safe into the Ashdown hideaway. However them Wops that was helping us mostly
got shot.
Leonard Mead.
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Chief Inspector
Carslake’s Report Player C
I set up my Tactical
headquarters at a Dutch barn on the east side of Arcadia Wood with Police Clerk
Jones and Warder Elderly from the prison. At dawn an Inspector Hastings from
Scotland Yard arrived with a sergeant and two civilians. They knew something of
the breakout and thought some of the fugitives would head for a disused factory
in the wood. None of us knew where it was so I wished them good luck and let
them go on their way. I requisitioned their van, sending it towards Wych Cross
to pick up any reinforcements coming my way. My information was that the
escapees would try to go from south to north through the wood. Inspector Ireton
had sent a foot squad to the south edge of the wood, set a cycle squad to patrol
the road running through it and taken an armed squad to cover the open gap to
the north.
At twelve minutes past five
the cycle squad were approaching me when two shots rang out from bushes at the
end of the wood. I advanced firing on these bushes and was assisted by a mounted
squad under Inspector Larkhill. The firing from the bushes ceased and a sorely
wound man was discovered lying within them. He claimed to speak no English but
gave his name as Italiano Luigi Nascondi. Warden Elderly said he was sure that
he was not an A block prisoner. He was bandaged, handcuffed and laid down.
Inspector Hastings’ party
had returned in response to hearing the shooting and now had a young lady in
tow. She claimed to be a friend of Miss Aspasia Warbleton and wished to return
to Elysia Lodge where she was staying. I sent Police Clerk Jones to escort her
there. This would free Hastings in his mission and give Jones a chance to look
for suspicious occurrences at the lodge.
It had crossed my mind that the inhabitants might be assisting the
escapees. I sent Inspector Larkhill’s mounted squad to search the southern half
of the wood and the cyclists back up the road. Around half past five we heard a
shot from that direction. It seems that PC Nearly and the others had become
suspicious of a woman pushing a pram. When they demanded to search it she pulled
a pistol and tried to shoot Nearly. He managed to overpower her and confiscate
the revolver. In the pram was found another, a first aid kit and five bombs
disguised as baby’s milk bottles. A further bomb was found in her apron pocket.
Her name is Lucy Oombry, formerly a waitress of Italian descent. Currently she
has been staying at Elysia Lodge. It seems to me that this could be grounds for
obtaining a warrant to search that suspect premises. Shortly after an armed foot
patrol arrived in the requisitioned van. I thought to use it to hold the
prisoners but because of the distractions it turned and headed back towards Wych
Cross before I could stop it. I heard firing down the road which was of the
mounted squad being ambushed. They had stopped to question a woman cyclist when
the shots rang out. Not surprisingly she spurted past them as PC Trott blew his
whistle. Inspector Larkhill with PC Gorman dismounted and a brisk fire fight
ensued. Both Larkhill and Gorman fell wounded as did one of the malefactors
Percival Cadwell. The other, Billy Slaughter surrendered to PC Trott. After some
rough bandaging they then loaded the three wounded onto the horses and made
their way back to my THQ. Meanwhile I had arrested a Mr Tomas Romany, a gipsy
acting in a suspicious manner. On him he had rabbit snares and a large knife.
We were soon joined by PCs Houghton, Alvanny and Rattle with two
prisoners. One of whom was unconscious and in fact was later found to have a
fractured skull. He was Dave Weekes and his confederate was Reggie King both
serving sentences for rape. This was a hectic time as there were several
innocent locals travelling on the road. Two ditch diggers, two cyclists and
three gentlemen from the Ashdown shooting club. Those last claimed that they had
come to help us so I permitted them to proceed into the wood. Soon after,
Inspector Ireton came in with PC Baker and two wounded. PC Snider had been shot
in the right shoulder. The other casualty was Percy Partington the Rapist from
Poplar dressed in a London Police Uniform. He had been shot in the pelvis. At
0915 Detective Inspector Hastings returned bringing with him two escapees and
two wounded Italian thugs who had tried to ambush him. He left a Doctor Watson
to help treat the wounded whilst he and his other two companions returned to the
building that he had had found in the wood. The two escapees were Jason Jermaine
and Vernon Vessinter whose names were confirmed by Warder Elderly.
Police Constable
Houghton’s Report
Inspector Ireton sent me
with PCs Alvanny and Rattle to look for fugitives coming to the south side of
the wood. When we arrived at the edge it was still dark. We heard some noises
which may have been fugitives bursting into the undergrowth but could not catch
any. When it became light enough to see we looked over the fence at the field
towards the prison. Despite them being quite open no movement could be seen. We
guessed that any prisoners coming this way were already in the wood. We decided
to head north towards the road. We had not gone far when we heard some noises
behind us. Investigating these we encountered what appeared to be two civilians
and a metropolitan policeman. He gave his name as PC Partington and claimed to
be escorting the other two men to be locked up. Not knowing how a metropolitan
constable could have become involved I was suspicious but said that we would
assist him. Then Rattle said “Was not Partington the name of that rapist, the
‘Passionate Peeler from Poplar’ the papers called him!” and he made a run for
it. The other two began a fist fight with us but we overpowered them one being
stunned. So we carried him towards the road. The false officer got away but I
hear that Inspector Ireton and his men later caught him.
Police Clerk Jones’
Report
As instructed, I
accompanied Miss Lorna Gray with Inspector Hastings’ party along the track
alongside the wood. She pointed out the rose bushes from whence she had clipped
her basket of wild roses. Less pleasantly there was a dead cow smelling
something awful. When we came to the tracks turn at the end of the wood the
others decided to turn back into the wood. But Miss Gray said she would just
carry on regardless so I went with her. Then we heard shooting and a big bang so
I guessed Inspector Hastings and the others had gotten into trouble behind us. I
drew out my revolver. Then as we were nearly at the road a man ran out from the
other side of the hedge. I ordered him to stop but he kept running towards
Sharpthorne. I fired one shot after him which kept him going. “It must be one of
those escaped prisoners Miss.” I said, “You had best go into the Lodge!” As we
crossed the road we saw the man get apprehended by officers at a check point.
I tried to go in with her
but there were these two big mastiffs came out growling at me. They seemed to
know Miss Gray, as she passed without any problem but they certainly did not
like me! She shook her head and said “They are not my dogs you know. I think
they are trained to attack Policemen so you had better go. Thank you for
escorting me, I shall be safe now.” And she went in. At a couple of windows I
saw faces scowling down at me, alerted by the dog’s growls. So I returned to the
THQ along the road.
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Player D. Frederico Parmigiani Comondante of the
Fratelli per Anarchico (FpA)
To Il Professore, a letter
smuggled out from Lewes Prison.
Grande Signor,
I am most sorry to be
writing this from prison. When we arrived at Arcadia Wood I set Luigi Nascondi
hidden beside the road at the east end of the wood and Rudolfo Subisari
similarly at the West. Then I with Ernesto Galletti waited in the ruined
building. We thought we heard some distant shots which was not a good sign. Then
Rudolfo came in bringing two of the prisoners wearing the flowers as instructed.
They wanted to carry on to the forest but I heard noises of people coming along
the path. So we waited and some of them carried on but others came straight to
the building. So the two prisoners dodged out and I told Ernesto and Rudolfo to
follow as I lit a bomb to greet the incomers. Alas it took a long while to go
off and the enemies had seen it and got out. There were hordes of them! We fired
at them, they fired back and Ernesto fell. I dodged into the undergrowth and was
about to throw another bomb when I was shot in the head and passed out. The two
prisoners had only cudgels so they surrendered. Left alone Rudolfo sought to
escape by running back to the road. On it he met a woman with a policeman who
challenged him and then shot at him when he ran away towards Sharpthorne. Alas
as he neared a Barn there more police jumped out and he had to surrender. I
recovered my senses in an open sided Barn beside the wood where they had carried
me. Ernesto had been shot twice in the thigh and his right arm. Luigi was also
there in a bad way with a bullet through his lungs. The woman Lucia Umbri was
also there. Police on bicycles had stopped her and she had shot at them when
they wanted to search her pram. There were police everywhere! They had captured
seven of the prisoners that I know about for we saw them in the Barn. One was
dressed as a policeman. Apparently he had shot and wounded a rifle armed
policeman. We did not see Rudolfo until he joined us in prison two days
afterwards. I believe that one of the
enemies that attacked us in the ruined building was Mr Sherlock Holmes. I very
much regret that we were unable to kill him. If you could kindly get us out this
jail we will try to do better next time.
Frederico Parmigiani