Skegness Magazine

UP THE POLE!
PRACTICAL JOKE AT SKEGNESS

An amusing practical joke was perpetrated at Skegness last week.
It appears that a certain gentleman, whom we will call Mr. X., has made a practice of leaving his bicycle outside certain well-known premises in the town, whilst he himself is engaged upon business within.
One evening last week, after “the shades of night” had fallen, some friends observed the machine reared unattended against the outside wall in the usual way, and immediately devised a practical joke upon the unsuspecting owner.

A flag pole stood a short distance away, and the jokers trundled the machine to it, tied the ropes thereon and hoisted it aloft. Leaving it securely dangling in the breeze, they quickly vanished.

A short time afterwards the owner having finished his work, came outside. Gone was the machine. The thought of a thief flashed through his mind, but he decided to search the outside of the premises thoroughly. This he did, but without result; and he was, to say the least, absolutely mystified. , Then his eye caught sight of his machine up the pole dangling as though it was accustomed to braving the battle and the breeze in this style.

It is reported, but we cannot vouch for its accuracy, that he used six of the most jaw breaking words in the English language upon making the discovery.
Procuring a pair of steps he ascended them, with the somewhat vague intention of recovering the ‘aeroplane’, but a lad coming up at that moment “pulled the strings” and the bike came to earth again.

Two small boys who saw the machine in its unusual position are reported to have spread abroad the rumour that “a German aeroplane has just gone past,” but it is unlikely orations will be asked in Parliament upon this occasion.

Meanwhile, the victim of the joke is keeping I sharp eye upon his “steed,” for although be has heard of bicycles doing erratic things at times, he has certainly never seen one up a flag pole before!