‘Lady of the Chains’ and bag lost by Mayo man in New York
By Tom Gillespie
THERE was quite a surprise in store for popular Castlebar musician Seamus Gavin, of Charles Street, in January 1961, when he received a letter from a girl he had never met in New York conveying the pleasant news that she had found, and had in her possession, a Trans World Airways (TWA) travel bag which he had lost in the Big Apple.
Mr. Gavin had travelled with the Brose Walsh Orchestra on their American tour in October of 1960, and on November 2, as he was rushing to Idlewild Airport to catch a plane to Shannon, he hailed a taxi at the Bronx.
He had a lot of luggage with him when entering the taxi and in his hurry he left a TWA bag on the sidewalk where thousands of people passed. He didn't miss the bag until he was boarding the airship at Idlewild, and, realising where he left it, came to the conclusion, philosophically, that he would never see it again.
But when opening his Christmas mail Mr. Gavin was amazed to receive a letter from a Miss Goldberg of New York, intimating that she had found his bag. It was the second letter written by Miss Goldberg to Mr. Gavin, and she enclosed the envelope of the first letter written to him which was addressed to Charlestown, Co. Mayo, instead of Charles Street, Castlebar.
The amazing point of this unusual story is the fact that the contents of the bag of which Miss Goldberg took such care included, among other items, two motor car snow chains, not so easily towed around New York by a young lady.
Miss Goldberg was still in possession of the bag and Mr. Gavin wrote back to her and as requested in her letter, had forwarded her a Sweepsteak ticket and a souvenir of Ireland. She certainly earned them!
The letter from the ‘Lady of the Chains’ was as follows:
By Miss Rochelle Goldberg, Mr. P. Rose, 936 Neill Ave, Bronx 62, New York.
Re: Lost TWA bag with contents with return address to Ireland attached. I omitted Castlebar on the original envelope, as you will note on enclosed.
(Are you the right Mr. Gavin?)
S.E. Gavin, Castlebar, St. Martin’s, Charlestown, Co. Mayo, Ireland.
Dear Mr. Gavin, This will, no doubt, come as a surprise to you. But my sentiment was always of a diplomatic nature, to help America to keep the ‘Good Neighbour Policy’ (honest dealings) - even if this TWA bag was filled with female contents.
On November I was walking home when I noticed a TWA bag standing by its lonesome against a lamp-post.
No one around to talk to except a chap crossing the street. He explained he saw some people with luggage get into a cab and pull away. I told the chap I would wait 20 minutes and if the taxi does not show up, I would take care of the bag.
I decided to call police precinct 46 from a drug store. They could not help me after sweating it out for 15 minutes before I got a reply. There are so tied up. No one called for a lost TWA bag, and they suggested that I try the airline, which I did, without success.
November 3 - I arrived at the Irish Consul, 50th Street, N.Y.C. There they suggested Irish Air Lines in Madison Ave. A Mr. Moore took the trouble of checking the outgoing list of previous flights and calling someone on the phone to verify same.
Sure enough the voice on the other end of there line relayed a message that Mr. S. Gavin left at 9 p.m. on November 2 with a 23-piece band. My hunch and research paid off at last (What a relief.)
Mr. Moore could not get over my notes of details of itinerary and research.
“Boy,” he said, “you sure are thorough and determined.” He even offered to take your property off my hands and deliver the bag to you, but I suggested that I write this letter and await a reply from you, as I wanted a return, signed receipt from you.
Mr. Moore agreed to this action. He was nice enough to tell me that if on your departure you did not exceed the 44 lbs. it will cost you $2.4.
If you let me know by wire or letter - if you feel the bag is valuable enough (do you?) - or do you plan on being in New York again?
The only time I investigated the contents of the bag was in the subway, thinking to myself what if there is clockworks in it. Oh, my God! It was a stupid thought but hearing so much about the Sunday Bomber, you’ll forgive my inquisitiveness.
On November 3 I brought along a Bloomingdale’s shopping bag and stuffed your TWA bag intact into it and carried it back by train to the Bronx.
If you are laughing at a female ordeal - go ahead and laugh. But wait until you get my expense account - what I spent to locate you, brother.
Car fare (three trips) $1.20; telephone calls (four) 40 cents; locked key (one day) 20 cents; postage (airmail express) 63 cents; airmail (registered) 80 cents. Total so far $2.40.
I am going to add some advice: Never get into a taxi or car until you see that all parcels are taken care of first and then passengers should follow into car - 80 cents. Total $3.20.
I am 21 plus years of age and rather than receive money for what I have spent so far, I choose that you buy a Sweepstake ticket in both our names; of if you do not think me too presumptuous - a souvenir from Ireland as a token of musical remembrance, which I would appreciate.