room in Hamilton's Princess hotel.

Dripping blood from a cut near her eye, American Mrs. Jean Sullivan chased after the robber while yelling for help.

He escaped with about $95 from her handbag, and she was taken to hospital for stitches to her wound.

Yesterday Police were holding two Pembroke men, aged 33 and 31, for questioning.

The robbery, at around 5 p.m. on Thursday, was the latest in a wave of crimes rocking the Island.

On Tuesday two couples staying at the Southampton Princess hotel were robbed at gunpoint near the Whaler Inn.

Princess hotels boss and Bermuda Hotel Association president Mr. Stephen Barker has declined to comment on the incidents.

Mrs. Sullivan, from Connecticut, told The Royal Gazette she had been in the hotel exercise room with her daughter Pamela.

Leaving her daughter there, she went back to her ground floor room.

"We usually go everywhere together. But I walked down the hallway, alone, and because of the carpeting I didn't know there anyone was at the back of me.

"I put my key in the door and he grabbed my pocketbook from the back -- I had it over my shoulder.

"I guess I shouted "No!'' and tried to hang on to it.

"He pushed me down and that's when I hit my head. I hit the wall and bumped my head and cut my eye.

"I went running after him yelling for help, but no-one was around at all.

"Halfway up the hall I found my pocketbook, but he had taken out my wallet and credit cards and change purse.'' Hearing her cries for help, a man came out of a nearby room to help her.

Mrs. Sullivan was taken to hospital and given three stitches near her eyebrow.

"I have a bandage over my eye,'' she said. "My arm is bruised and two of my fingers. I have a black eye and I'm really achey.

"You hear of these things happening but you never think it'll happen to you.

It was just a shock -- it just happened so fast.

"The security man said he had just been in the area, walking around, but he can't be everywhere at once.'' Mrs. Sullivan praised hotel staff for their help and concern.

She and her daughter leave this morning after a week on the Island.

This was her fourth visit, she said. "We've always really liked it here.

I'm sure it'll be a while before I come back.''