North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1840-07-01
THE HORRORS OF ESCAPE FROM
TRANSPORTATION.

A man was tried al Liverpool assiges last
week, and found guilty OF having return
ed from transportation before the expiration
OF the term for which he was sentenced
When called upon by Mr.. Justice Cole
ridge TO say why transportation for life
should not be passed upon him, he made a
statement, urging as ground for a miIdef
sentence the horrors he had undergone
during his former transportation. He de-
scri5ed mnutely the discipline in the penal
colonies which consists of military law,
fogging on the triangle, working like
slaves in the burning sun, and sleeping like
dogs in wooden huis, called "boxes" with
only mat made of bark to lie on. He
then detailed the method which he and a
fellow convict adopted TO escape from
these suherings, which he described as
intolerable. They first managed to escape
into the bush. After three DAYS of star
walton, they perceived an English ship
lying at anchor at some distance from the
shore. They swan TO her, aud got Sc
cretly on board by climbing up the chains
at her stern, and hid themselves in the
hold. They remained until preparations
were made for smoking out" Ca pro-
ceeding that is customary with ships sus-
pected OF having escaped convcts on
board,) when they jumped overheard and
swan 10 part Of the shore inhabited hy
eannibals. -Want OF food drove them TO
make friends among these sava2es. His
comrade, however soon lost his life
through an act Of imprudence chief
desired TO possess his jacket, which he
refused TO part with quietly. He was
dragged away and put TO death, while he
(the prlsoner) was severely wounded with
a spear. He became insensihle from loss
OF blood and on the return of his senses he
found himself in the care of the daughter
oil one OF the chiefs, who had saved his
life by her attention and afterwards pre-
vented her own brother from killing him.
He then made search for the body Of his
unfortunate comrade, but only discovered
part, the remainder having been de-
voured either by the savages or the pigs
which Europeans had brought there and
turned loose into the country.
The remains that he found he inferred,
which act, as he stated to The Judge, with
apparent earnest feeling, he should always
Tecollect as The best OF his life. He had
not long been on this part Of the coast,
when a ship came in sght-he made signs
TO her; they were recognized and
boat sent on shore for him. When about
10 embark he was followed by the daugh
ter Of the chief who not being suffered 10
enter into the boat, swan after it and was
taken up. Ii was not known what had
become Of hers al the first port which the
ship touched she was landed under the care
of . missionary. The narrative of the
prisoner, Of which the above is but very
brief outline, was extremely Interesting.
not only rom the personal appearance and
language of the prisoner who expressed
himself with great force and feeling. He
declared most earnestly that he would
rather be hanged than again transported.
he was sentenced 10 transportation for
life, the judge informing him that he had
no discretionary power as to mitigation.
Lord Brougham, after long absence
from the House of Lords, resumed hisseat
at the end Of Nav. The Spectator saws
Thevo OF Brougham has heen again
heard in the House of Lords. Only a few
sentences were utiered-in grave reh1ke
Of the Opium War: but the thoughts and
the language seemed 10 come from ano,hp,
spheres being Of different mould nom
the puny creatures who disgrace the Senate
with meann~ss aad GIL the newspapers
with rlaltudes.