Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-09-21
A ROMANCE OF REAL LIFE.
The Escape of Captain Gibson.

OthOteS nearly three columns 10 q u1IT6-
tive of Captain Gibson, of the schooner
Flirt, who was some time since arrested
and imprisoned by the Dutch authorities
in the East Indies, and who subsequently,
effected his escape. After various ad-
ventures, he was denounced as an intri-
guing American, and was imprisoned in
Batavia. The conclusion of the story,
which is quite romantic indeed, is as fol-
lows:
AFTER several days of confinement in
the fortress, he was transferred to the war
ship Orojnono, which took him and his
men to Batavia. There he was transfer
red to the guard ship Boreas, where he
remained in close and horrible confne-
ment for some length OF time, and ulti-
mately was sent 10 the city prison of Ba-
taYia. During this period, almost daily,
he was brought before Commission of
Judges, to take preliminary instructions
( in his case, and these, after n careful in
vestigation, declared on the 25th of Feb
ruary, 1852. that they could find no foun-
dation for the charge Of High Treason,
and ordered Captain G. and his men TO
be set at liberty but the Govenor-ge-
neral of the Netherlands India and his
/ Council had resolved otherwise, and or
! dered their re-arreSt.
| Captain G. was nov cast into worse
cell than the one he had occupied before,
this being only eight feet by ten in size
from which after a while he was re-
moved to assomewhat better one. BY
the energetic Interference OF Captain Bas-
set OF the American ship Rambler, he
was next removed to the fortress of Wei
{ 10 I, Il
months. until the arrival of the St. Ma
rvs U. S. ship of war, which resulted in
his obtaining greatly improved accommo-
dationS; but as regarded the important
matter OF his liberation, Captain Mngru-
der of the st. Mary's, was told, after
lengthy and useless correspondence, that
he could not be treated with by the Go
vernon general, and that the United
States must correspond with the Hague,
relative to the case-so that the visit re-
suited in cltecting nothing for the uufor-
tunate man.
| Z fter this, he remained nine months in
! priscn-appearcd no less than fifty three
times efore judicial tribunal, aud last
( ly, after q public. trial, commencing on
the 14th Of February last, and continuing
thirteen days, he was fully acquitted by
! the local Courts of Justice of Batavia,
which ordered him to be set at liberty
"that the Government should pay the
costs Of this suit-that his property should
be restored to him, and that he should
receive damages to the amount of 500
rupees q day from the time of his incarce-
! ration, which in all would amount to
/ $S2. GOO.
I But the relentless Governor general,
/ Van Twist, and his Council had resolved
I to sustain the action of their officers in
/ Sumatra, and to condemn Capt Gibson
to death. Here it must be mentioned
/ that the Courts of Justice OF Java are
COMPOSED of creole or native born Judges,
who are anxious FOR change in thoir go
vernment, and their apparent sympathy
with Captain G., made the superior au-
! thorities the more resolved to have him
destroyed.
On the Goth of April last, by an arbi-
trary decree of the Governor and Supreme
Council, he was condemned to die. This
being Communicated to him he resolved
to make an effort for his life, and being
assisted by some generous friends outside,
managed to Disguise his person so as to
pass the guard of the inner wards of tho
prison then leaped two outer walls and
passed the moat-beyond which he found
| Il fast horse that conveyed him to the
waters edge, where the boat of the YES
sci that brought him hither was in readi
ness. He went on board without delay,
and was secreted until the 24ih day Of
May, when the vessel sailed.
| There are many interesting incidents
connected with his imprisonment; one Of
which, as it intimately refers to his es-
cape. we will narrate:
! While in the interior of Sumatra, he
made the acquaintance OF the Chief De-
mang Sapiedem and his family The old
chief had an interesting daughter of the
! age OF l6, with whom the Captain be-
came intimately acquainted, and TO whom
he related much concerning the wonders
OF his far OF home. This young lady
bore the name of Sahiepa, and when Cap
tain g. left the residence OF her father,
they parted warm friends. Some three
or four months previous 10 his escape from
prison, this lady left her fathers home,
and came in Disguise TO the city OF Bala-
via, where she took up her residence
/ BY her influence many persons were Sc
cretly interested in behalf of the prisoner.
She was unremitting in her attempts to
obtain an interview with the captain, and
finally succeeded in her endeavor. Ma
ny Interviews followed. ana 10 her he
was indebted for much of the comfort
which he enjoyed during the remainder
Of his STAY in prison. And for his escape
ishe furnished the horse, and Disgusting
herself as man, she held the horse un-
nil he was astride its back, when, with
a hurried embrace and waive of the
hand, he dashed OF, leaving her anxious.
" watching his retreating figure until