The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1854-04-18
From the Syracuse Republican, April 8.
ESCAPE OF ANOTHER AMERICAN CITIZEN
FROM FOREIGN TYRANY.
.lrripat of John Habea al Syracuse-History
ofhis Sg6erings in and Escape from
Prussia.

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Our readers will remember that some weeks
since public meetings were held in this city by
the military companies, and resolutions adop
ted calling tho attention OF the United states
| Government TO the illegal arrest and imprson-
ment in Prussia of John Habon, and number
of one of tho military companies hero. Gov.
Marcy subsequently, replied through Mr.. Jones
our member of Congress, that no had called
the attention OF the American Minister to Ber-
| lin TO the case, but no official answer has yet
been received.
This morning we had the pleasure OF seeing
John Haben in our office, he having arrived at
| New York on board The ship Isabelle, from
Havre, on Monday evening last. and reached
his friends in this city last night. lie gives
us the following particulars of his arrest and
treatment by the Prussan Authorities:
| Mr.. Haben is a native of Prussi', now thr-
ty-one years of age. and came to this country
over twelve years ago aud became citizen =
Having business in his native town he procured
passport from the Department of State, and
a certificate of naturalization, and sailed on
board the packet ship Daniel Webster. from
New York for Liverpool. on the 4th day OF Dc
tober last After passage of thrtysix days
he reached Liverpool and remained three days
thence went by the way of Havre to Paris, and
thence to Urxwiller, Prussia on the left bank
of the Rhine. abont two hundred and forty
miles from Paris, where he arrived tho latter
part of November, and was reported as an
American citizen. Two days after his arrival
the burgomas,or OF AlsweiIer who resides in
the village of San Wendal, in that district, and
six miles from Urixwiler, notified him 10 ap-
pear bef ore him, with promise to Acknowledge
and sign his reported American documents,
and thus let him remain or pass as an Amcri-
can citizen.
Accordingly, within ten days, he went to the
burgomaster and handed over his passports.
who retained them, and caused him TO be ar
rested by the armed police for contumaey. in
not reporting himself sooner, and also as de-
serter from the Prussian army, in having left
the country without permission, although he
was under twenty years of age when he lett,
that being the age when yonug men are lia-
bic to be called in to active service in the army.
After an imprisonment of twelve days he
was transported TO Saarbridgen six miles, and
imprisoned ten days, and thence eighteen
miles further to Saarlouse, a Prussian fortres
| on the river Saor, and imprisoned seven days
| IIe was then searched, most of his clothes and
valuables taken from him. and compelled by
| threats of longer Imprisonment and fl0gging 10
put on the Prussian uniform and swear alegi-
anee to the government, although he protes-
| ted his rights ms an American citizen Here
| he remained four weeks under guard. but not
| received as soldier in tho ranks, although oc-
casionally drilled.
An opportunity presenting for escape one
morning. he deserted at g. A. NJ. by crossing
tho mout. or canal before daylight: and by
travelling circutuous route for nine hours, he
was safe from pursuit. To az entire stranger
! Mons. Fisrior. a prominent citizen Of ForhRch,
he happened first 10 make known his situation
and his rights. and Mons. +. at once bcame SO
curity for him in tho police Office for having
entered Franco without a passport. Many
other French citizens of Forbach bcfriended
him, and he remained there for ten days.
when no went TO Havre and remained eight
days, till the sailing of the Isabelle, February
l6.
While imprisoned at San Wendal. Mr.. Ha-
| ben wrote To the u. s. Consul at Frankfort. on
the Main who referred him to the American
Minister at Berlin. He wrote twice TO the lat
| ter, but receiving no reply before making his
escape. On leaving the Prussian territory he
divested himselfof his military coat and hat.
and throw them on the ground, retaining moth
ing but tho pants, which he disfgured by OBJ
literatng the stripes. Fortunately for him, he
had $40 in American gold. secreted in his
drawers when he made his escape, which en-
abled him to return to his home and friends in
this city we are glad thus to chronicle his safe
arrival and trust that tho general government
in such eloar case of wrong on the part oi
| Prussia, will insist on n definite settlement OF
| tho principle of American citizenship. and OBJ
tain for him such redress and compensation as
tho aggravated circumstances of the case really
en;itle him TO.