The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-08-09

4 SWIM FOR LIBERTY.-A veritable escape
was made in Australian waters, O few weeks
since, almost rs amazing rs that of Edmond
Dantes, in the novel Of Monte CriStO. 1t
seems that the French transport steamer
u Orne had put into the lower harbor of
Melbourne for coal and provisions. On
board were five hundred Communists bound
for the French penal settlement of New
Caledonia. The SentiDes on duty were
quadrupled in number, and the ship was
kept brilliantly illuminated with lanterns.
Boats were stationed ut judicious distances,
and all conceivable cautions taken to prevent
any of the convicts from escaping. But by
an extraordinary combination Of courage,
good fortune, and physical endurance, one
Michel Serigne managed to effect his depar-
ture from the vessel and his arrival on shore,
q distance of seven miles, where, since there
is no expatriation for political offences, he
walks to-day free man.
According to the Melbourne Argus, Sc
rigne, having watched his opportunity for
several hours, rolled out Of portfolio into
a collier, which had been brought alongside
to furnish the steamer with coal. A guard
with a Chassepot was close by, but the pri-
soner executed his critical movement just as
the sentry was moving from him, and before
he turned. Serigne fell amid the Goals, and,
with great sWiftness and deXterity, covered
himself up among them. Here he lay until
after midnight, his first descent having been
made at about o'clock. He now stealthily
lowered himself overheard and swan to the
Golfers stern, where boat was fastened.
Cutting the rope, he gently pushed the boat
away, swimming behind it. The night was
| dark, there was no moon, and it rained.
When three hundred yards away, Serigne
heard q noise on board the steamer, and
made I'D his mind his escape was discovered.
he naturally inferred tnat the absence of the
| boat would be Instantly noted, and that II
seen she would be at once fired upon. He,
therefore, instantly left her, dived well be-
meath the surface, and rose again some dis
lance off. All was quiet again on board the
ship, but he dared not return to the boat,
| and struck out for the shore. He could see
the lights at Sandridge, but knew not how
far they might be away. After swimming
nearly an hour he felt that he could continue
no longer. Happily, at this iuncture, be
espied vessel at anchor, and cOntrived to
struggle to her cable. Fearing he should
faint, and so sink. he lashed himself to the
cable with his belt. For an hour more be
rested, and then ,disengaged himself and
again struck out for the shore. Greatly ex.
hausted, he managed at last to gain the
beach at cambridge, and thence in, the morn.
| ing he walked into Melbourne. He bad
| heard, he said, that having once touched
English soil he was free, and so had no fear
OF being given up. On the line taken, it ap-
peared that he must have swan nearly niao
miles-the distance achieved by Dumas's
marvellous hero when he escaped from the
Chateau DIFF. The poor man was naturaHy
in quite 3; destitute state, and as it turnea
out that he had been quite a harmless men,
Der OF the Commune, he found maDysym-
pathizers, who will see to it that he has Is
comfortable provision for the future. There
are few Instances in the annals of remark.
able escapes where the. chances Of success
have been so slender, and where difficulties
were surmounted with such determined
pluck and energy. Ifserigne can nuke us
good a battle for success in life as he has
shown he can make for liberty, he will be
heard of again In the world, and Australia
may congratulate herself on the acquisition
of an enterprising citizen, although 1T the
expense of New Caledonia. t4s I'll