Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-08-13
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A Swim for Liberty.

A veritable escape was made in Aus
tralian waters, a few weeks since, almost
as amazing as that of Edmond Dantes, in
the novel Of "Monte CristO." 1t seems
that the French transport steamer L'Orne
had put into the lower harbor OF Mel
bourne for coal and provisions. On board
were five hundred Communists, bound for
the French penal settlement OF New Gale
donna. The sentinels on duty were quad
rupled in number, and the ship was kept
brilliantly illuminated with lanterns.
Boats were stationed at judicious dis
tances, and all conceivable precautions
taken to prevent any of the convicts from
escaping. But by an extraordinary COM
bination Of courage, good fortune, and
physical endurance, one Michael Syringe
managed to effect his departure from the
vessel, and his arrival on shore, a distance
of seven miles; where, since there is no
repatriation for political offenses, he walks
to-day a free man.
According to the Melbourne A7gus
Serigne, having watched his opportunity
for several hours, rolled out of portfolio
into collier, which had been brought
alongside to furnish the steamer with COAL
A guard with a Chassepot was close by,
but the prisoner executed his critical
movement just as the sentry was moving
from him, and before he turned. Serigne
fell amid the Goals, and, with great swift
ness and dexterity, covered himself up
among them. Here he lay till after mid
night, his first descent having been made
about nine. He now stealthily lowered
himself overheard and swan to the Golfers
stern, where the boat was fastened. Cut
ting 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 noise on board the steam
er, and made up his mind his escape was
discovered. He naturally inferred that the
absence of the boat would be instantly
noted, and that, if seen, she would be at
once fired upon. He therefore instantly
left her, dived we'll beneath the surface,
and rose again some distance 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 juncture he
espied a vessel at anchor, and cOntrived
to struggle to her cable. Fearing he
should faint, and so sink, he dashed him
self to the cable with his belt. For an
hour or more he rested and then olsen
gagged himself, and again struck out for
the shore. Greatly exhausted, he man
aged to gain the beach at cambridge, and
thence, in the morning, he walked into
Melbourne He had 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 appears he must
have swan nearly nine miles-the distance
achieved by Dumas marvellous hero when
he escaped from the Chateau DIFF. The
poor man was naturally in quite desti-
tute state, and, as it turned out that he had
been quite harmless member of the
Commune, he found many sympathizers,
who will see that he has comfortable
provision for the future.-Neao York
I9naes