The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1874-05-16
The French Communists.

Considerable interest was excited on Sunday last,
when it was known that Henri Rochefort, the notori-
Gus ex-editor Of La LaRterne, and ex-member of the
Government of the National Defence in Paris under
the Commune, together with two others, escaped
prisoners from New Caledonia, had arrived per Nj
kddo, en- route for America. ROchefort was of course
the observed of all observers during his short stay
here, which he improved by seeing everything that
was 10 be seen, apparently making good use of his
remarkable looking pair of eyes. His countenance
is certainly q peculiar one, and would be recognized
in a crowd, as showing character, of a very decided
kind. All sorts of rumors are current rs to how the
prisoners escaped from the surveillance of the French
authorities of New Caledonia, but it is not at all prob
able that the real facts will be known. Says the
Sydney Morning Herald of April 11th:
son the 28th ultimo, three of them arrived in
sydneyy--.MessieqFs R9 SaEifeGia Rf9pGffdffh efirP e Escape aroe@f not
wishing TO implcate any parties. When the escapes
knew from the heaving of the ship that she was out
of the reefs, they made their appearance on deck.
When they presented themselves suddenly, the cap
tain had some misglvings that their design was to
seize the vessel; but his fears were dispelled by a
statement from Rochefort, who told the captain that
they were simply exiles trying to make their escape
from New Caledonia. Each gave a name, although
those they gave were assumed. Rochefort, who is of
a noble family, has several surnames, one of which
he gave to the captain, while he apportioned others
of his surnames among his fellow exiles, who, acting
on his suggestions, gave them as their own. No sus-
picion seems to have been entertained as to the i'm
portance or rank of the exiles till after they had been
at sea for some days. The discovery took place in q
very remarkable way. In reading B0tC Bells the
captain CANE across the portraits of NJ. Gambetta and
NJ. Rochefort-members of the Government of the
National Defence. He was at once struck by the like
ness of one of his passengers to Rochefort. He in
terrogated the passenger who resembled the portrait
(Rochefort Of course in prOprid perSond) as he now
believed him to be NJ. ROchefort. On being confronted
with his own portrait, the passenger remarked that
it was not at all strange that he should have noticed
the very close resemblance between that portrait and
himself, seeing that it was a correct copy of his own
features-in other words that he was none other than
the RochefOrt whom it represented. NJ. Rochefort,
on the ice being thus broken, gave the real names of
his companions, and mentioned what parts they had
severally played during the Communist troubles in
Paris. OF the six escapes, four are said to have come
from the Peninsula of Ducos; and two from Noumea,
the capital Of New Caledonia. The two who made
their escape from the capital are believed to have
planned the release of their comrades, or, at all events,
from their positions to have greatly facilitated it,
They intend to leave for Europe immediately.-The
NepcGstEe Chronicle of Saturday says How the
prisoners escaped and got on board we are not in
formed. Captain Law does not appear to know how
they got on board; but, once there, and he at sea, he
had only to pursue his voyage-and an excellent one
he had, having made the passage from Noumea in
six days We understand that three of the escapes
proceed to Europe by the CyphreReS."