The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-30

NJ ROCHEFORT-M. Joarde, having been living at
noumea 9r =, some time, can give you most iniorma-
HERALD CONSEQUENTLY should feel obliged
hyou would do so, NJ. Joarde.
M. JOARDE-Certainly | Will this evening write
you some OF nv experience. 1t viii be at your
se1ylce y Xoa can tomorrow.
statement OF the ex-Minister OF Finance. The
roy , OF sydney have treated their visitors
WIN decided GOODNESS. The French Consul has en-
ueavoreu 10 prejudice public opinion against them
by publishing card charging them with being
convicts instead Of mere political Offenders be-
arson anu the ASSASSINATION Of the hostages, state
ments July disproved by reference 10 the London
who was then joined by the whole OF his com.
pdg,so,S de o0ydge, was in the name OF the NEW
YORK hERALD. placing at their disposal g cam
malta RIVER to the orange groves. They thoroughly
enjoyed emo aae excursion, and from one and all 1t
ehcited the response "CfdrHadnt ~
Movements Of M. Rochefort I'm Sydney,
New South Wales-The story OF the
Escape.
SYDNEY, N. s. W., April IL, 1874
The event OF the month has been the escape Of
NJ Rocheiort and his cor1freres, fact unpalata-
BILE 70 the Versailles government that when tee.
gram from the French Consul at sydney was re-
ceived there the reply was, "Repeat your tele-
gram; cannot believe It," At first sight It must
have looked like canard from the fact that as
these escapes were the most important political
prisoners deported TO New Caledonia the surveil-
lance upon them was Of the closest kind; and how
they could all have got away the vessel ap.
pears so extraordinary to induce the belief that
they were permitted TO escape. They are not in
anywise indebted either to the cemency OF
MacMahOn or the kind Offlces OF the officials at
Noumea, and, although they have declined 10 fur
ntsh information to the press, have in course OF
conversation obtained such scraps OF news
that, when connect them with what received
from Noumea subsequent to their escape, can
supply the only correct narrative likely to meet
the pubic eve until alter NJ. Rochelort
reaches Europe, perhaps not even then. The
grand coup was planned by friend who was
careful not to intrust his to any person
cept those directly interested, thus preventing the
chance Of having leaky accomplish The pros
pect OF being sentenced to ten years for aiding the
escape OF prisoner was quite sufficient to incul-
cate the strictest secrecy. M. Joarde had received
permission to accept a clerkship In Higginson's
stores, NOumea; Balliere had also q situation In
the town. Bastiat Granthilde, another OF the
party, was working for stOrekeeper at the
peninsula, and portion OF his duty was to pull o
boat with supplies daily from Noumea. Grousset,
Rocheiort and Pain being in durance at Ducos,
regular communication could thus be kept up be-
tween the two parties The time for attempting
the escape was fixed for the date OF the Governors
visit to the station At Bourai and Canada,
and accordingly they were fortunate in find
ing vessel ready to leave at that
period. On March 10 the P. @. E. cleared
out for Newcastle with one passenger, q
Mr. Sutherland. BY strange coincident, on the
same day Balliere and Joarde got leave to 60
fishing with the ci-devant boatman from Ducos,
where the prisoners roll Is called over every alter
nate day. ana, having answered, they are COM
paratively free for forty-eght hours. That the
fishing party did not return to Noumea in the
evening occasioned no remark there at the time,
though 1t subsequently led to the discovery that
ROcheiort was missing About nine that evening
the boat silently embarked its living freight crept
stealthily from the shore with muIled oars anu.
keeping the hull OF the p. y. f. intervening with
the outlook on board the war steamer Wire, gained
the side OF their ark. The captain and mate were
ashore, the crew enjoying the blessings OF an
anchor watch as, one by one, the refugees gained
the DECK and descended into their hiding places.
To lesve the boat alongside or allow her to
how they escaped. II she disappeared the first
inference might be that the fishing party had
insaaae eH put to ca in nsr or were espstzed
the bottom, and she was speedily consigned TO q
resting place .lull fathoms ave.' The morning
passenger eagerly scanned the shore for any In
dications OF missing friends, the Wire got up steam
PRIOR to leaving for the lie de Pine the pilot comes
on board, ana at last the ship heads for the Dombea
passage with light wind. W4th nerves stretched
to their utmost tension the stowawsys listen for
preaching form OF the Wire. Has she heard the
news already and is she in pursuits Quickly she
gains on the slowly moving bark, she Is alongside
as they pass the reel, them starboarding her helm,
heads south, and the most imminent danger is
tween yourself and the reef and If the British nag
is worth as much rs when it covered the Trent the
is passed, ana then, while the sails are Idly nap.
ping without q breath OF wind, with land still
IN sight, Noumea breaks out into ferment OF
excitement. The 1shng party are missed, perhaps
drowned: Perchance they have remained at Pc
ninsula Ducos. The town is searched; they are
not there. Now for the peninsula The Gordon or
sentrles guarding its land side are Intercepted.
No one has passed that way. The roll is called,
when oh worse than all, Rocherort is non est.
Armed guards are sent to search the vessels in
harbOr with orders to shoot the prisoners sight,
ii, when arrested they made the slightest resist
that they were in the r. 9. E. arose on the
gunboat Rapiere had left port bound north, and
there was no other war vessel there until the after
lien. The p c. f.. though visible that morning,
was then flying before lair wind and the excite.
Gus little " facts s Cropped I up ana proved
almost positively that she had borne away
the chief OF the .ddpo,tes "Socrer what .
report TO have to send to Francel The time for
further conceament having terminated the refu-
gees emerged from their hiding places and are
introduced to the Captain under fictitious names,
which are carefully maintained until an accident
shows that one, at least has assumed nom dc
g'e'Te. Among the Captains stock OF light hlera-
ture Is a number OF Boo Bells april $780, contain
ting portrait and biographical sketch OF Com to
R0chefort-Lucay. The resemblance between the
picture ana one or ms passengers strikes the skip
per 80 strongly that ne calls attention to it, and
the original instantly accepts the responsibility
Henri de Rochet0g't- LucdD." A few hours adverse
wind changes to favoring gale, before which the
vessel flies 20 her destination in six days-the last
equaled by a steamer On their arrival In Sydney
ROchefort at once telegraphed to member OF
the French Parliament who has the control OF
his financial affairs to provide funds for the
passages &C., OF the entire party. The requisite
arrangements were promptly made with the
Oriental Bank, London intimated by telegram to
their branch establishment here. and at once de-
cioea hocEedort 10 leave py the nrst and speediest
c0preres have declined all attempts to being
brought prominently before the public. Unior.
tunately for the honor OF the country he repre-
sents, NJ. Simon, the French Consul with more
zeal ior his present employers than regard for his
IN