The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-06-15
HOW HE ESCAPED.
Roshsfort tells the story.of his Escape
from the Caledonia Colony.

Roehsfort tells tine story.of his Escape
from the caiedania Colony.
The French Minister Of Marine, NJ.
de Dompierre d Honey, with the higf
geographical knowledge which distin,
| guished our officers in the last war, had
declared that the safe keeping Of the
banished was assured, the sharks would
hinder any escape by way OF the SEQ
and the Knnachs would keep order or
the land side. This ingenious idea Of
placing us between the jaws Of men and
those Of fish produced, even among the
Right, the most Joyous appreciation.
We were, happily, fixed according IA
the intelligence OF the signers Of the
peace at Bordeaux, and. rs they consid'
cred escape as impossible, we immedi-
ately concluded that it was practicable
From this moment the desire to re,
visit Europe haunted us day and night,
Olivier Pain, Paschal Grousset and my
self lived upon hill in . hut somewhat
isolated, where we had leisure to con-
cert together at our ease. Our plan
was TO leave by sea, and TO swim 10
some ship Of which the captain would
consent 70 take us. s.f .'.. &
We had heard It said that the sharks
in their hunger assembled ordinarily In
the neighborhood Of the slaughter
houses, which are situated not far from
the peninsula, and that feeding plenti-
full upon tho refuse from the butchery
II seldom occurred that they would 1T
tack man. Olivier Pain, who was ig-
norant Of the first principles OF swim
ming, went energetically to work, and
in one month after my arrival, became
one Of the best swimmers Of tho penin.
sula. We then familiarized ourselves
with danger by swimming in the sea for
two or three hours each day.
j cannot give all tho particulars with
out compromising certain brave people
who lent us their assistance. The fact
Is that, thanks to three prisoners,
simply residents Of the place, negotiated
with the English Captain Law, Of the
three-masted bark P. o. L This excel
lent man Law, fully understanding the
importance Of the prisoners whom he
was TO take on board, consented to re-
ceiye us and engaged to conduct us to
Australia. But tho peninsula was
guarded much too strictly TO permit
him to approach IL, and all that he
dared promise us was 10 receive us II
We had some means OF boarding his
ship, which was at the ends OF the roads
OF New Caledonia, that is to say, more
than three hours from our fortified
place. li' +
The journey to the English ship was
o dramatic episode Of our escape, and
we should certainly have succumbed 10
fatigue II our friends Of New Caledonia
had not saved US the longest part Of tile
journey in coming up to us on Q dark
night fua whale boat, which took us in
naked and all torn by waves and rocks
which cut like a razor.
The intrepid Captain Law knew only
on recognizing me on board that he had
operated TO save me, and, far from be-
ing astonished OF the responsibility
which lie had undertaken, he renewed
more energetiCally his promise to pro-
tect and to defend ". Tho night We
passed in tho hold was the most tor
menting. A delay Of half a day over
the time fixed for our sailing, which
was soyen o'clock, was nearly our death.
However, after two hours Of q calm,
which We hsd every right 10 call the
calm irightiul, q wind rose that was so
exceptionally favorable that in less
than seven days we were in Sydney, q
voyage that often takes twenty-five days
or more. -ffR
We saw tho light once more after
three mortal years Of silence passed in
the gloom Of o sepulchre. F.,