The New York herald., 1875-02-23
FRENCH COMMUNISM At THE ANTIPODES
Escape Of Two French Communists from tho
Penal Settlement of New Caledonia.
Their Arrival in QueensIand---Exciting Ad-
venture in an Open Boat
SYDNEY, N. s. W.. Jan. 1o. 1878.

SYDNEY, N. s. W.. Jan. 10, 1875.
New Caledonia, under the rule OF N. Alleyron,
Is much more difficult place 10 escape from than
1t was year ago, owing to the rigorous SUPER
vision exercised over all classes OF the CON-
munity. The news that two dep0rtes had reached
Queensland In a small boat was received with In
creduliry, so well had the secret OF their escape
been kept by the authorities, and few
believe that the boat was their sole
mode OF conveyance. Great dscontent prevails
among the prisoners. Their enforced ideness,
their want OF means to procure anything save what
Is served out by the government and the new regu-
lalions by whicn any finances sent them from
France are filtered through the hands OF their
Keepers, Will certainly cause some rash outbreak
unless some alteration taxes place.
THE ESCAPED COMMUNISTS LANDED IN QUEENSLAND.
The two Communists who reached Queensland
in an open boat on December %, have been ex-
tremey retlcent as to their real names. One has
evidently been person Of some position In
France. and tells the following story OF how they
escaped
HOW THEY GOT AWAY.
The narrator says:-Fr0m the time OF my arrival
at New Caledonia | constantly brooded over the
idea OF escaping. The thought was never absent
from my mind. and although time passed away
without any opportunity occurring continually
first chance that offered. From my scanty ratiOns
regularly put apart and concealed q portion, and
l managed to accumulate qcantity OF hour bag
nights aud my leisure time when could De Sc
SE can hardly @ saw IN what manner Sopea to md
the means OF crossing the ocean, but az length
the arrival of one OF the trading vessels which
supply the island with buocks appeared to afford
as good u prospect oil success as was likely to
occur: My preparations had escaped all attention.
and all that remained to be done was to evade the
guards. procure q boat and make dash Tor 1t.
From the place where was quartered the ship
at anchor, short distance on the Sa0re, could be
plainly seen, and observed with delight that
boat was floating astern OF her. Unable to endure
said to myself, therefore, this night shall escape
or shall drown myself; one or the other am
determined on. have but the two things to
choose between. Feeling that IN an undertaking
OF this sort one man would be helpless single
nanded l addressed myself to one OF my leil0w-
prisoners whom / knew to be discreet and to him
l conhded my resolution. He hcsitared little,
but concluded by c0nsentng to share the risk
From this moment thought no more OF putting
an end to my existence but fed all my thoughts on
making my way.tO Australia, where had Always
heard people would be ready to give me employ
ment.
On the sth OF December said to my comrade
that we would make start that same evening"
night we quilted our quarters, and, eludlng
the sentres who guarded the camp we sue
to the water, we swan out toward the vessel, and
successfully reaching 1t, cut the painter which at
tached the boat riding astern and nolselessly i'm.
PEELED 1t away rom the snip. Arrived at sale
distance we scrambled on board ana quickly
reached the shore. Here we emOarked our little
store 0i provender, amounting 10 twenty.nne
biscuits and about twelve or fifteen lltres (aDout
eleven or tnlrteen quarts) OF water. My sail we
also put on board. We then set out on our course
without being so far perceived, either from the
shore or by the guard slOop wnicn watched the
lay n IN ae 80 SEEING nesr
that night, We ran into rocky and wooded part
OF the shore, where we LED our boat among
the r0cks by breaking bOugnS and neaping them
over her. In this situation we lay hid uurIng the
whole oI the following day, In spite Of the search
which was no DOUBT made when the boat Was
missed. The following night we
LEFT OUR HIDING PLACE
which intervene Setweea the shore and nd the omen
sea. The darkness, when favored us In one re-
spect, nearly caused our ruin in another way, Tor
through the reefs aud not being able 10 see
where dangers lay, we came plump in the
calm or we must have been dashed to pieces.
AS IJ was, lound 1t Impossible to get clear that
nIgnt. and were obliged to get out OF the boat and
and sometimes swimming in deep water, so as to
prevent the , wave, from stayng her against pro.
bruised between the Keel OF the boat aud the
coral. and had we not both been able to swim. we
sLould certainly have pershed. The following
morning. at day break, We managed to make our
way through. and, although the guard slOop saw
the reel, made pursuit impossible. We set sail as
happy as Kings, Dnt an n0ur later our boat was
the coral in spite OF all our Efforts that she leaked
seriously near the stern. We were compelled to
Leep Daiing with our shoes, night and day.
Our troubles were not diminished by the dis.
covery that
THE WATER KEG sHRUNK.
and we had lost nearly all our water. It lasted
US dve days, drinkIng at the rate Of a nall l1tre
eacn datiy-abOut tnree-quarters OF @ plnt-and
we ate daily biscuit and a half between
u.s. 1 had judged that we should not lake
more than siA or seven days in the passage.
When seven days had elapsed We only
allowed ourselves half biscuit day. Matters
went on In this fashion during the remainder OF
the transit. We suffered greatly IRON thirst, but
not 50 mucn from hunger. l had the additional
VINO on one OCCASION threw himself into the sea,
telling me that sought TO cause him to perish
with thirst. We were very nearly coming to
blows while far at sea lem pLeine nae7J However,
got him to listen TO reason, telling MIN that we
could not possibly exceed ten days in our voyage.
SIGHTED LAND.
At length, on the morning OF the 22d of Decem-
ber, we sighted land, and at noon we reached the
shore. ana, to our unspeakable Joy, once more
out water, and during the first three OF them had
drunk sea water, but found 1t added to our tor
ments instead O relieving them.
WE WE'RE RECEIVED BY FOUR BRAVE ENGLISHMEN.
who dashed into the water to meet us, the break
ers beng very heavy. But iUr them ueleve tnat
we should have been drowned. Thanks to them,
We sustained no harm. | shall ever have for
EngllshGen the greatest esteem which mau can
have for his Kind were II only from the thought
themselves into the waves in order to save US,
and Tor all the attention they subsequently be-
slowed upon US. For their name and their mem.
ory would gladly lay down my lie.
TIJE ET nDAT DADK NETTDDED