The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-03-02
An American in Spanish Prison.

The adventures of Frederick A. Dock
ray-who arrived from Europe few
DAYS ago-in his imprisonm ent in Span
ish strOngholds, and final escape, re-
mind one more of an exciting chapter
of medieval romance than of a recital
of events happening in this age of real
ism. The story, briefly told in the New
York Tribune, is as follows:
In May, 1874, Mr.. Dockray, being in
Cuba for business purposes, fell under
the suspicion of the Spanish authorities,
and was arrested and tried by court
martial on several charges, among
which were those of being a spy, a cor
respondent for some American paper,
and of communicating with the insur-
gents. The latter charge was the most
important one in the eyes of the Span
iards, aud after an imprisonment of
three months in Cuba, Mr.. Dockray was
found guilty and sentenced to death by
the garrote. The accident that this instru-
ment of death did not work well or that
no one was found to employ its killfully,
caused the authorities to change the
sentence to that of being shot. In the
meantime strenuous efforts were made
by the United States authorities and by
Mr.. Dockray's friends, which resulted
in the communication of the sentence to
the galleys in Africa. In September,
1874, the prisoner arrived at Santander,
Spain, where he remained one month,
and from thence was sent to Madrid,
and thence to Valencia, where he was
closely confined in an ancient convent
for ten months. He then was given the
freedom of the city on a constructive
parole, secured by Minister Gushing.
Sometime in November last, seeing the
indications of hostilities between this
country and Spain, and thinking that
if war should actually be declared be-
tween them that his case would be hope
less, he resolved to surrender his parole,
which he did on Nov. Is. On Nov. 10
he was informed that the Spanish au-
thOrities had been informed of his
action, and had remanded him to his
old prison, the convent. Reporting
himself to the local officials, he was told
that as yet they had no information on
the subject.
Freed from his parole, and not yet
imprisoned, he thought that now or
never was his opportunity to escape.
That night he concealed himself, and
by daybreak the next morning was on
board an American brig then lying i'll
the harbOr. That night he was carried
to a French steamer, bound for Mar
settles, and attempted to secure passage,
but was informed that no passengers
would be taken on board. Fooled in
this attempt, on the following evening,
dark and rainy night, he endeavored
to board British steamer. While
rowing toward the steamer, suddenly
an open boat shot close up to him, and
its occupants recognized his boat as
coming from the American brig, and
one of the men said, Z" That must be
the American who has escaped" This
put spirit into his rowing, and making
desperate effort, he eluded their pur
suit. The next night he got on
board a British steamer and out of the
harbor without detection. His escape,
however, was not yet assured, for on ar
irving at Denia, small Spanish port 30
miles south of Valencia, the captain,
becoming alarmed, insisted on landing
him. The captain of felucca came on
board, and, persuaded by a present of
so and bottle of brandy, consented
to take Dockray on board. The cap
tain and the fugitive soon became fast
friends The felucca sailed for Gibral-
tar, and on her voyage encountered
severe gale, which blew for eight days.
Blown by the storm over to the African
coast, the felucca put in at Tangier, in
sight of the galleys at Ceuta, the near
est approach he was destined to make
to his prison house. From thence he
went to Gibraltar, where he put himself
under the protection of the British flag.
From Gibraltar he went to London, and
thence to this city.