The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1876-04-15
EXCITING EXPERIENCES,

Inc story Of Dockrdys imprisonment ia
Spanish Stronghoids.
A romantic story of adventure is that
told by Frederick \. Dockray, who re-
Gently arrived at New York after nearly
two years of imprisonment in Spanish
strongholds. Dockray, who is native
of Rhode Island, a lawyer by profession
and thirty-four years old, was in Cuba
Tor business purposes in May, 1874, when
he was arrested on the charge of commu-
nicating with the insurgents, and thrown
into prison by the Spanish authorities.
In July, after two months of close con-
finement, he was brought to trial before
court-martial and sentenced to death by
the garrote, but as that instrument of
death happened to be out of order at the
time. the authorities committed the sen
tence to death by shooting. Meanwhile,
however, Dockray's friends and the
United States authorities had been doing
all they could to save him, and the in
PREVENTION of Secretary Fish secured a
Communication of the sentence to impris-
onment in the gslleys for life. Early in
September he arrived in Spain, and, after
undergoing imprisonment at Santander
for month, he was taken to Madrid
and sent thence to an old monastery at
Valencia, now used as a military prison,
to await transportation to the galleys.
He was confined there ten months, dur
ing which he experienced many hard
ships When funds were plentiful he
was treated well enough, but when re-
mittances were delayed he was ill-used.
At one time he lived for twenty days upon
rancid black bread and an apology for
soup, consisting of water with which
saucepans had been rinsed seasoned with
garlic, and was almost starved, and he is
sure that nothing but his naturally live
ly temperament kept him up. In Sep
TENDER, 1875, he was released on con-
structive parole at the instance of Minis
ter Cushing and allowed to roam about
the city as long as he reported every
Thursday to the authorities. In Novem-
Der, he became uneasy at the prospect of
war between Spain and the United
States, and fearing that his case would
then be hopeless, and hearing at the
same time from the American consul
that he was to be remanded to his prison,
he wrote to MIR. Gushing, surrendering
his parole and declaring himself willing
to stand the consequences. He then
went to the governor to inquire if he
was really to be sent back to prison, but
that official said he didn't know any,
thing about it.
Freed from his parole, and not yet i'm
prisoned, he thought now or never was
his opportunity to escape. On the 10Th
of November, four days after he had
written to Mr.. Gushing, he escaped from
the notice of the authorities, and after
passing ten hours under the bed of a
friend, managed to make his way to an
American brig, the L. Staples, lying at
anchor in the harbor. He stayed on
board of her for three days, meeting with
much kindness from the skipper and his
wife, who made every arrangement to
conceal him in case the authorities should
come to search. On the third day Mr..
Dockray, taking one of the briggs boats,
pulled off for French boat lying in the
harbor, which was bound for Marseilles,
but the captain refused to take any pas
sengers on board. After pulling around
the harbor for some time in search of a
means of escape, he sighted an English
steamer bound for Gibraltar, boarded
her and made arrangements for trip.
At this time he came near being recap
tured, being recognized by two Spanish
sailors who identified the boat of the
American brig, but fortunately he over
heard their conversation, and by dint of
hard rowing managed to evade them.
He went on the English steamer as far as
Denia, fifty miles south of Valencia.
when the captain began to show signs of
alarm on account of the owners interests.
and Dockray left him and got aboard a
sail-boat bound for Gibraltar, probably
on smuggling expedition, and made a
bargain with the skipper, who was TO
take him to that place for ten dollars
worth of provisions and a bottle of brandy.
The CHIEF smuggler turned out to be
particular friend of one Don Mariana.
an intransigente priest who had been ar
rested during the Cartagena instruction
and was confined with Dockray in the
monastery at Valencia, and on account
of their mutual friend the smuggIer
treated him with every consideration.
Shortly after setting sail fearful gale
came up and lasted for six days, making
things extremely uncomfortable for the
crew, who had no covering on deck. and
at last blowing them on the African coast
and landing them at Tangier, whence
Dockray could plainly see the rocks of
Ceuta, t. the galleys at which place he
had been sentenced for life. After wait
ing several hours for the gale to subside,
the smuggler and his passenger again
weighed anchor and set sail for Gibraltar.
By this time they had become very init
mate, and Mr.. Dockray had learned that
his friend was one of the most famous
smugglers and pirates at sea, and one of
the most daring bandits on land that the |
sun ever shone on. After an eight hours
trip they arrived in Gibraltar and sue
ceeded in landing without difficulty. !
After very short stay in the neighbor- |
hood of the great fortress, Mr.. Dockray |
fell in with the captain of the British |
steamer Europa, and went aboard her to
London, whence, after few days, he
started for Liverpool and came home.
During his pilgrimage from Valencia Mr..
Dockray was provided with very an
cient passport, made out in the name of
Frenchesci, "aged tifty-seven,"
which he bought for two dollars, and
which, as very few Of the officials he en-
could read, did very good ser
vice. Mr.. Deckray has made claim