Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-03-31
A BOLD EFFORT FOR LIBERTY.


I A BOLD EFFORT FOR LIBERTY.
Nine Political Prisoners Attempt Ia Escape
from New CnIedOmiM..'rhc Plot, nMd How
II Failed.
The Paris correspondence the Lon
don telegraph writes The organ o.
the late Commune publishes thrill
ing account Of M unsuccessful attempt
to escape from New Caledonia made by
nine of the political prisoners there. The
only two OF the men whose names were
prominently known in connection with
the events of the Commune are Ward
and Debof. Their plan was well con,
ceived, and, ut least to some extent,
skillfully executed. 1t appears that a
body of Communists prisoners, number
ing thirty, were engaged in building Il
hospital for the town of Noumea, on the
little islet of Freycinet, about three
quarters of an hour by sen from the pen
itentiary settlement of Non. The work
men were conveyed to Freycinet every
morning in large open boat without
masts or oars, which was tugged to and
from the site Of the works by n we'll
armed and equipped steam sloop. The
project was to seize this vessel, either by
force or surprise, at the moment when it
was brought close to the open boat, and
to gain the Point aux Stables, on the is
land Of Non, where confederate was to
be in waiting with provisions and such
additional apparatus as would be neces-
sary for reaching the high sea. Seiz-
ing their opportunity when the
vessel was undermined, the Com
munsts, by well schemed arti-
flee persuaded those on board to go on
shore, and then took possession of the
sloop. Ward was the chief actor in the
plot. 1t was he who devised the plan
by which those in charge of the vessel
were induced to withdraw. He was
obliged to accompany them some little
distance into the island. but soon feigned
an excuse to leave them. His friends
who remained soon saw him return, ex-
claiming Now, then, not word we
have nothing to fear, come on" In a
moment the ship was manned, the con-
victs forming the crew, and the keepers
left alone on the island helpless. A little
time was lost after starting on account
of the inexperience of the men, as the
fireman, who was the only official left Oh
board, was not pressed to any work.
Those on the shore remained motionless
with amazement, and in the meantime
the sloop steamed on unmolested to the
Point aux Stables. On landing they
found comrade ready with all that WAS
required. Here the fireman jumped
ashore without any opposition being
made on the part of the Communists.
The astonished employee of the govern
ment said, turning to Ward, the leader
of the party: " should not have thought
that of you. However, it does not mat
ter you are brave fellows, and you have
not done any harm to me. "Why
should you bear us ill-will 2" replied the
convcts "we seek only liberty AS
soon rs the fireman was liberated he
gave the alarm to the inhabitants of the
island.
The vessel had left Freycnet Mt
$50, aud it was now 1890 O'Clock. H.
telli9encs of the escape was at once telc-
graphed to Noumea, but when the news
=, t,,
depart. A private steam yacht was pro-
cured, however, and after it had been
we'll armed, chase was given to the runa-
way Communists. The government
off ,ers were not able to set off in pur-
suit before eleven O'Clock, but when
they did sail they possessed great adj
vantages over the prisoners. With the
aid of the private yacht referred to, which
was named the Alert, the gunbcats lying
at anchor at the other side of the island
were informed of what had taken place,
and in IL short time there were three
armed boats bearing down upon the
Bulari, in which the. prisoners had
escaped from Freycinet. The exciting
race was watched through telescopes
from the heights by the inhabitants all
along the coast, who by this time had
knowledge of what was going on. Some
maneuvring took place to cut off the
straits of Vitoe from the Bulari. The latter
succeeded in reaching them, when it was
almost overtaken by the gunboat Seudre,
steamer of incomparably greater power.
When the Seudre was within rifleshot
it opened fire upon the prisoners with
the chassepot.
The highest pressure was put on DO
the Bulari, the crew of which heard the
balls whistling about their ears in sullen
silence. Every one on board expected
an explosion from the measures taken to
increase the sped of the little boat to
the highest point, when suddenly there
was a cry of ga man overboard!' and the
Bulari was brought to stand still. Two
of the crew had preferred to throw them
selves into the sea rather than submit to
be conveyed back to their prison, fate
that now seemed inevitable. One Of the
two perished; the other, Trinquet, was
picked up by jolly-boat from the Seu-
DIRE. In few minutes more the crew of
the Bulari was transferred to the deck of
the same vessel, the hands of the latter
appearing to sympathize with the pris-
oners, and the first engineer remarking:
" 1t is as well you stopped; in few min
utes more there would have been an ex-
plosion." The fact was that every one
on board knew that the boiler and por-
ton of the machinery were red hot.
"You might have given us few minutes
more,' said the prisoners. " Fools, did
you want to dic?" returned the captain
of the government vessel. eve did" was
the reply. The prisoners were all
brought back to Noumea.