Morris tribune., 1880-06-03
A Wonderful Experience.

1878, and on the eleventh was TWO hundred
miles of the Brazilian coast, when an OBJ
iect was deserted, which, upon scrutiny, dis
closed itself to be raft, containing single
person.
A boat was Immediately lowered and sent
of to the assistance of the estrsy, who be-
yond all question was sorely in need of it.
When he was reached he was found to be
more dead than alive. In fact, he could
scarcely move, and for time it looked as If
he would suecumb, in spite of the care and
attention shown him.
However, he was removed to the ship,
where the kindest attention was given him,
and being an unusually powerful and ath-
Ietic man, he speedily recovered his usual
health and strength
He was negro, who could speak no Ian
gusge besides the Brazilian pGtoGS, and it was
in this language he told his story.
His name was Manuel Francesca, and he
vas native of Brazil, though he refused
to tell from what portion of the empire he
came.
Two years, previous, he was convicted of
petty theft in Rio Janeiro, and was SEN
fenced to penal servitude of five years on
the island of Fernando de Noronha.
His experience was terrible one. He
was exposed to the flaming rays of the sun,
and compelled to toll with the chain-gang
from early morning till late at night.
When the energies of the poor fellows
tagged, they were prodded into renewed &C.
ivity by the bayonets of the merciless sol
her-guards.
Nevertheless, Manuel toiled and hbored
in this purgatory for full year, by which
time his suFerings had driven him to the
point of desperation, and he resolved to es-
cape or die in the attempt.
But il was much easier to form the reso-
luton than to carry it out. Like all penal
colonies, every possible precaution is taken
to prevent any Of the convicts getting away,
and the case of the miserable wretch would
have been pronounced hopeless by any and
al who knew the safeguards by which he
was envuoned.
He had never heard of any one getting
away from the island, before serving out hi
entire term; but, for all that, he was goaded
to such a point that he was not to b:
appalled, by the overwhelming chances
against him.
He was as obedient and tractable as b,
knew how to be, in consequence of which
he gained the confidence Of the authorities
and was finally appointed servant in tn
dement,
There he stayed another year, durini
which he never wavered In his resolution
and devoted all his spare time to completing
his preparations.
Fernando de Noronha is one hundred an
twenty-five miles from the eastern extremit
Of Brazil, and is used expressly as place Q
detention for all criminals tried and ser
fenced in the province of Pernambuco.
The island itself is some six miles in eli
sunference, and very scant crops of cor
and beans are raised with the greatest diff
Guilty. It is under the supervision of Ii
Brazilian War Department, and the prise,
srs who are sentenced to the galleys are CON
PEELED to do general hOusework, break stonl
and repair the roads.
They are not obliged to carry the ball an
chain, but are, as rule, chained together
twos, and forced to toll in that fashion.
francesca, having settled in his determ
nation to leave, or at least to make the q
tempt, took two companions into his COM
dsnce, and they wrought and planned t
gether.
Little by little, they collected together
gaa1 store of provisions, q few bits of cor
age and q piece of an old sail
These were conveyed piecemeal, and I
night, to one Of the many barren roc
forming the Fernando de Noronha grou]
They reached the secret place by swimmi1
and they succeeded in gathering from Il
drift-wood on the beach a quantity of bar
boo joints, from which they constructed
very primitive raft, about ten feet squa
and two feet thick.
A short mast, fastened at one end, and
broken oar, to answer for steering apps
Atus, completed the vessel upon which Ia
had resolved to risk their lives.
Everything being in readiness, the thr
eonvicts waited for the darkest kind Of
night. It was not long in coming, an
the water, hoisted sail, and the rubicon "
crossed. 4
A Light breeze carried them along at
pleasant rate, and the three were full of no
Of reaching Cape st. Rogue, two hundr
and ten miles distant. -
When daylight dawned over the Atlant
the three fugitives cast anxious glances
hind them. With their naked eyes, th
were barely able to see Fernando de Nort
ha, lying like faint cloud in the horizo
but the breeze which had waited them Il
far ON their perilous voyage now died o
and they lay becalmed ON the ocean.
They could detect no signs of pursuit, q
though relieved from al danger Of that
ture, they speedily saw still greater pa
closing in upon them.
y The long, heaving swell Of the Allan
proved much more trying upon their n
which was twisted and strained to that
tent that the occupants were in constantf
OF seeing it go to pieces and drop them b
the water.
From the first they suffered on account
The scarcity Of water, their opportunities
storing that indispensable commodity,
well as food. having been 20 dubious q
stealthily swimming out TO their rsnd
vous, they noisslssaly showed the craft Il