The Osceola times., 1881-04-02
HENRY LlPMAy's STORY.
His Experience asa Feiiow-soidier ofJohn
~. surrats in the Papai Amy.

stands lltln ana GTeek' lie Was trdNel-
ed in Europe, Asia, Africa and America,
and has taken part as volunteer in
several campaigns In both hemispheres.
OF all his achievements, however, there
is not one upon which he dwells with
more apparent pride than his share in
one of the escapes of John ii. Surratt,
the plotter against Lincoln. Mr.. Lipman
is a man of few words, but the other day,
at the headquarters Of the Boer commit
tee in Hudson street, he was induced TO
relate his experience TO Tribune report
er.
"This is how it was" he began in ex-
cellent English. II was born and brought
up in Deventer, little out-of-the-way
Dutch town, where one sees little of the
world. When | attained my majority
that was in 1867 grew restless and
tired of my monotonous one-horse exist
ence, and made up my mind to enter the
military service of the pope. This reso-
luton was greatly due TO the fact that
the pope's emissaries and recruiting bu-
reaus in Belgium were busy at the time,
promising all manner of advantages and
the happiest of prospect, both in this
world and the hereafter, to recruits.
Well, on February IA, 1867, left my
home, received my bounty, and went off
10 the papal states, where, after my ar.
rival, was duly drafted into the Sixth
company, First battalion Of the Pontitic-
al Zouaves, then stationed at Neletri, a
point somewhat north of Rome. can
not express in words the pride and joy
felt on first donning the pretty gray uni
form, the tasseled KEPT, the white gait
ers, and on shouldering new musket.
"Three weeks after my enlistment
took advantage of "A first leave of absence
to visit Rome TO witness the ceremonies
at 81. Peters. While sitting in the cars
on the return journey 10 Neletri, my at
tention was called to handsome young
soldier with black mustache and goatee,
who wore uniform like mine and who
seemed to be mumbling something to
himself. After a while, thinking that he
might be one of my comrades, approach
ed him and spoke to him in French. An
embarrassed look came over his features
and he evidently could not understand
me. Then / tried Italian, German and
Dutch. but with an equally poor result.
Finally, and as last resource, | scraped
few English words together and to my
great satisfaction he was able to under
stand. We then had pretty long con-
versation together in the course of which
learned that his name was Watson;
that he was an American by birth, and
that he was serving in the Third COM
panv, First battalion, Pontifcal Iouaves,
stationed at Veroli. More he would not
on the road.
"Two months later, in consequence of
the movements of several Garibaldian
bands on the frontier. my company was
transferred to Neroli then met Wat
son for the second time and became very
intimate with him In fact, we shared
the same room in the barracks. Yet he
always remained an enigma TO me, and
try as ] might never succeeded in max.
ing him speak of his past Sometimes
in the middle of the night would hear
him sobbing and praying. Then again
he would be murmuring something about
his poor mother and her terrible end
and so 90 on, till at last overcome with
fatigue he would sink back upon his pill
low and fall asleep. Time passed, and
Watson and | were detailed for duty at
Coli Pardo. where number of brigands
had lately been committing ravages.
About this time an American named st.
Mary, who had shortly before enlisted
in our battalion, attracted some attention
by the persistency with which he in
qnired whether any of his countrymen
were serving with the Zouaves. The
battalion being some 400 men strong,
however, ii was no easy thing for him to
obtain the desired information. Mean
while | noticed a change in Watson's de-
meanor. He was paler more nervous
and more reserved than usual. We had
not remained many days at Coli when
he came TO me and asked me whether
thought he could obtain leave of absence
to 20 to Rome. ! referred him to our
sergeant, Halgand by name, an old French
veteran. Halgand was unable to grant
the request, but he advised Watson to go
back to Neroli and seek permission.
Watson took the advice and started im-
mediately for Neroli, wishing me an
atlectionate goodbye. But he had hard
lv started, when detachment of fifty
men under Lieut.. de Monsty arrived and
asked for the American. We then all
learned that our melancholy comrade
was none other than John III. Surratt,
one Of the assassins-as they then called
him-of President Lincoln, st, Mary was
a United States detective in search Of
him. when De Monsty heard of Wat
sons departure he concluded that the
fugative had net gone TO Neroli but was
on his way to the frontier. The detach-
ment started Immediately in pursuit, and
after a short ride caught up with Surratt
at village not far from Tuscany. He
-, e. II
thrown into the barracks dungeon. Now
YOU must know that the barrack is built
on an elevation overlooking Neroli, and
that while the entry to the dungeon
staircase is on the crest of the hill the
dungeon-window is almost at its base,
thirty feet below. Orders had been re-
ceived from Rome 10 secure and keep
the prisoner, even if thousand men
were needful for the task, aud SO DE
Monsty detailed twelve of us, among
whom were a Maltese, named Catania,
Scotchman, McCrossan, and myself-all
tried friends of Watson-to guard the
dungeon and its inmate. Ten of us were
posted on the narrow staircase, and two
| (Catania and McCrossan) were outside
Soon night fell upon us, and all around
Became as quiet as death. Next TO the
dungeon was small compartment con.
] tanning the entrance to the barrack sew.
er. As had been arranged between Sur.
raft and ourselves, as soon as the clock
struck twelve he was allowed TO enter
this compartment, as prisoners were in
the habit of doing. Apparently we for
got him, but at ten minutes to two We al
made a rush TO the dungeon, and as sew
eral among us expected, Surratt had dis
appeared. He had lowered himself into
the sewer and had made his way out a