The Russellville Democrat., 1881-04-07
HENRY LIPMAN'S STORY.
His Experience as a Fellow-Soldler of John
 H. Surratt in the Papal imy.

II. Surratt in the Papai Army.
 New York Tribune.
 The originator of the movement re gently set on foot in this city for the ben eft of the Transvaal Boers is a little red faced, thiCkset Hollander named Henry lipman, with a peculiar history. He speaks six languages fiuently, and under stands Latin and Greek. He has travel ed in Europe, Asia, Africa and America, and has taken part as volunteer in several campaigns in both hemispheres. Ofall 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 H. Surratt, the plotter against Lincoln. Mir. 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 CT.
 This is how it was," he began in ex- cellent English. q 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 l867-I 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- iutiun was greatly due 10 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. We'll, on February II, 1867, l left my home, received my bounty, and went off to the papal states, where, after my ar. rival, 1 was duly drafted into the Sixth company, First battalion of the Pontific al Zouaves, then stationed at Veletri, point somewhat north of Rome. I can not express in words the pride and joy l felt on first donning the pretty gray uni form, the tasselled kepi, the white gait CTS and on shouldering new musket.
 "Three weeks after my enlistment l took advantage of a first leave of absence to visit Rome to witness the ceremonies at St. Peters. While sitting in the cars on the return journey to 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 while, thinking that he might be one of my comrades, l approach ed him and spoke to him in French. An embarrassed look came over his features and he evidently could not understand me. Then I tried Italian, German and Dutch, but with an equally poor result Finally, and as q last resource, l scraped a 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 I learned that his name was Watson; that he was an American by birth, and that he was serving in the Third com pany, First battalion, Pontifical Zouaves, stationed at Veroli. More he would not say, and soon after he left me at station 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 I might 1 never succeeded in mak- ing him speak of his past Sometimes in the middle of the night l would hear him sobbing and praying. Then again he would be murmuring something about his poor mother,' and her terrible end, and so 20 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- quired whether any of his countrymen xxrith ln VAnoxyaG Tho battalion being some 400 men strong, however, it was no easy thing for him to obtain the desired information. Mean while I 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 l thought he could obtain leave of absence 10 go to Rome. l referred him to our sergeant, Halgand by name, an old French X veteran. Ealgand 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 ailectionate goodbye. But he had hard ly- 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 II. Surratt
 one of the assassins-as they then called
 him--of President Lincom, St. Mary was United States detective in search Of
 him. "When De Monsty heard of Wat son's departure he concluded that the
 iugative had not gone to Neroli but was
 on his way to the frontier. The detach- ment started immediatelyin pursuit, and
 after q short ride caught up with Surratt
 at village not far from Tuscany. He
 was brought in irons to Neroli and
 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 it's base
 thirty feet below Orders had been re ceyed from Rome to secure and keeI the prisoner, even if a thousand meT were necdful for the task, and so Dc Monsty detailed twelve of us, among whom were a Maltese, named Catania a Scotchman, McCrossan, and myself-al tried friends of Watson-to guard the dungeon and it's inmate. Ten of us werC posted on the narrow staircase, and two lCatania and McCTossan) were outside Soon night fell upon us, and all around .ecamo as quiet as death. Next to tn, dungeon was a small compartment con Il lalmng the entrance to the barrack sew VI CT. As had been arranged between Sur I Iau and ourselves, as soon as the clocl d struck twelve he was allowed to ente d This compartment, as prisoners were Il Ni the lgbit of Ipin0 AnparpptlV we for