New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-21
HELPING sURRATT TO ESCAPE
TALK WITH oNE OF HIS COMRADES.

HENRY IIPMAy's EXPERIENCE AS A FELLOW SOLDIER
OF JOHN II. sURRATr IN THE PAPAL ARMY -
MAKING A RESERVED MANS ACQUAINTANCE -
AIDING HIM TO ESCAPE FROM AN AMEhlCAN
DETECTIVE.
The originator of the movement recently set
on foot in this city benefit of the Transvaal Boers
is little redfaced thick-set Hoilander named Henry
LpmGn with peculiar history He speaks six languages
fuently and understands Latin and Grerk he mas
travelled In Europe, Asia, Africa and America ana NUS
taken part az volunteer several campaigns 10 oo'"
hemIspheres OF oil his achievements. however, toere
is not upon which lie dwells with moro apparent
pride than his IN of the escapes OF John d.
surratt the plotter against Lincoln. Mr. Lpman Il
Of words but the other day. at the headquarters
of the Boer Committee in Hudsonst he was induced 10
relate his experience IL TRIBUNE reporter.
"This Is how It was" he began In excellent English
"I was born and brought up in Dcventer a little ouE
ofthe-way Dutch town, where one sees little OF me
world When attained my maiority-that was In 1907
I grew restless and tired ofmy mOnOtonous, oneborSe
existence and made my mind to enter the military ser
vice of the Pope. This resolution greatly due to the
fact that tho P0pes cmssare5 and recruiting bureaus ID
Belgium busy at the time, promising all manner o'
advantages and the happest Of prospects, both In TINS
world and the hereafter, 10 recrus Well on FeDruary
a. 1867 left my home, received my bounty ana went
off to the Papal States, where, after my arrival was
duly drafted into the 9th company 1st Battalion OF tne
PontHcal Zouayes then stationed at Velletri, point
somewhat north Of Rome cannot express In words Tue
pride and Joy felt first DOMINIC the pretty gray uni
FORM the tasseed kept the white gartes. and on snou
dering new musket
Three weeks after my enlistment took advantage oi
first leave Of absence to visit Rome to witness the
ceremonies at ST. Petcs While sitting in the cars on
the journey to Vsletr my attention was caed 10
O handsome young soldier With black mustache ana
g0atee who wore q uniform like mine and who seemed
TO be mumbng something TO himself After whilc'
thinking that he might be one of my comrades ap-
preached him and spoke 10 him in French An emoar-
raised look came over his features and lie evidently
could not understand Then tried italian, German
and Dutch, but with an equally poor result Finally
aud as last resource, scraped few English WORDS
together, and to my great satisfaction no was aDe 10
understand. We then had pretty long conversation
together in the Of which learned that his name
was Watson; that he was an American by birth, and
that he was serving the 81 company LIST Battalion.
Pontifcal ZOuaves stationed at Yero More he would
not say and soon after left at station on the
road
Two months later. in consequence OF the movements
OF several Glribadlan bands on the frontier, my
company was transferred to Vcroll then Watson
for the second time very Intimate with him.
In fact We shared the same room in tho barracks
Yet he always remained enigma 10 me, and try ~
might never succeeded In making him speak OF his
past Sometimes the middle of the night would hear
him sobbing aud praying Then again he would be
murmuring something about his poor mother and
her terrible end and go on, TIL at last overcome
with fatigue he would sink back upon his pillow and
fall asleep Time passed. and Watson and l were de-
tailed for duty at Coli Pardo where a number Of
brigands had lately been committing ravages. Abou.
this time All American named St Mary, who had shortly
before enlisted battalion attracted some attention
by tho persisteney with which no Inquired
whether any OF his counymen were serving with the
Zouaves. The battalion being some li00 men strong.
however 1t easy thing for him TO obtain the d.
sired information Meanwhile I noticed change In
watson's demeauor. lie was paler more nervous, and
moro reserved than usual We had not remained many
days at Coil when b. came TO aud asked whether
thought he could obtain leave Of absence to 90 to
Rome. REFER HIM TO our sergeant. Hdlgand by name
an old French veteran. Hagand was unable 10 grant
request but lie advised watson 10 10 back 10 NerO
aud seek permission. watson took lhe ADVICE ana
started Immediately for Yerol Wishing me an Affection
ate goodbye. Bat nc had hardly started when dc-
tachmcnt OF hfty under Lieutenant de MOnsty
arrived and asked for the American. We then all learned
n snrratt one OF tbe assassus-as thoy tho n called
him-of President Lincoln. 81 Mary was United states
When De Monsiy heard Of watsons departure he
%as ON his way to the ffonr The deiachment started
immediately IN pursuit, aud after sharp Tide caught up
with surrat a village far from Tuscany lie Was
brought in irons 10 Vtroli aud thrown the
dungeon. Now you must know that the barack ~ built
on a elevation overlooking Vero!l. end that while the
entry 10 the dung staircase IS the crest OF the hill
tie dungeon window Is almost at ts base. thirty
feet below. Orders had been received from Rome Ia Sc
cure and keep the prisoner even II thousand men
ueedfu for the task and isO De MOnsty detailed
twelve OF us among whom Maltese. named Gaia.
MIA, a Scolcbmal, McCrOssan, and mYself-all tficu
friends OF XatsunfO guard the dungeon and Its inmate
n of IA we're posted the staircase, and two
(Catania aud McCrOs.anl outside. Soon night ell
upon and ali around became az quiet as death Next
10 the dungeon was q small compartment containing the
rance 10 the barrack AZ had been arranged
between Surrutt and ourselves, as soon rs the clock
stuck Twelve be allowed 10 enter this compartment
as prisoners were the habit OF doing Apparently we
forgot him, but ten minutes TO We all
made rush 20 the dungeon. aud as several
among us expected Suuatt had disappeared. lie had
lowered himself into the sewer and had made his way
out at an opening into the neghbOrng rNulei Tue dl'-
cnyery led to furious fugllac our part Its OBJECT
being naturally 10 divert suspicion ana 10 make leve
that we were trying 10 stop the fugitive AS soon as tue
Lieutenant heard VI the escape, he ord red the entire
pary on watch 10 be- put under arrest, but remember
that stnie Of satisfaction seemed 10 play around ms
lips, and there doubt In my mind that lac secretly
rciOiced at what had occurred
q" Not tue Captain. When the news was broken
to him ne exclaimed / am ruined fOTcvcr!' and sent
OF regiment OF calvary In pursuit OF surratt Iuey
arrived the frontier he told by an old woman tnat
the American was washing himself at a brook hall
mile dstant-but Victor Emanucps territory. Tue
Captains then only increased, aud all twelve ~
put irons aud mprlsOncd on bread and water
for an entire month.
What Of surrattl Well as far as heard, he
arrested again at the American Minister'S instance
Piedmont, but succeeded In escaping from q hospital
theTe-wbere he lay sick-in wOnans disguise. lie was
finally captured, believe, While boarding vessel at
COnstantnOpc aud then brought 10 this country. The
curious part Of the story H. that when attended
lecture lie gave ia this city In 1870 he singled out
among the audience and embraced mo with gratitude