Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-08-09
The COnvicts Escape.

was layln' IN port OH Ouuhuiy' ia WE
tern Australia. l was ashore and see
nice lookin' young fellow, about
twenty-lour years old, eyein' me pretty
sharp. He vas at work on chain-gang.
Watchin' bis chance, he says to me,
Are YOU the mate of that whaler p
Yes says l.
Then says he, Has the priest said
anything to you about me p
No. says l.
well, he's going to- says he, and
passed on quick.
The priest follered right along. and
asked me If I'd seen that young man
before.
Never, to my knowledge says [.
Then he told me it WAS, a
Fenion prisoner TINT be had been con-
fined in Dartmoor prison in England
for seven months, and then sent to Au-
stralla for lite; that he'd been there 60
in' on 'leven months, and wanted to get
off. And the upshot Of it was The
priest offered me five hundred dollars
to get him off.
Il told Him l didn't want his money.
If he'd been a thief or murderer L
wouldn't have tried to help him away
but couldn't make out that he'd COM
mitted any crime so the priest and 1,
we fixed it that the next day, when my
ship got under way, l should pick him
up in the yawl-and did.
1t beat all how quick everybody on
board took to that fellow-he was so
pleasant, and such handsome young
chap.
well, come August, we had to put
into Rodrigues for water. 1t was that
or die OF thirst.
BY this time the news of --'s
escape had got ahead of us and was
known all over the world. 1t was Just
before sunset when a boat from shore
come alongside, and her officer boarded
us.
was standin just as near me
as be to you, when the officer up aud
saws to me: Have you got man on
board by the name Off,"
kind of thought minute-it seem"
ed if twas about an hour-and then
says No. says 1, very quiet we did
have a fellow aboard by the name OF
Brown, but he died two months ago at
Java
He looked at me a minute, then says
he, We'll, you've got some tlcket-oi-
leave men aboard, haven't you ?
Il was mighty glad he asked me that;
for thought it would take up his at
tention and give me a little time to
think.
4 can't say as to that, saysI L.
sWell.' says he, call your men up
from forrard and we'll soon find OUT
No says I: l don't want nothln'
to do with that kind of business. You
can look for yourselves ifyou like.
So le and his gang went torrard and
hauled out the stowaways, and put 'em
aboard their boat, and pulled ashore
appearin' to be satisfied.
AS soon as they were gone, -
half crazy, says to me: My God! IT'S
all up with me What can do? They !
come back for me, but III. never be
taken alive y
Il knew he meant what he said; Tor
the priest had told me he'd tried to
commit suicide, and, if he couldn't es-
cane, had determined 10 kill himself
calmed him down; told him to 90 be-
low and keep out of sight, and I'D try to
think up something; but says I, You
shant be taken as long as l can stand
by you.'
Il knew very we'll that az soou as
they got ashore those tlckel-ol-ieave
men would blow on him, and really
didn't know what to do. Things look
ed black.
.By this time it cot 10 be dark. aud
| [ sat down by myself TO think. Then
remembered kind OF locker under the
stairs, where the steward sometimes
KEN the dishes he wasn't usin'. Il was
shet by pushln' one OF the stairs right
over It. l knew they'd never lind hlm
there. Then l went to -- aud told
him TO 90 and find a little grln9sIone
there was on the ship, while KEEP the
men busy forrard. When l come back
I'd stop spell acd talk with steward
and when he heard me lalkin' he must
throw the grndstone and his hat over
board. 1--WE a shrek and then ru and
stow himself in the locker.
when | come along back l stopped
an ! says TO the steward, L don't know
what will happen when those fellows
come aboard Tomorrow morning, -
will never be taken alive. He'll Kill
some of 'em and kill himself, he threat
ened TO do it jn Australia
Just then we heard great splash
and a scream. whats that ? says |.
IT'S - says the stewart. hes
throw n hinsclf overheard
Everybody heard II. The cip'a''
was off hat day. l rushed ait, tol'
the other officers and ordered out Lac
/ boats. The men felt terrible. Ever
. one Of 'em was fond Of him. We 60