Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-09
STRANGER THAN FICTION.
r4cnri Herion Back 10 His Home
-. xr......s Z, &, ~ uHo..i.

the exclamation of young Henri HeriOn
az he leaped from New York train this
morning into the arms of his brother and
Lissnd him again and again, Herion.
then a lad of II, left his home in this city
IN MAY %, 1851, bent on seeing the world
ard on having few adventures. In the
i've wears and half that have elapsed
since then he has had adventures thrilling
enough 10 satisfy the most ardent reader
of a dime novel. Knocking about Europe
and Africa he has been co-laborer with
an AGENT of Barnum'sin AlgIers, soldier
in the French army, a deserter, prisoner
in French dungeons. and finally subject
If important diplomatic correspondence.
Gerion is a bright lad. His father is
German, his mother French. He had
American schooling and learned Italian
In Venice, one of the first halfway houses
IN his travels abroad. He speaks Eng
nsb. French, German and Italian, He
took the steamer from New York for Ant
werp. He knocked about seeking home
with relatives at different points abroad,
and finally brought up at BaiX. where
The youth secured a position as head
waiter in big hotel at 400t. month.
Eight months later he roved to Venice,
where he held a similar position in the
Hotel de Paris. There be met one Davis.
an agent of z. T. Barnum, with whom ne
went to Algiers as interpreter. Their
husiness was to hunt up ostriches and
Arabian musicians for the great show
man. Not meeting with success in this
line Herion went back to Europe, where
he continued his rowing and had more
hotel ex perlence. He finally drifted back
10 Algiers, where he took to waiting
again. but, becoming discontinued with
me hotel business, threw up big salary
which had been largely augmented by the
tips his linguistic requirements brought
him.
Again he went rowing. 1t did not take
him long to spend bis easily earned
money. to pawn his watch and the 6ia-
monds that mad adorned the proud person
of the magnificent head waiter, and so he
wandered back to Mareeilles, where he
arrived penniless. Application to the
American Consul for aid was fruitless,
as be was under age and an order from
his father was necessary.
On foot he went to Toulon, where he
arrived weary and disheartened. In des-
perate straits, and encouraged by the
Establishments of French colonel who
promised him rapid promotion in the
ranks, he enlisted in the French army for
five years. That was in December, 1883.
It did not take Herion long to discover
that be had made mistake. He was
transferred first to Gran and then to
BenOpolIs, where he made up his mind to
desert.
Herion wrote home for money and be-
gan TO lay his wires, but before the funds
arrived another transfer came, and he
was sent to join the Third battalion of the
Foreign Legion, stationed at Machara.
Machara is some 1,120 miles from BellOp-
Ds. Herion's detachment suffered con-
Iderably while making the march from
The heat and the short and poor ratiOns.
Two OF the soldiers, at the end OF the
sghth day, took of their hard shoes,
placed their rifles to their heads, pulled
the triggers with their toes and blew the
tops of their heads off. Under the French
code mititdire, so says Herion, when a
man struggles behind on the march he is
promptly beaten with clubs, and, il that
proves Intellectual, he Is tied to horse or
camel to make him "shake leg"
At Mschara the longed-for funds
reached the Captains hands. who pro-
posed to hand the money over to Horizon
at the rate OF few francs a day on con-
dition of good behavior. A compromise
was effected which brought the money
into the hands of a friendly hotel keeper.
Taken sick, the American boy was sent
to the hospital, and there, making new
plans to escape, he bribed the Sergeant
Major to let him off the roll call, went to
the hotel, changed his uniform for
civilian dress and took the train for Saba,
some distance from Algiers.
But Herion was too we'll known and
was arrested on the train. Burial twenty
feet deep In q dungeon for a week was
followed by transportation TO his old Tegi-
ment and months Imprisonment.
After this life became uncomfortable
through the abuse and taunts of the
officers and his comrades. But the
durance vile bad been we'll spent by the
boys scheming head, and eight days
Of being shot down by the sentinels,
made his escape, tramped 800 miles
IN twelve days OF indescribable suffering
and brought up at Brim, where he went
on large wheat-raising farm and rose to
Inc position OF director. Three months
Oh steady life was wound up by dispute
with friend of whom Herion had made
aeontdant. This friend threatened ex-
posure, and HeriOn then told his whole
story to the proprietor, who provided him
Win horse and an Arabian guide. Two
days later he was back in Algiers, where
more funds from home were anXiously
Swaited.
Another false friend was made in the
|
plng listening to the music of the ZOuave
Oand' young Herion remarked that it was
Iot equal to the band of the Foreign Lee
glon, and the friend Immediately set him
uoWh as deserter. An attempt at black
NAL lOll0" ed, and then came exposure,
UhOwed by capture. There was a court
martial this time, and Herion was SEN
SHnced 10 three years in the prison at
PPohera, thirty-two miles from Algiers.
escape followed quickly after a month of
WIN 10 The contract fields. Two days
aIer Herion was again arrested, having
Seel recognized on the streets OF Algiers
his former captor. Then followed
,SuI months confinement in the dungeons
Dohera, where he lived on bread and
mater. Finally the lad was sent to Air
gum and incarcerated with the 800 de-
'ellers who are kept there basket max
w Then he decided to submit to the
Inevitable.
Meanwhile the case acquired consider.
ny interest at home, and from the InterAa-
, rOuai questions involved and the nigh
G.norlues Interested became a matter
uore than local attention. MIR. Jesse
etcalI, widely known as the head OF
se "oolen mills in this State, took up
ne vase IN person to make an effort for
w. 10y, 8 release, and the aid of Senator
NS 'Oh W. Aldrich was called In TO this
s", AT the time the matter was first
,sou.ght TO the attention OF the State De-
saI thent, the late II. l.. Frelinghuysen
No. oecretary Of State, and he referred
S., uduter to the American Minister at
~ VINO IN turn instructed the AmerI-
e",, consul at Algiers to do all he
lasoo ~ ~ assist In securing Herion's re-