The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-10
further argument: SIR. you have Just
condemned me u death

=
condemned me 10 death
How Is that p asked the admiral
According 70 the regulations Cf the
island. which Is governed by military
Law replied the prisoner, any prisoner
who attempts to escape "a shot 1t 9
O'Clock the rounds Of the cells are made.
If 3 prisoner IS found absent II that hour
his absence Is considered SIS proof Of an
attempt 10 res away.
s+Our American admiral started as If he
had heard the crack Of q shot.
my God. man = said he, what time is
it now9'
He pulled out his watch IS be spoke
with 3 nervous wrench.
1t is only SO. / will get you bark.
Without seconds delay the admiral
turned 70 the side Of the ship opposite the
island. i few hurried orders were given
IN a low tone. 4 boat was dropped The
oars were promptly rGuftied and 8 boat :
crew claTn5ere3 down ike monkeys. The
prisoner was hidden in the bottom of the
boat and within four minutes from the
time the order was given the boat snot
out on its eErand Of mercy toward the
island
a little black cloud came across the
moon Just a. the boat started, IS II the
elements were lending s kindly hand in
Generating the return Of the unhappy man.
The officers who had heard The story all
swarmed 20 the rail with their glasses We
watched N the darkness for the appear
ance OF lights or some signal Of alarm.
The boat landed without a single sign Of
disturbance. The prisoner was hack AZ g
few minutes before 9. IN ample time 10 re-
turn 70 his cell sigh Of relief was
hreathed BY Is all when We saw the bost
coming hack and now here any evidence Of
anything unusual IN the appearance ofthe
Island.
But still We felt very uneasy. The sd
rliTal walked 90 and down. talking about
the poor man Some way We lei. that it
was not all right. We could nor feel GER
tain OF his escape. We sat U2 nearly all
night studying the island through or
glasses.
The next morning we felt that We must
satisfy IN some way our doubts. The sd
miral decided 70 pay visit OF ceremony
n the French military commander OF the
island. The officers on board our ship
were invited 10 accompany him. We
thought surely in VISIT Of tn,s kind We
would hear Il any unusual event like an
attempt q; az escape or an execution had
taken place.
We all pu5 on full 3-ess uniforms for
visit Of ceremony. The adm;rAl's gig was
lowered and We set ont FOR the island
about io O'Clock We were received with
great polileRess- The French command
ant invited rs 10 remain for mid
ton. We chatfed VITA the officers OF the
station, but during the wait and during
the long breakfast there was not a word
said upon anv subject which gave Us the
slightest Information concerning what We
wished 70 know. Naturally We did not
dare 10 ask any questions Vet this lack
Of information. fhis absence Of any refer
ence 70 anything unusual did nos some
way satisfy rs that everything was sill
right. AT the close Of the breakfast tie
c0mmandant selected Young officer Of MS
staff and directed him - turn out with =
guard II honor 10 cOuu&nv Us hack TO
our boat The commandment n giving his
instructions added. When these gentle
men are ready 10 depart give them nv
message, This phrase sent cold chill
through our company. We felt then that
everything was not al -lcRt.
I'VE marched hack N silence 20 our
boat When every one was IN position
and the ears were apeak ready II le; fall
AM pull away, the young French officer
said, WIKI his hand 81 his head n 81 asIi-
tuae ~ military sal2te:
:" This g the message Of the command
Ant OF this post He wishes me first 70
present u yoQ his compliments. Yoa are
brave and honorable men. You have at
tempted 10 Go 4 rnercifQl act. Last night
S prisoner escaped from this ISiaa6. lie
was seen by a >eutryas he entered the water
ne va SEEN - ~ 4ia GU IL tllS 0lffeCIlon Oi
your shin. We al saw that he was taken
on board. Every gun in the battery on
this Island was brought 10 bear on your
ship awaiting your decision. We saw you
when you let iall the boat 10 bring the
prisoner back We watched the boat sd
vance 10 the island through our night
glasses We received the prisoner As soon
a. you landed him. Gentlemen. The pris-
oner was shot al O'Clock this morning"
This remarkable story. regnarAab
from as dramatic and pathetic qualities,
made deep impression upon n3y mlnd.
Several months aftsrwa-d ! was guest IN
the house Of Mss Mary Anderson. the GEL
ebrale3 sctreSS. - her home al Hampstead.
near London. Miss Anderson spoke o.!
the dramas 81 resi- life. aud as an iluStra-
ton 81 her thought related 10 her GEN
eral Remey's Story. she asked me 10
write il cut for her Just IS he told il. She