Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-12-11
N ISLAND TRAGEDY

Salute island Is a French convict sta
ton. IL Is "A barren strip of sandy desert,
bare absolutely of Vegetation. IL lies very
low and is wholly unprotected from the
glare of the tropical sun. Life there has
not one attractive faeture.
I was attached number OF years ago to
the feet In the south Atlantic, and during
the course of our journeying we anchored
of Salute island. One night | sat on the
deck in the company Of another officer.
We were lazily smoking our after dinner
cigars, when heard "a cry of "Helpl" from
the water below, followed by a splash.
/ ran Immediately To the rail, as i
thought IL was IA case Of "A man overheard.
But there was sailor ahead of me, who
tossed rope 70 ulan who WAS swimming
in the water below Ia moment he was
drawn up on deck. and at once began an
explanation of his appearance.
He was IA convict from the dread station
on the island lie had seen our flag, and
he had swum out To the ship. would we
take him aboard and enable him TO es-
capef'
did not listen to another word of ex.
PLANTATION. lt was altogether too serious
matter for me. The admiral of the fleet
was then dining on board the very ship
where was. | sent an officer TO him ask
ing him IL he would come on deck.
shall never forget the picture presented
when the admiral appeared. He was In
full dress Of his rank, as the dinner was
one OF ceremony. The prisoner was tall,
gaunt aud haggard. He stood In his con-
viot dress, In an attitude of entreaty.
ha At,. iral ouiI Vail air
the man began TO tell his story in the
clear, well modulated French of an edu-
Gated person. According to his story, he
had committed no crime. He had been
exiled for his political opinions. He had
wife and family at home. He had come
out to the snip at great peril in hope that
he would find freedom here. He swan out
to the flag Of Britain, the emblem of
which meant liberty. Had he made his
appeal in vainp
The admiral was deeply moved, but his
face was stern IA he said:
81 am sorry, sir, but | can do nothing
for you. IL IL not your life or mine that
would be at stake. II l were to take you
away. l should be guilty Of interfering
with the police regulations Of a friendly
foreign nation, and that would be sufii-
cient cause for war, In which many In
nocent lives would be lost. am sorry,
but you must 20 back"
The prisoners attitude was now one of
intense detection. He said, without fur
ther argument, "Sir, you have just con
demned me to death"
"How is thatS" asked the admiral.
"According 20 the regulations of the IS
land, which is governed by military law"
replied the convict, "any prisoner who
attempts to escape IL shot. At o o'clock
the rounds of the cells are made. II a
prisoner Is absent at that hour, his absence
Is considered as proof of an attempt to get
away"
Our admiral started as II he had heard
the crack of "A shot.
"Heavens, man I" said he, "what time
Is IL noWi"
He pulled out his watch as he spoke
with a nervous wrench.
1T il only 20 minutes to 81 Twill get
You back"
Without seconds delay the admiral
turned to the side of the ship opposite the
island. A few hurried orders were given
In low tone. A boat was dropped. The
oars were promptly muffled, and a boats
crexS clambered down like monkeys.
The prisoner was hidden in the bottom
OF the boat, AID within four minutes from
the time the order was given the boat shot
out on its errand OF mercy toward the is
land. A little black cloud came across the
moon, just as the boat started, as IL the
elements were lending IA kindly hand in
concealing the return Of the unhappy man.
The officers who had heard the story all
swarmed to the rail with their glasses
We watched in the darkness for the ap-
pearance of lights or some signal of alarm.
The boat landed without single sign Of
disturbance. The prisoner was back a
few minutes before 8, in ample time to re-
turn to -his cell. A sigh Of relief was
breathed by us all when we saw the boat
coming back and nowhere any evidence Of
anything unusual in the appearance of the
island.
But still we felt very uneasy. The ad-
miral walked up and down talking about
the poor man. Some way he felt that il
was not all right We could not feel GER
tain of his escape. We sat up nearly all
night studying the island through our
glasses.
The next morning we felt that we must
satisfy in some way our doubts. The ad-
miral decided to pay visit of ceremony to
the French military commander of the is
land. The officers on board our ships were
invited to accompany him. We thought
surely In a visit Of this kind we would hear
IL any unusual event like an attempt at an
escape or an execution had taken place.
We all put on full uniform for visit Of
ceremony. The admira's gig was lower
ed, and we set out for the island about 10
O'Clock. We were received with great po-
iteness. The French commandant invited
us to remain for a midday breakfast.
At the close of the meal the commandant
selected a young officer of his staff and d.
rected him tn turn out with a guard OF
honor o acconnopv no honk IN nur boat