The record-union., 1893-05-12
ON COCOANUTS.
The Story of Soldier Prisoner Who
Defied Rogiment.

The Story of a Soldier Prisoner Who
Defied II Rogiment.
1t is the custom in the British army
that whenever a regiment is transferred
from one colony to oanother prisoners who
may be III Jail are handed over to the out
going corps and continue their sentences
at the new station. In one case one of
these jailbirds made up his mind that he
would not leave the colony, says the New
York TJ'ibltHe.
Private johnson was one of the smart
est men in the corps. and furthermore he
was an excellent groom and almost a
Gordon bleu." He had one sad falling
He was thief. His peculations had,
however, been generally small. and he
had escaped serious punishment. One
night large store i'll the town was broken
into and a considerable amount of money
stolen. 1t was conclusively proved that
johnson was the thief, and he was sent to
jail. W hen the regiment was leaving
the colony johnson, with some other sol
der prisoners, was to he handed over ac-
cording TO custom. When, however, his
cell was visited it was empty, and there
was no sign of Johnson anywhere. y
search was made in every direction, and
at last prisoner pointed to a cOcoanut
tree which grew in the middle of the
prisOn-yard, and there, comfortably
seated among the tuft of leaves was John
son. The Warden at first tried to get the
man down by quiet persuasion, then he
threatened, then stormed and sWore.
johnson laughed contentedly at every
mood, but did not move. The fact was
reported to the Colonial Secretary, who
recommended that She fire-engine be
called out and the man washed down.
The chief of the fire department hardly
thought ii was conSOnant with his dignity
to wash q prisoner out of cocoanut tree,
and reported that there was not pressure
of water enough to get a stream to the top
of the tree. This was probably true, as
the tree was tall one.
The case was again referred to the Colo
nial Secretary, who took it before the
Governor. His eXcelleEcy was having
luncheon with some oY the departing
officers and their friends, and was having
a good time. He was veXed that such Il
time he should be troubled with official
work, as, hastily glancing over the docu-
ment, he added the following instructions:
"Cut the damned fellow down. mean
the tree"
This could only be done by the engi-
neering department. so orderlies were
sent ont to find the Chief Engineer. While
all this was going on time was slipping
away. Almost all the troops were
aboard the troop ship, and, as these YES
sells wait for no one, the escort which had
been sent to bring Johnson down to the
ship had to hurry off not to be late itself
johnson beloved farewell, and despite
the strong language of the Warden still
laughed and did not move. Before the
engineer department had come 10 the
conclusion as to how TO cut down the tree
and lower it gradually, the troop ship
had up anchor and was steaming out Of
the harbor. Then Johnson climbed down
the tree and finished his sentence on the
island. to which he had taken a fancy.
His conviction had carried with it his
on the island and was soon in easy cir
cumstances. He had undoubtedly hid
den his stolen property, and after his re-
lease dug it up and started in business
When johnson was last seen he was
flourishing, and had Il large cocoanut
grove around his cottage.-l5oston Her
aid,