The Progress., 1893-06-10
WOULD NOT LEAVE,
q Prisoner who Successfully Dehed .
Regiment to Arrest Him.


II is the custom m tho British army
that whenever a regiment Is trans
fcrred from ono colony 60 another,
prisoNers who may bo in tho Jail are
handed over TO The outgoing corps
and continue their sentences at the
now station. In one case. related by
tho New York Tribune, ono of these
Iail-birds made up his mind that no
would not leave the colony. Private
johnson was ono OF the smartcst
men I'm the corps and, furthermore,
he was an excellent groom and almost
u "cordOn blcu.n lie had one sad
failing. IIo was a thief His pecula-
tions had. however, been generally
small. and no had escaped serious
punishment. Ono night u large store
i'm the town was broken into and
considerable amount of money stolen.
IL was cOnClusively proved that
Johnson was the thief and he was
sent TO Jail When the regiment
was leaving the colony John
son with some other soldier
prisoners, was to be handed over ac-
rording TO custom. Whom, however.
his cell was visited it was empty and
there was rot sign Of johnson any
where A search was made in every
direction and at last a prisoner
pointed TO cocoanut tree WHICH
grew In the middle Of Tho prison
yard and there. comfortably seated
among the tuft of leaves. was John
son. The warden at first tried to
get tho man down by quiet pcrsua-
sion. then he threatened. then
Stormod and swore. johnson laughed
contentedly at every mood. but did
not move. The fact was reported TO
the colonial secretary, who recon-
mcndod that the fire engine be called
out and the man washed down. The
phief Of the fire department hardly
thought itswas cOnsOnant with his
dignity to wash n prisoner out of a
cocoanut tree. and reported that
there was not pressure OF water
enough to get n stream TO the top of
tho tree. This was probably true.
for tho tree was tall one.
b. The case was again referred TO tho
colonial secretary, VINO took IL be-
fore the governor. His cxcellency
was having luncheon with some OF
the department officers and their
friends and were having a good time.
He was vexed that at such time he
should be troubled with offic al work,
rs hastily glancing over tho docu-
ment he added the following instruc-
lions: "Cut the id fellow down.
| mean tho tree" This could be
done only by the engineering depart
mont. so orderlies were sent out to
find the chief engineer. While this
was going on time was slipping away,
Almost all the troops were on board
the troopship, and. as these vessels
wait for no one, the escort which
had been sent to bring John
son down to the ship had
TO hurry off. not to be
late itself. johnson beloved fare.
well, and despite the strong language
of the warden still laughed and did
not move. Before the engineer de
partment had come to a conclusion
as to how to cut down the tree anC
lower it gradually, the troopship hat
up anchor and was steaming out o.
the harbor. Then johnson clsnbe,
down the tree and finished his sen
tence on the island, to which he haC
taken fancy. His conviction ha'
carried with il his discharge witt
ignominy." He settled in the islanC
and was soon in easy circumstances
He had undoubtedly hidden hi
stolen property, and after his releas'
dug it up and started in business
4 When Johnson was last seen he was
Q Hourishing and had large cocoanu
a urova around his cottage