Morris tribune., 1893-04-26
HE WOULD NOT LEAVE THE COLONY.
A Prisoner Who Climbed a Cocoanut Tree
and Dafled a Regiment.

ana Oeueu ktcBtnents
1t is the custom in the British army
that whenever a regiment is transferred
from one colony to another prisoners
who may be in the Jail are handed over
to the outgoing corps and continue their
sentences at the new statio&1. In one
case one Of these jailbirds made up bis
mind that he would not leave the colony.
Private johnson was one of the smart
est men in the corps, and furthermore
he was an excellent groom and almost
a ''cordon bleu." He had one sad fail
ing. He was thief. His populations
had, however, been generally small, and
he had escaped serious punishment. One
night large store in the town was bro
ken into and considerable amount Of
proved that johnson WAS the thief, and
he was sent to Jail. When the regiment
was leaving the colony, Johnson, with
some other soldier prisoners, was to be
handed over according to custom. When,
however, his cell was visited, it was
empty, and there was not sign Of
johnson anywhere.
A search was made in every direction,
and at last a prisoner pointed to cocoa
nut tree which grew in the middle of
the prison yard, and there comfortably
seated among the tuft Of leaves was
Johnson. The warden ct first tried to
get the man down by quiet persuasion,
then ne threatened, then storIned and
swore. Johnson laughed contentedly at
every mood, but did not move. The fact
was reported to the colonial secretary,
who recommended that the fire engine
be called out and the man washed down.
The chief of the fire department hardly
thought it was consonant with his dig
nifty to wash a prisoner out Of a cocoa
nut tree and reported that there was not
pressure Of water enough to get a stream
to the top Of the tree. This was proba-
bly, true, for the tree was tall one
The case was again referred to the CO
lonial secretary, who took it before the
governor. His excellency was having
luncheon with some CT the departing
officers and their friends and was having
a good time. He was yexed that at such
a time he should be troubled with official
work, as hastily glancing over the docu-
ment he added the following instruc-
tons: "Cut the fellow down I mean
the tree"
This could only be done by the engi-
neering department, so orderlies were
sent out to find the chief engineer.
While all 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 Johnson down to
the ship had to hurry off, not to be late
itself. johnson beloved farewell, and
despite the strong language of the ward
en- still laughed and did not move Be
fore the engineer department. had come
to conclusion as to how to cut down
the tree and lower it gradually, the
troopship had up anchor and was steam
ing out Of the harbor.
Then johnson climbed down the tree
and finished his sentence on the island,
to which he had taken fancy. His con-
viction had carried with it his discharge
with ignominy." He settled in the island
and was soon in easy circumstances. He
had undoubtedly hidden his stolen prop
erty, and after his release dug it up and
started in business. When johnson was
last seen, he was fourishing and had a
large cocoanut grove around his cottage
New York Tribune.