New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-26
HE WOULD NOT LEAVE TIE COLONY.
AsOLDIER PRISONER WHO CLIMBED \ COcOANrT
TREE AND DEFIED \ REGIMENT.

SOLDIER PRISONER WHO CLIMBED COiOANrT
TREE AND DEFIED \ REGIMENT
II /, The custom in the British Army that whenever
a regiment IS transferred from colony 10 another
prisoner, who may De IN the JAIN are handed over 10
the outgoing corps and continue their sentences ~
The new station. In one ca" on" Of th'S" jahlfd-
made up his mind that he would not leave the colony.
Private johnson was OF the smarte>l men In The
CORDS, and furtherinOr" he was excellent groom
and almost gordon blcu" lie had one sad filling.
He was thief. HIS pccuatlJn, had, However, been
gone-lly small and hc had escaped serious punish
mont one night large store in ia" town was
broken into and q considerable amount Of money stolen
II cOnclusivcy proved that johnson Was Inc
ihc' ana he was sent 10 jail. When The regiment
was leaving the colony John wi 9th soldier
prisoners, was 10 De handed over according 70 custom
When however. his cell visited II was empty
and there wa, not sign OF Johnson anywhere"
search was made I'm every direction, and nj last
prisoner pointed 10 coc0anut tree which grew In In"
middle Of the prison yard, and there. comfortably
seated among the tuft Of leaves, was Johnson The
warden at fr, tried TO get the man down by quiet
pcrsuasion then he threatened, then siormcd and
,wOre johnson laughed cOntentedly al every mood
lut did not move. The fact reported 10 the
Colonial secretary, who recommended that the fire
engine be- called ont and the man washed down
The chief Of fire department hardly thought II was
consonant with his dignity to wash prisoner out Of
q cocoanut tree and reported that there not
pressure Of water enough 20 get stream 10 the
ION OF the tree This was probably true. for the tree
was tall one.
The case was again referred 10 the Colonial S"cr"-
,orv who took II before tho Governor. Ills EAcc"ncy
was having luncheon with some Of the departing
officers and their friends and was having "a good
fine lie was vcxcd that at such time he should
he troubled with Official work, rs hastily elancne
ovcr the document he added the following Instructions
=" Ont tbe damned fellow down. mean the Tree
rni, could only be done by the engineering depart
mon. IN ordcrlics were sent out 10 hnd III" Nh"i
Ensncer MnIe all tins Wa gong on. uhc WaS
;i,,,iuc uwnV Almost all The troops we're Oh bOdld
~ i~,ou,ip and ~ Ties" vessel, wait Tor no one,
tho e.rg which had been sent To bring Johnson Gown
f. the shin had TO hurry Oh, not 10 De lalr l''Il
Inbuson beloved a farewell. ana despite the stlNhS
language OF the warden SIN laughed ana ala MOI
move Before the engineer department lad come 10
= conclusion as TO how 10 cui down me Tree a'"
lower II gradually. the trocpNhip had up aho"oi
ana was sicamimg out Of the harbCr. lh' Joil'sO.l
climbed down the tree and finished MS h'hlnhc' on
Inc island 70 which hr had taken fancy. llA o"i
vic,ton Ind carried with II his discharge WIN
ipnornnyn He settled In the Island ana Wa sW''
i'm easy circumstances he had undoubtedly nun
his stolen property and after his release dug II p n
.f,rtcd I'm bisinrss. When Johnson WIS HNt H''n
he was nonrishing and had large cocoanut grove
J. ffaN