Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1896-04-18
CONSUL WALLER.
AGRAPHIC ACCOUNT OF
HIS TREATMENT.
The Brutality Ofthe French.
Chained to the Deck of a
Steamer.
sPAT UPON BY THE POPULAoB.

SPAT UPON BY THE POPULAOB. I
A Citizen Without a OOuntry-A Dis l
grace to the American Government. !
LONDON. April 4.-(Copyright, 1895, I
by the Associated Press.) John l.. Wal
Ter, formerly United States Consul at
Tamative, island of Madagascar, ar
rived in this city a short time ago attor
his release at the instance of the UNI
ted States government, from the
French prison in which he bad been
confined under the sentence OF twenty
years Imprisonment for having cores
ponded with the Hovas.
WHERE HE HAS BEEN.
He has been living in retirement
since arrival, and upon the advice OF
his agents, who are formulating a
claim against the French government
has not received any representatives OF
the English press. However, Mr.. Wal |
Ter, who sails for New York to-day,
made the following statement to the
Associated Press. 1t is the first time
he has told his story to reporter.
THE CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE.
'You will remember that Tamate-
was bombarded by the French in Div
cember, $685." he began. 81 was then
living at Tamative. Shortly after the
bombardment wrote TO my wife, who
was living up country. In my letter l
merely described the event, referred to
the sanitary condition of the town and
the number of French soldiers there,
Il lan of
barbarities 1 witnessed, particularly
the ravishing of the Hova women by
the French soldiers"
ARRESTED BY THE FRENCH.
Ion March 3, 1895, / was arrested at
Tamative. 1 asked for time to obtain
witnesses and TO know on what the
charges against me were based. / was
told they were two in number, first
for a violation of an order of Jan. Is
1893, regarding sending any letters ex-
eent through the port; and second
violation of one OF the articles of the
French military code, by correspond
ing with the enemy regarding French
operations in Tamative."
HIS LAWYERS ASSERTION.
''I was at first refused counsel. bu
afterward obtained the service of NJ. /
which to look into my case. The tria
was held on March 20, 1895, and onl,
lasted one hour. My lawyer frequent
ly told the court that such charges a
were adduced would be laughed at il
a civil court trial. However l was con
demned TO twenty years solitary con
finement."
ON BOARD THE STEAMER.
Il
er bound for Marseilles. ] was told,
would pe given q stateroom for tn
voyage. However, when l reaches
the boat, was conducted to the hol,
and made to sit on the platform which
is Just underneath the hatchward TO
lowering freight. My guard, who wa
brutal French soldier, simply said il
reply 60 my question regarding a room
You sit there
CHAINED TO THR DECK.
"a few moments afterwards, hug
iron bar was brought and placed o.
the floor in front of me. To thi
my ankles were chained. l was the
unable to change my position, eve
enough to lie on my side. The rabbi
of Tamative had followed me from tn
jail to the steamer.
scANDALoUs TREATMENT.
They. came board and standing on tn
deck spat down upon me. l was 500
covered with their salivs
u appealed to nay guard and to sewers
of the French soldiers, but they onl
laughed at me.
AS night came on it began to rair
and l lay, powerless to move, with tn
tropical rain beating down upon me
Being wet in that climate is Away
followed by fever, unless ones clothe
are Immediately changed.
BEGGING FOR FOOD.
I'm the morning, / was tremblin
with chills. At O'Clock, some break
soup with rice and curry in it and
piece of bread. / could not eat, an
begged for a cup of tea. One of tn
soldiers drew his saber and exclaimed
Eat that
81 was only released from my chain
twice a day, ten minutes in the morn
ing and ten minutes In the afternoon
/ was given but two meals day. A
my effects had been taken away froi
me and I was Ill provided with clotl
ing.
SOLDIERS DISHONESTY.
I had but one end one-half fran,
with me. After leaving Zanzibar,
gave this to a soldier and told him
buy me some oranges. He took tt
money and when ! saw him next da
he had lost it. A few French office
ne on board at Zanzibar. One
chem demonstrated with my guar
and I was released from my chain
And another officer, seeing me relea
ed said: You are an enemy
France. To night, when you a.
asleep, I will cut your throat al
throw you overheard
FIGHT WITH AN OFFICER.
81 had been given room and n
guard slept near me. That night
was aroused by noise in my room al
saw this officer standing at the foot
my bed. got up and dressed, al
started to 90 on deck. He followed u
and struck me hard on the back
the head as was ascending the stat
way, knocking me down. 1 got up al
fearful of my life, struck him in Il
face cutting it open. The officersN
the ship came and / appealed to the
for protection. l was assured by the
and by the French officers who b
friended me that nothing would
done to me for my action in defendii
myself. After this episode the Fren
man kept away from me.
y HANDcUFFED TO PRISONERS.
"Going through Suez canal 1 W
again chained, and again as we a
preached Marsaille. At Marsaille ! "
conducted to dirty, filthy prison
only remained there a few days, al
then, handcuffed to two other priso
ers, was taken to the military pris