The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1896-10-16

was then dining on board the very ship
where 1 was. sent an officer to him ask
ing him if he would come on deck.
l shall never forget the picture present
cd when the admiral appeared. He was in
full dress of his rank, as the dinner was
one of ceremony, The prisoner was tall
gaunt and haggard. He stood, in his COZ.
Wet DRESS in an attitude of entreaty.
The admiral said, ''Well, sir" and then
the man began to tell his story in the clear
well modulated French of an educated per
son. According to his story he had com
mitted no crime He had been exiled for
his political opinions He had wife and
family at home He had come out to the
ship at great peril In hope that he would
find freedom here. He swan out to the
flag of Britain, the emblem of which
meant liberty. Had he made his appeal
in vain?
The admiral was deeply moved, but his
face was stern as he said:
g am sorry, sir, but can do nothing
for you. 1t is not your life or mine that
would be at stake. If 1 were to take you
away, l should be guilty of interfering
with the police regulations of friendly
foreign nation and that would be a suffi-
cient cause for a war, in which many in
nocent lives would be lost l am sorry,
but you must go back
The prisoners attitude was now one Of
intense detection. He said, without fur
Their argument, "Sir, you have just con-
demned me to death. "
"How is that" asked the admiral.
According to the regulations of the
island, which is governed by military law, :"
replied the convict ANY prisoner who
attempts to escape is shot, At 0 o'clock
the rounds of the cells are made. If a
prisoner is away at that hour his absence
is considered as proof of an attempt to get
away
Our admiral started as if he had heard
the crack of shot,
Heavens, manl' said he what time
is it now?"
Hepulled out his watch as he spoke with
nervous wrench
1T is only 20 minutes TO o. will get
you back. "
Without q seconds delay the admiral
turned to the side of the ship opposite the
island. A few hurried orders were given
in low tone A boat was dropped The
oars were promptly muflled, and boats
/ crew clambered down like monkeys.
The prisoner was hidden in the bottom
of the boat, and within four minutes from
the time the order was given the boat shot
out on its errand of mercy toward the is
land. A little black cloud came across the
moon just as the boat started, as if the
elements were lending a kindly hand in
concealing the return of the unhappy man.
The officers who had heard the story all
swarmed to the rail with their glasses.
We watched in the darkness for the appear.
ance of lights or some signal of alarm
The boat landed without a single sign of
disturbance. The prisoner was back few
minutes before 8, in ample time to return
to his cell A sigh of relief was breathed
by us all when we saw the boat coming
back and nowhere any evidence of any
thing unusual in the appearance of the is
land
But still we felt very uneasy. The ad-
miral walked up and down talking about
the poor man. Some way he felt that it
was not all right We could not feel Ger
tain of his escape. We sat up nearly all
night studying the island through our
glasses.
The next morning we felt that we must
satisfy in, some way our doubts The adj
miral decided to paya visit of ceremony to
! the Frenoh military commander of the is.
land The officers on board our ships
wero invited to accompany him. We
Thought surely in visit of this kind we
would hear if any unusual event like an
attempt at an escape or an execution had
taken place,
We all put on full uniform for visit of
ceremony. The admiral S gig was lowered,
and we set out for the island about 10
O'Clock We were received with great po-
| likeness. The French commandanN iuvit-
ed us TO remain for midday breakfast
At the close of the meal tic command
ant selected youbg cffleor 81 his staff and
directed him to turn out with guard OF
honor to accompany us back to our boat.
| The commandant, in giving his instruc-
tons, added, "When these gentlemen are
ready TO depart give them my message -
This phrase sent cold chill through our
company. Wefelt that everything was not
all right.
We marched back in silence to our boat.
When every one was in position and the
oars were ready TO let fall and pull away,
the young French officer said, with his
hand to his head in an attitude of military
salute:
This. is the message of the command
ant of this post He wishes me first t.
present to you his compliments. You are
brave and honorable men. You have at
tempted to do a merciful act Last night
a prisoner escaped from this island. He
was seen by the sentry as he entered the
water He was seen to swim out in the
direction of your ship, We all saw that he
was taken on board. Every gun in the
battery of this island was brought TO beal
on your ship awaiting your decision. VIZ
saw you when you let fall the boat t.
bring the prisoner back. We watched the
boat advance to the island through ou
night glasses. We received the prisoner a:
soon as you landed him. Gentlemen, the
prisoner was shot at O'Clock this morn
ing. "-Pearsonis Weekly.