Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-04-05

France.
(Copyrighter, the Associated Press)
London, April 4.-Mr. John L. Wal.
Ter, formerly United States consul al
Tamatave, Island of MADAGASCAR. ar.
rived in this city a short time ago. after
his release at the instance Of the United
States government from the French
prison in which he had been confined
under the sentence Of twenty years i'm
prisonment imposed upon him by a
court martial for having corresponded
with the Hoyas.
He has been living in retirement since
his arrival, and upon the advice Of his
agents, who are formulauug a claim
against the French government. has
not received any Representatives of the
English press. However, AIR. Waller.
who sails for New York to-day. MADE
the following statement TO the Asso-
ciated Press.
1t is the first time he has told his
story to a reporter:
y on will remember that Tamatave
was bombarded by the French in De-
cember, 1894 he began. 81 was then
living at Tamataye Shortly after
the bombardment | wrote to my wife
who was living up in the country. In
my letter | merely described the event
referred to the sanitary condition Of Tie
town and the number OF French sol
diers there, but | also did describe soma
Of the barbarities l witnessed particu-
larly the ravishing o, the Hoya women
by the French soldiers.
"On March 3, 1895, | was arrested at
Tamatave. asked for time to obtain
witnesses and to know on what tha
charges against me were based. vas
told there were two in number.
"On the 23d of March was placed on
a steamer bound for Marseilles. I was
told | would be given a state room for
the voyage. However, when / reach
ed the boat was conducted to the hold
and made to sit down on the platform
which is just underneath the hatchway
for lowering freight My guard who
was a brutal French sOhser. simply
said in reply to my question regarding
a room: You sit lheEaL "a few mo-
ments afteiSSs5 :s.luEF1, cllS------
brought ant.[sped on the flooiI7Ifeg, ont
of me. ToE% my ankles wCf, chain
ed. l was tnen unable to change my
position enough to lie on my side. The
rabble of Tamatave had followed me
from the Jail to the steamer. They
came on board and standing on the
deck, spat down upon me. ] was soon
completely covered with their saliva.
l appealed to my guard and to several
of the French soldiers, but they only
laughed at me. AS night came on it
began to rain and I lay powerIcss TO
move with the tropical rain beating
down upon me. Being Wet i'm that
climate, is always followed by fever
unless ones clothes are Immediately
changed. In the morning / was Tem-
bling with chills. At s o'clock some
breakfast was brought me. IL consist
ed of soup with rice and a piece Of
bread. l could not eat and begged for
a cup of tea. On of the soldiers drew
his sabre and exclaimed Eat that
81 was only released from my chains
twice a day, ten minutes i'm the morn
ing and ten minutes in the afternoon.
was given but two meals all day. Ny
effects had been taken away from me
and | was ill-prOyided with clothing
had but one and a half franc with me.
After leaving Zanzibar. I gave this to
f11T I, ma
oranges. He took the money and when
saw him next day said he had lost DO.
A few French officers came on board nc
Zanzibar. One of them demonstrated
with my guard and | was released from
my chains. Another officer seeing me
released, said: You are an enemy to
France. Tonight when you are asleep
will cut your throat and throw you
overheard
81 had been given room and my
guard slept in it near me. That night
was aroused by noise in my room ana
saw this officer standing at the foot or
my bed. / got up dressed and started
to go on deck. He followed me- dni
struck me on the back Of the head. aS
/ was ascending the stairway, knocking
me down. l got up and fearful or my
life. struck him in the face. cutting d.
open. The officers Of the ship came.
and I appealed to them for protection.
I was assured by them and by tho
French officer who had bc'rienled me-
that nothing would be done 90 me for
my action in defending myself After
this episode the Frenchman kept away
from me- Going through the 5u'z anal
/ was again chained, and again as wa
approached Marseilles Ar NarseIIles.
I was conducted TO a dirty filthy prison.
only remained there a few days. ana
then. handcuffed to two other prisoners
was taken TO the military prison a.
Clarevaux. Here the food wa so pad
that ! could not retain 10 ON my sJoi'-
ach l appealed to the governor ol lh8
prison. and he sent the doctor 10 e1-
anime me. .s
From Clarevaux I was transIerred
TO the prison at Mines On Fe0ruary
%. 1896. a prison official arrived an"
told me that my pardon had been re-
ceived. With it came a message IroIh
Mr.. Eustis. in Paris. directing me ~
draw on him for money.
"I wish particularly = state t9al "
making my application for PARDON,
made no agreement whatever 10 "aiy,o
.laims for damages against the frencH