The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-19
a man-of-war " years later. I went
to Montreal and then to Quebec.
HIS EXPERIENCES ABROAD.

In the latter city I was secreted in
a monastery and there remained for five
months. Thinking it wiser to be out of
the country on account of the angry
feeling of the people l boarded a
steamer and went to London. / was
in London some time, and also visited
Liverpool and Birmingham. I then
went to Paris, and from Paris went to
Rome and enlisted in the Papal Zou-
yes under the name Of Natson. My
life while in the Papa1 Guards was very
pleasant, but l continually longed for
my native land. / eventually became
a sergeant, and in the war between
the Papal states and the Garibaldians
/ was in my element. 1t was while in
the service of Plus TX that | wrote to
one of the most prominent union
statesmen in this country, telling him
who and where I was, and asking him
if it would be safe for me to return to
the United States, and if l could get
a jury trial and not undergo a drum
head courtmartial. He wrote back,
saying that, in his opinion, I could
not get a jury trial, and advising me
to remain away from America at least
three years. The judge at my trial re-
ldoCu ~ Il lAooC CIIC1 a. v
dence of my intention to return to this
country voluntarily. l determined
however, 10 return and to take my
chances of a court-martial, and vas
on the point of doing SO when I was
arrested at the instance of Pope Plus
and cast into prison"
ARRESTED THROUGH TREACHERY
How did he learn who you were?"
Through the contemplate treachery
of a friend-so called-a Canadian. 1
had shared my bread and butter, my
blanket, and even my shirts, with that
man, and hand any one told me he was
going to prove false as he did, I would
have secuted the bare suggestion. I
have long long since learned that no
man, and had any one told me he was
This man went to Cardinal AntOnelli
and told him my story. Antolli went
with the information to the Pope, who
Immediately ordered my arrest and
strict confinement. 1 was stationed at
one of the %outposts between Rome and
Naples, in the Italian mountains. 1t
was a beautiful spot, and we we're
quartered in an old monastery. The
Papal secretary of state, at once COM
IuuulCdlSu Will Tie Oult6u oldl6S SCC-
rotary of state that they had me, and
u government ordered a man-of-war,
then cruising in the Indian Ocean, to
report to Porto Vecchio and take me
aboard.
Nov as a matter of fact, our gov
eminent did not want me in the United
States. They were willing and anxious
for me to remain abroad, and hoped l
would continue to do SO. While I was
in London, Liverpool, and in Birming-
ham our consuls at those ports knew
who l was, and advised our state de-
partment of my whereabouts, but moth
ing was done. Of course, when the
matter was brought to the attention
Of the government in such an official
manner and from such a source, there
was nothing to do but to express
thanks and take measures for having
me returned to this country for trial.
"In the meantime 1 was confined
in a cell in the old manastry. The
second day after my arrest, or rather
the second night a messenger arrived
from AntOneli directing the officer in
command of the post, the Serappe,
who you will remember married Miss
Polk of North Carolina, to have me
sent to Rome under heavy guard the
moment the summons was received. |
was awakened at 4 o'clock a. m, by the
rusty keys grating in the lock Of my
cell, and by the light of the Pickering
lantern | saw that my untimely visi-
tors were an officer and soldiers, all
heavily armed. At once l knew what
it meant, and when the Lieutenant or
dered me to dress at once in order to
go to Rome. | at Once made up my
mind that, let the consequences be
what they may, I would not go to the
Eternal City. While dressing I men
tally arranged a plan of escape.
HIS SENSATIONAL ESCAPE.
"This old monastery was built on the
side of the mountain, nesting on one
I side, and the west side was directly
over a precipice over a hundred feet
high. A wall four foot high guarded
the court yard. l determined to break
away from my captors and go over
that precipice. When | had finished
dressing [ was placed in the center Of
this guard, and WE slowly assembled
the stone steps of the old building,
worn smooth by countless feet Of many
generations of monks. We reached the
I court yard and turned toward the left.
Just as we reached the point I had Sc
lected for the attempt, l made a break
for liberty, and running quickly across
the court yard jumped On the wall.
Gathering myself for the attempt,
took a long breath and jumped into
space, doubling my legs slightly un-
der me as 1 did so. About thirty-fve
feet from the top of the precipice there
was a bare ledge of rock jutting out
from the face of the mountain, and
about four feet broad. By great good
fortune. 1 landed safely on that
ledge"
Captain it has been stated that
when you broke away from your cap
tors you made a wild jump owe this
precipice and landed purely by acct
lent on that ledge. AS a matter OF