Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-04-03

wiser to be out OF the country, on account
Of the angry feeling of the people, 1 board
ed a steamer and went to London. / was
IN London some time and also visited
Liverpool: and Birmingham. ] went 20
Paris and from Paris went to Rome and
enlisted in the Papai Zouaves under the
Papal Guards was very pleasant, but I
continually longed for my native land. I
sventua.iy became a sergeant and in the
war between the Papal states and the
Garibaidians 1 was in my element. 1t was
Wnlle in the service of Plus TX, hat I
wr9te TO on ne Of the most prominent Union
and where / was and skiing him If it
would be safe for me to return to the
trial and not undergo a drumhead court
martial. He wrote back saying that in
his opinion 1 could. not get a jury trial and
advising me to remain away from America
trial refused to admit those letters as
evidence of my intention to return to this
ever. to T return aHd to fske mg eha hSws
OF q court-martial, and was on the point
OF DONG so when 1 was arrested at the
prison.
How did he learn who you were?"
Betrayed by n Friend.
Through the contemplate t~reachery Of a
friend, so called-a Canadian-I had shared
my bread and butter, my blanket and even
my shirts with that man, and had anyone
told me he was going to prove as false as
he did 1 would have secuted the bare sug-
Sestion. l have long since learned that no
man in this world can be trusted. This
man went to Cardinal Antonelli and told
him my story. Antonelli went with the in
formation to the pope. who Immediately or
dered my arrest and strict confinement.
] was stationed at one of the outposts be-
tween Rome and Naples. in the Italian
were quartered in an old monastery. The
papaI secretary of state at once commune
Gated with the United States secretary of
state that they had me and our govern
ment ordered a man-of-war. then cruising
IN the Indian ocean, to report to Porto
Vecchio and take me aboard.
NOW, as n matter OF fact. our govern
ment did not want me in the United States.
they were willing and anxious for me to
remain abroad and hoped 1 would continue
to do SO. While I was in London, Liver
pool ard Birmingham our consuls at those
ports knew who / was and advised our
state department of my whereabouts, but
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 express thanks and take measures
for having me returned to this country for
trial.
I'm the meantime I was confined in a
cell in the old monastery. The second day
after my arrest, or rather the second night,
q messenger arrived from Antonelli direct
ing the officer in command of the post. the
Baron de SerapDe. who you will remember,
married Miss Polk. OF North Carolina, to
have me sent to Rome under 4 heavy guard
the moment the summons was received. I
was awakened at 4 a. m by the rusty KEY
grating in the lock of my cell. and by the
light of a Pickering lantern ] saw that my
untimely visitors were an officer and six
soldiers, all heavily armed. At once knew
what 1t meant, and when the lieutenant in
ordered me to dress at once in
order to 20 to Rome ! at once made up
my mind that, let the consequences be what
they may / would not go to the Eternal
City. While dressing 1 mentally arranged
a plan of ecape. This old monastery was
built on the side of the mountain. nesting
on one side. and the west side was directly
over q precipice over a hundred feet high.
A wall four feet high guarded the court
yard. ] determined to break away from
my caDtors and go over that precipice.
When / had finished dressing I was placed
in the center of this guard and we slowly
assembled the stone steps of the old build |
ing. worn smooth by countless feet of
many generations. of monks. We reached
the courtyard and turned towards the left.
Just as We reached the point ] had selected
for my attempt / made n break for liberty. |
and running quickly across the courtyard
jumped on the wall. Gathering myself for
the attempt. / took a long breath and
jumped into space. doubling my legs slight |
" under me as l did so. About thirty-five |
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 I landed
safely on that ledge"
Captain, it has been stated that when
you broke away from your captors you ;