The times., 1899-10-08

of the officers quarters There was no one
about and the only sound / could hear
was that made by my beating heart. From
the roof | had to jump onto the boundary
wall, about ten or twelve feet distant
dare say it was a bold leap, but you dom I
stick at trifies when you are escaping
from Portland l made the leap, and was
successful in reaching the boundary wall
Then | got TO the ground by means of my
linen ladder
Unfortunately the hooks were so Sc
cure that | had to leave the ladder where
it was, and il it had not been for that
might have been in London in three or
four days. AS it was. l had an awful ex-
perience. While making a desperate tug
at the ladder | heard some one approach
ing, and | rushed into the garden of the
Grove public house. I turned around and
saw a guard looking at the ladder A
few minutes afterward shots were fired
and bell was rung. My escape had been
discovered. Guards were running by in
ell directions; but unperceived l got
through the window of the Roman Catholic
chapel and concealed myself beneath the
communion table, which proved to be
something like box.
1t was not pleasant position TO be in,
| can assure you. sneeze or cough
would have betrayed me, but, fortunately.
all went well. But l got very hungry. So
at the end of about thirty-three hours I
stole out and broke into the Clifton Hotel
| there found some bread and meat. cheese
and tobacco. What was of more eonse-
quence, was able TO steal hat and some
clothes. With the clothing and the food
the sweetest food l ever tastedz-I Teturn-
ed to my hiding place in the chapel Out
of a black coat / made a pair of trous-
ers, and put on another OF the stolen
coats. which happened to BE made OF vel
vet. The food | divided into six portions
and for six days l was concealed beneath
that communion table. There were fire.
quent services. and, what was still worse
the priest used to come in at night for
private devotions.
''At last l had more than enough of it,
and broke into the priests house with the
object of obtaining some money. / could
find none. however. There was some sill
yer plate. but that was of no use to me-
l obtained a white stole, however, and
with that made something resembling a
shirt. Feeling now fairly confident as to
my appearance, | walked down the road
and saw milkman, who | afterward found
gave information about me. At a little
place nineteen miles from Portland | con-
cealed myself in a field. Two men came
in blackberrying, and | had to get out
They asked me where l was going I said
to Blanford. They volunteered to show
me the way, but we had not gone very
far before we met two police inspectors
They asked me to go into public house
and give an account of myself. They were
particularly anxious to know if / had a
mark on my right arm. Seeing the game
was almost up. l tried 10 dash through the
public house, hut il was no good. and
was eollared. | was afterward sentenced
10 eight years penal seryitude for the bur-
glary at the Clifton Hotel. No. I did not
have the cat. You see l was tried by a
civil power'-and the little man chuekIed
Immediately afterward he assumed a grav-
er tone, and asked. in mournful accents
But what can an Old convict like me do
for living ?"-London Telegraph