The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-04-03
ESCAPED FROM PRETORIA.
Nerve Racking Experience Of Two
British Officers.

London April "A dispatch from Loren
ID Marquee dated to-day, announces the
arrival there of Captain Haldane of the
Gordon Highlande-s. and Lieutenant lie
Meseurier of the Dublin Ftlsiliers who es-
capped from Pretoria after periiouS adven-
lures.
II appears that after Winston ChurchilTs
escape the sentrieS were doubled, electric
light was installed, additional barricades
were constructed and the officers were con-
fined in the model school after $50 D. m.
Captain Haldane says that after several
unsuccessful attempts they succeeded in
cutting off the electric light. but even then
the street lamps precluded an attempt to
escape. and they decided to hide in the
space beneath the building to which q
trap door had previously been secretly con
structcd. as it had been announced the of
iicers would he removed elsewhere in a few
days. when it was hoped the two men
would be able to escape.
But the removal of the prisoners was
postponed, and the two men in the damp
subterfanean dwelling began to despair and
commenced digging in different directions
in the hope Of finding suitable exit. The
work was most arduous as they had only
a screwdriver and a skewer with which to
dig the ground. which was as hard as rock,
The imprisoned officers on March IL heard
somebody above say that the officers would
he removed the following day. After pass
ing twenty days underground in a cramped
position. and subs.sting on a little food and
water supplied by some of their fellow
prisoners who were in their confidence.
their delight at the good news was indie
scribable The following morning they
heard the officers above leaving. and all day
long the room was filled with curious Wis
iiors looking at the clever caricatures On
the walls drawn by the prisoners
When evening came the noise ceased and
Haldane and LeMcsieurier crep, to the trap
door. They were so weak that they could
hardly walk. but. gradually recovering.
they made their way to the court yard, got
over the railings and reached the street.
THE moon was full says the narrative,
land our untidy appearance attracted the
attention Of the police, but we managed to
clear the town and to strike the Delagoa
Bay Railway We followed the line. hiding
by day in the bitches. Many narrow es-
capes we had from the Boer patrols. In one
instance We were compelled to take to the
river and swim some distance, after having
alarmed a patrol. which was searching for
us along the banks. We spent miserable
night in clump of brackens.
''The morning sun brought life to our
chilled bones, but We found oIr small sup
plies Of meat and chocolate had been spoiled
by the water, with the exception OF one tin
of army emergency ration.
"When night came on we left the railway
track, as being too risky, and wandered
far to the southwark. only striking the rail-
way at Esande River near daybreak. We
were SO tired that We were Obliged to rest
| at the first available cover, which proved
! to be in the center of a Boer farm. Again
| we had q narrow escape from death by the
| farm hands but We got away safely at
nightfall. proceeding q short distance. All
the following day We lay in an ant-hear
| hold under the broilns sun