Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-10-31
FEATs OF DESERTERs.
some of the Remarkable Devices OF
British Soldiers 10 Escape
from the Army.


To desert from either the army or
the navy is not the easiest thing in
the world, and can when accom-
plished the culprit lives In daily fear
of being recaptured and sentenced to
heavy term of Imprisonment.
Therefore, the devices employed by
some deserters are as ingenious as
they are exciting, although they can.
not be said to be always crowned
with success. For sheer audacity the
case OF an Irish soldier who deserted
in a south coast town some years ago
would be hard to beat. says the Regi-
ment. just at that time a number
of desertions had occurred in the
neighborhood. and the authorities
were therefore unusually sharp TO
prevent further offenses OF this ma
ture. But the man in question was
dissatisfied with soldering, and hav-
ing a number Of friends in the town
who were disposed 10 help him, and
being possessed of an unusually large
modicum OF pluck. resolved TO delay
his return to civil life no longer. One
morning early he slipped out of bar
racks and made his way to a friends
house without being seen. Arriving
there he shaved of his mustache,
and. DOMINIC a polieeman's uniform,
boldly promenaded the main streets
OF the town. He was of course missed
in barracks, and knew that the sur
rounding country was being secured
in the hopes OF finding him. On one
occasion his sergeant came up to him
and asked him IL he had seen or
heard anything Of the missing man.
and he Of course replied that he had
not. but he would keep his eyes openl
For more than a fortnight he pre-
served his disguise without IL being
penetrated even by the police them
selves. and he then calmly left the
town when the hue and cry had sub
sided somewhat. Nevertheless. his
enterprise came to naught. for he
was arrested in trying to work his
passage back 70 Ireland.
Scarcely less audacious was the
ruse employed by another dissatis-
fed son Of Mars. and Ia this case,
likewise, il proved futile. He hap
pened TO know that a certain pub
lican IN the town was in anything but
afiiuent circumstances. for he visited
the house regularly, and from re-
marks dropped at odd times discov-
cred that the publican was heavily in
debt TO a Scotch spirit merchant.
One morning, as soon as the pub
lican opened his doors. the soldier ar
rived. after having first disguised
himself with beard and wig and
donned civilian attire. With him
came friend, who agreed to act as
. representative of the law. and he
promptly told the astonished pub
lican that he had orders TO leave a
man in possession unless the sum
owing TO the Scotch spirit merchant
was paid TO him there and then. The
publican, OF course, could not pay, so
the deserter was quartered upon him
and lived in his house and at his ex-
pense for more than a week before
The deception was discovered. Per-
laps the most successful deserter-
'or time-was William Conrad.
Through one Of his comrades he
heard OF man whose son had gone
o Australia gold mining, and had APP
disappeared, for nothing
more had been heard OF him. though
he parent still believed he would see
lin again. Conrad therefore hit upon
he ingenious idea Of leaving the
Irmy by stealth. and. going TO the
nan, informing him that he was the
Missing son. As his knowledge Of
australia was considerable, he lost
10 time in putting his plan into
xecution, and the parent. believing
n him despite the supposed altera-
ion in his appearance. provided him
With home and money galore,
commodity he confessed he lacked.
lut. unfortunately for him, at the
nd Of IS months the real son turned
p. and what followed can better be
than described.