The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-07-24
B0ER PRISONERS ESCAPE
Arrives at New York City From Ber-
muda as a Stowaway.
HIS RUSE TO ELUDE THE GUARDS

Swims Three Miles, With q Head Cover
Ing of Small Bushes. Under the Search.
lights of Two British Cruisers-How a
Plot to Seizo a Transport Thrice
Failed-Adventures OF the Boer Soldier
New York City.-David Stephen du
Plooy. a young Boer soldier, who
served under Cronje, and then was
prisoner of war. arrived here a stow.
away on the steamship Trinidad from
Bermuda. Du Plooy is six feet two
inches tall. He Is twenty-four years
old. He speaks some English. He
was born in Klerksdorf. in the Or;
ange Free State, CT French mother
by a German father. He tells
straight story. which cross-questioning
fails to shake, of his battles with the
British on the side of the Beers, bis
capture, his transportation to the pri-
son colony on Darrell's Island, In the
Bermudas, and his escape from that
place by clever ruse.
"My home in South Africa" said du
Plooy, when the war broke out was
about three miles from KlerksGorp, in
the Potchefstroom District. I had a
job as Second Assistant in the Post
Office at Klerksdorp. I didn't get away
with the first contingent. but did with
the second, my mother accompanying
me. had been gone only few days
when I was taken sick, and had to re-
turn home, where remained one day,
and then set out again for the front.
On the way my horse broke down and
I made the rest Of the journey on
foot. / arrived in time to take part
in the operations around Mafeking.
and was later one Of those surrendered
by Cronje at Modder River.
II was first sent to a prison camp
at Slmonstown, where contracted the
rheumatism, with the result that was
one of those left behind when the
command was sent to st. Helena. Next
I was detained at Greenpoint, from
which place, together with nine hun
dred other Boer prisoners, I was
placed aboard the British transport
Armenian and brought to Bermuda.
ION the way to Bermuda we organ
lied three different times to take the
vessel from the British. with the in
tention Of sailing away to some friend
ly land. The first time was just out of
st. Helena. We then intended to
make our way to the African coast.
This attempt was given up owing to
the fact that we didn't get ready in
time. The second attempt was to have
been made off st. Vincent, Cape Verde
Islands Here, two Of our leaders were
taken sick, and once more the scheme
fell through. The last attempt was to
have been made when we were two
days from Bermuda. This time there
was a traitor on board, and the Eng
lish were acquainted with our plans.
I'm Bermuda we were placed on
Darrells Island, from which place I
made my escape. I escaped by cover
ing my head with lot Of grass re-
sembling sea weed, so that when I
passed under the searchlights Of the
warships in the harbor those on board
would be deceived. l was three hours
in the water. My clothes I carried in
q bag, and this did much to keep me
above water. am not swimmer,
and had it not been for the assistance
Of the bag don't know what the end
would have been.
when 1 made the opposite shore
finally I went to where the Trinidad
was moored and walked on board, and
going to the coal bunkers. hid away. I
had only six raw eggs. four Of which
I ate while in the bunkers. I remained
hid away until Monday. was then so
weak that 1 was reckless. I heard
some of the stokers talking German,
and that gave me courage, for 1
thought they would be my friends. So
I made myself known, and they al
lowed me to sleep in bunk that night.
They also offered me food. but I was
unable to eat. The captain was told
Of my presence just before we arrived
here, and I will say that he was as
kind as he could be to me. He, with
the men, gave me these clothes, be-
sides doing other kind acts to help me
out. The Captain said he would be
obliged to hand me over to the United
States authorities as stowaway. That
Is how I came to be here. 1 hope the
Americans will not allow me to be
sent back to the British prisoner"
The Governor of Bermuda cabled to
the agents of the steamship line here
before the Trinidad's arrival, telling
them that "prisoner number 1749" had
escaped and was supposed to be on
board the Trinidad aud asking that he
be detained If possible"