The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-17

You want to know how I escaped from Elmirny said Mfr. Surratt in re- sponse to my query. Well, there is not much to tell. All the facts came out on the trial and are. I think. in the main, accurate
 Did ycu have much dificulty in set ting awayT
 anxiety. It was not known at the time, Is not known now. so am sure 1t will never be known, what great number of people there were in the North who eith- CT secretly or openig congratulated with the Confederncy. Long before the flight from Ellnira had discovered this and knew pretty well where to find friends.
 while acting aa an agent for the Con- federacy had no trouble in travelling through the North wherever and when ever pleased. The greatest drawback to my flight was want of means; this in It. self should convince anyone that I was in no way prepared for the tragedy en- acted in washington on the very day was in Elnlira.'
 Did you not have a companion in your flight from EImira to Canadaf'.
 Yes, for a part of the distance. The man has not been identified, and all I know about him is that he was as poor as myself. It matters not where I met him. hus we reached Nit. Albans. Vt, together and walked to Franklin, on the other sids of the line.
 Once in Canada succeeded in get ting funds; how, it is not necessary to describe. but you may remember that the Coneederacy had its agents in that coun- try with plenty of money.
 " 'It has been charged against me that knew my mother was in serious danger and that by returning to Washington I might have saved her. This I most sol- emniy deny. Knowing that she was en- tirely innocent of any connection with the so-cailed conspiracy. though her sym pathy was undeniably with the Confed- eracy I could not Imagine that she, was in any danger.
 e I did not then dream of the intense bitterness and prejudice that were man. ffest at her trial, and felt sure that if she were tried she would be acquitted, When did hear of iier sentence, be- came almost insane, and would have gone tO Washington at once if my friends in Montreal had not restrained me.
 As would have laid down my life to save my mother. and do not think l am q coward. it is cruelty unjust to intimate that the fear of death kept me away.
 What induced you to fly to England?'
 T felt that had to move | knew that the American detectives were swarm ing into Canada and I could not long re- main secreted. IL would have been sheer madness to retain my name, so changed it, as you know, and took passage for England.
 Tt has been said that on the voyage became drunk and virtually gave my self away. Indeed, evidence to this effect was adduced at the trial, However, as am man of ordinary shrewdness and was not then. nor am 1 now, addicted to the use Of liquor, you can see that there is no truth n that.
 By the advice of friends I met in England I was induced to go to Rome, and, as I had no money and the position promised me protection, l, enlisted in the Papai Zouaves. Being unable to speak the language, soon became a marked man.
 Rome was crowded then. as now, with travellers from all over the world, and you may well imagine my awful anxiety when I was in the Papal army. stiii. although continually anxious. was wholly unprepared for my arrest when it cAmes
 when I was being taken from the barracks. with my mind in a whirl, for I felt that the end had come, I was psimed with an awful impulse to fly, and broke away from my guards. How suc- ceeaed in eIuding them cannot tell, for all the incidents connected with my get ting away are blank, but know I sue- ceedea ln reaching Naples where my sensea began to return.
 :. .Af Naples succeeded in shipping aboard q fshing sioop bound for Messina. From MesslBa I succeeded in reaching 1 lAlaxanarsa. My purpose wass after reach- | inc Cairo, 10 make my way % upper ETypf. where I would bs away from eiviiiastion and the country felt had left forever.
 But to nty great disappointment, Mr. Fale. tha American Consul at Cairo. was aa ths lookaut for me. and ! was again arfssfsd soon after ny arrival. You know