The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-20

@ Blinded by the glare Of The sun
q and half crazed from exposure,
one of Guerin's companions fell over
board and nearly upset the canoe. The
man was instantly eaten by one Of the
sharks that lowered around them, and
Guerin narrowly escaped the same
fate by ciambering back into the boat.
the express company's- employees covered
With couple of revolvers. Guerin helped
himself to $4,000 which was living within
reach in an open safe, and then the two
thieves coolly walked out the door.
Guerin was caught and convicted Of the
express company robbery, and sentenced to
fourteen years Imprisonment in the French
penal colony on Devils Island off the coast
of South America This is the place where
Captain Dreyfus, the French army officer.
was imprisoned, and it has been the boast
of the French police that nobody can es-
cape from Devils Island.
Guerin had served four years of his sen.
tence before he succeeded in maturing a
plan for escape. He had the friendship of
notorious woman known as Chicago
May" who collected fund in New York's
underworld. and managed to get the money
into Guerin's hands on Devils Island. BY
the judicious use Of this money Guerin
arranged for the escape OF himself and two
other prisoners. French convicts. whom he
decided would be helpful to him in the
journey through the swamps and wilder
nesses after they left lie penal colony.
The prison officials who had been
reached by Guerin's fund arranged to have
him and his fellow convicts sent under
guard to the outermost part of the Island.
which Is dense swamp, full OF malaria
and poisonous snakes and insects The
next day the guards, who had been we'll
paid buried n dead convict in the prison
cemetery, and over the grave they set up
headhoard bearing the name Eddie
Guertn." This was to complete the rec.
ords Of the prison, and duly certified copy
OF the prison record, telling OF Guerins
death and burial, was forwarded to France
This much accomplished, Guern and his
two companions were allowed to get away
from the guards and they were soon lost
in the swamp. They were allowed to carry
some tools, water and provisions While
the guards made feeble and perfunctory
search in the swamps, the three convicts
set to work busily completing n boat and
paddles. When these were finished they
loaded the boat with their food supplies
launched 1t and headed along the South
American coast for Dutch Guiana. the three
men padding and sleeping by turns.
have heard Guerin's own account OF
his escape, and l will repeat 1t just as he
told it.
Guerin was armed with revolver and
cartridges, fortunately, as otherwise all
MS planning would nave been In vain.
After day or two in the boat he noticed
that his two companions were growing
very chummy They were astonishingly
willing to do the padding and let him
sleep.
So one night Guerin feigned to be asleep
but kept an eye and both ears open. Pres
emily h" heard his companions talking to-
gother in Spanish, which they had no rea-
son to believe he understood
Tne men whom ha had bolpod nut ~
prison had made ups their minds that he
had lot of money left. They were con-
spring to slit his throat as he slept, rob
his body and feed him to the sharks The
men lost no time in putting the enterprise
into operation. But as they crept upon
him. knives in hand. they found thems elves
looking into the muzzle OF his revolver.
For three days and nights" Guerin has
told, II could hardly lower the muzzle OF