White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1929-10-18


OF course. not only had talked Of
elaborate plans for the supposed the
atrical events that was directing, but
also had the prisoners prepare a lot
Of bona-fide stage props, more even
than could be used. These were made
up by the rest OF the fellows who
were not In our plot. Most of the &C.
tual material needed for our escape
and subsequent raiding cruise had to
be fixed up stealthily by the boys who
were to make the dash for freedom
with me.
One midnight guard happened to
notice three of my men buslly at work.
One was painting large German flag.
Another was making red pistol hol-
ster. The third was sewing a sail out
Of bed sheets. We intended hosting
a sail on the motor boat in order to
conserve fuel If we had to cruise about
in that little boat for long time. The
guard reported what he had seen to
the commandant.
"Oh, It's all right" said Colonel Tur.
ner, "it's stuff for the theater."
But next day he came and qUes-
toned me:
"Look here, count, can understand
how you might need flag and pistol
holster for your show, but what about
the sail?"
"Oh, that's the curtainl" l replied.
OF all the people ! met In New Zea.
land, there was but one for whom ]
had a complete contempt He was
fellow named Hansen, German BY
birth and a naturalized New Zealand
er. In spite of his naturalization, he
had been interned. He happened to
notice that the motor expert, while
supposedly working on the engine Of
the Pearl. the coloneI's boat, had car
ried something suspicious aboard.
Anxious to curry favor with the COM
mandant. he reported that we were
acting suspfciously. The commandant
was contemptuous of rat like that
in the first place, and then he was
utterly infatuated with our theater.
He said that whatever we we're doing
could only be In preparation for our
show. Nevertheless, he tried to inves-
tigate, but found nothing to confirm
what the squealer had told him.
After weeks of hard labor. we were
ready. At night we cut the wires con.
Meeting the island with the mainland
and set barracks afire. That Gre
ated the diversion we needed. Every
body, guards and all Aocked to put
the blaze out. was among the fore
most, and attracted all attention to
myself | seemed to have passion
for fighting fires. My boys were with
me. When the excitement was al its
highest we stole away singly and
boarded the motor boat The engine
purred, and we were away In the dark
ness.
We were safe from pursuit for
while, anyway. There was no other
boat at the island, and Motuihi could
not communicate with the mainland.
1t was only when the wires were re-
paired or when the mainland was due
to get its next report that the chase
after us could begin. When our es-
cape did become known on the main
land on that night of December 10.
1917, every kind of craft available
went out to look for lis. Private own
ers took up scouting for US as sport.
Boats chased one another and shot at
one another. and one steamer went on
the rocks. Finally, false .rumor
spread that we had capsized and
drowned, and the weary pursuers were
glad to accept II as true and return
home.
We had our difficulties In finding our
way in the night through the HaurakI
gulf on which Auckland lies. but at an
hour or so past midnight we saw
sweeping shafts Of light The author
tiles at Auckland we're looking for US
with searchllght, ridiculous pro-
cedure, but one calculated to impress
the population. We steered by the
searchight beams now. and picked our
way along easily enough.
or course, 1t would take separate
volume to record all of the details of
our work Of preparation and our final
escape. am only giving you de-
scription of the high spots. But, by
the way, almost forgot to tell you
how we were dressed. We all had
New Zealand uniforms Mine was the
most interesting Of the LOT and pro-
vided material for Australian hunor-
lists and cartoonists for many weeks
Az the commander of man-o war,
even of twelvefoo wooden one. with
the unwarlike name OF Pearl. absO-
lutely had to have sword. One OF
my boys. just an hour before our as-
cape, slipped into the wardrobe of the
prison camp commandant. Not only
did he take Colonel Turner's best
dress uniform. but he also swlped his
sword and scabbard.
ITO BE CONTINUED)