NOUMEA ESCAPEES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1086, 16 February 1883, Page 3

NOUMEA ESCAPEES.

On Christmas Dav throe hazard, I halt-starved men made their way 10 our respected sergeant of police (says the Bwndahery Reefer). They being foreigners, friendless, and hungry, was a snlliciont recommendation to ensure their entrance to the lock up, and a supply of Christmas cheer. From their prison garb and the little English they knew it was gathered that they had escaped from New Caledonia. In the evening Mr C. Z Uerthoau interviewed the men, and interpreted the fo 1 lowing particulars ; —One is an Italian, aged 37, who was undergoing a sentence of 15 years for robbery j 10 years of the sentence! already served. The other two are French, one a more boy, under a life sentence for murder. He will bo 20 years of ago in March ; has served two years of convict life. lie and another wore keeping company with a young girl. 'l’he. girl’s mother was generally in the way, and the three conspired to murder her. Thov carried out the foul deed, were all arrested, and each., sentenced to life imprisonment.‘ The Third prisoner is 4 1 years of age, and is undergoing a life sentence for murdering Jds wife, men Were laSnmiig" for a settler or. the coast of Noumea. They were in the-field-planting "maize and tending other products, 'I his settlor had not felt disposed to pay the prisoners the small amount to which they are entitled by leguhition He was a hard task master Seeing « small Oft. boat tied to a stake these | men determined to tiusl the frail , tiling to convey them to Sydney.. ! Flitting in a lew biscuits and some cornsacks for a sail, they stole the ! boat and laced the open billows.

; That was on (1m -till December. For . four day a they'lntel no waer, save sea,' with which they laved their burning mouths and Im Jici j _ then a heavy storm came on and they caught sweet water. Twice the boat capsized. On (lie 19th they struck the mainland of I Queensland between the Burnett and Kolan rivers. Here for four days they wandered about with no food except what the boucli pro ided. The boat split up to pieces in the surf, and on the 95th, the 21st day from Noumea (Christmas Day) they reached the lock-up. They wanted to go to Sydney. During the tedious 15 days and nights their sufl’ei ini's were unexplainable. The wind and current carried them to our coast —they know not how. They were emaciated in appearance, but a little feeding and creature comf.rts have built them up again. The men were subsequently taken before the police magistrate and remanded to Brisbane.