AN ESCAPED CONVICT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9369, 11 February 1909, Page 6

AN ESCAPED CONVICT.

TERRIBLE PRIVATIONS. A thrilling story of dangers and privations is contained in the adventures of an escaped convict named Hyaointhe Bartnelemy, who has just surrendered himself to the French police. Hyaointhe [escaped, from the convict settlement at Guiana, where he had been sent as the result of a conviction for burglary. Five other prisoners escaped with him, and, having seized a boat from some natives, the band endeavoured to reach Venezuelan territory. The journey was a dangerous one, partly by river and partly through a trackless forest; and before Oaracas was reached the fugitives had dwindled to two. One had been devoured by a puma, another fell a prey to a crocodile on the banks of the Orinoco, [and were crushed to death by pythons. When Barthelemy and his oomnanion reached the Venezuelan capital thfe authorities threatened to shoot them, and again they had to flee. They escaped into a wild region, where Barthelemy’s companion fell into the hands of cannibals and was killed and eaten. Barthelemy at length managed to reach the sea coast, and to obtain a passage to Bordeaux, whence the made his way to Paris, hoping to find his mother and sisters. These, however, had disappeared, and, wanting the bare necessities of foodt and shelter, Barthelemy, imdespair, gave himself up to the authorities.