MICHEL SERINGUE.

Southland Times, Issue 1738, 9 May 1873, Page 1 (Supplement)

MICHEL SERINGUE.

• The following account of the escape of Michel Seringue, the French communist, from the transport ship Orne, which put into Hohson's Bay en route for New Caledonia, is from the pen of Marcus Clarke, in the Melbourne Argus : — "The arrangements for the safe-keeping of prisoners on board the Orne are alreadyknown. Seringue says that he was treated with great kindness. A strange notion, however, was in his head. He thought that any man who " touched English soil" was at that moment free, and when the vessel reached Melbourne, determined to escape. He occupied on board the position of assistant cook — a position, by the way, which seems to afford evidence that he was not the " ferocious being" painted by the police affiche and this situation allowed him to remain about the ship until 9 p.m. On the evening of 21st April, the lighter Perthshire was lying alongside, and at about 630 Seringue, who was not without accomplices, though for obvious reasons I do not mention their names, got over the side of the Orne, and — hanging in the portaubans — waited until 7.30, when all was quiet, and then dropping into the collier lay concealed among the coals, in not unnatural terror lest the n»en below should discover him. All the while the sentry on board the Orne was keeping guard with loaded cbassepdt above his head. At he judged that the hour for his last effort had arrived. Tying his pocket-book and papers in his handkerchief to keep them dry, be lowered himself over the side of the lighter and swam to the stern, where, happily, a boat was in tow. Cutting the rope with bis knife, and hanging to the portion of the rope that remained, he gently propelled the boat from the side of the lighter with his feet and allowed himself to drift into the bay. The night was dark, there was no moon, and it rained. When about 300 yards from the vessel he heard a cry, and thinking the alarm had been gives, he loosed his hold of the boat and struck out in the direction of the lights on the Sandridge shore. I After swimming for about three-quarters of an hour, he espied a vessel, and, nearly exhausted, made for it. He caught the cable, and fastening himself to it with his belt, fearing lest he Bhould faint, rested there for nearly an hour. Having secured before he started the allowance of brandy which had been given to him in | his capacity of assistant-cook, he comforted himstlf with a dram, and started again for the shore at about midnight. About half-an •hour's swim brought him aground, nearly opposite the sugar factory. Wading ashore, waist-deep in water, he met some fishermen, and — firmly believing in his notion that he was now free — he accosted them, and endeavored to explain who and what he was. Whether they understood him or not is uncertain, but with rough and kindly laughter they shook his hands, and pointed towards the town. He went on, still firm in his belief that he was a free man, and entered Sandridge. The publichouses were not closed, and helping himself to brandy, he proffered a half-franc piece. , The landlord was unwilling to accept the strange coin, and, unable to explain, Michel — dripping like Neptune — flung the coin on the counter and departed. By-and-bye he found an empty shed, and shiveringly crawling in slept until morning. At sunrise he went down to the beach, dried himself, and then, having rested placidly until midday, walked calmly along the road to Melbourne. •' A French gentleman, who had visited the Orne, was crossing the Falls-bridge at about 1 o'clock, wben he was hailed. He stopped. 'Do you not remember me? Y#u spoke to me yesterday on board the Orne.' ' Yes ! But what do you do here ?' 'I ? Ob, lam free !' was the reply, 'I am on English ground ! ' * Are you indeed ! ' cried the Frenchman, who had — like M. Taine — studied much the customs of Albion, ' you had better say nothing, and follow me.' Seringue followed his adviser, and was housed and fed. He slept for 18 hours, and on awaking, declared himself not much the worse for bis exploit. lam not an ad mirer of the Communists, but I confess that I sincerely hope the poor devil has seen the laßt of his troubles, and will be restored by-and-bye to his uncle, the. father of the colonel, and .to his wife and child, who are living with that respectable gentleman."