NOUMEAN ESCAPEES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1069, 13 February 1883, Page 1

NOUMEAN ESCAPEES.

On Christmas Day tlireehaggard, halfstarved men -made their way to our respected sergeant of police (says the Kundaberg Beferrer). being foreigners, friendless, and hungry, was sufficient recommendation to ensure their entrance to the lock-up, and a supply of Christmas cheer. From thruprison garb, and the little English they knew, it was gathered that they had escaped from New Caledonia. In the evening Mi C. Z. Bertheau inte.riewei the men, and interpreted the following particulars :—One is an Italian, aged 37, who was undergoing a sentence of 15 years for robbery ; 10 years of the sentence already served. The other two are French, one a mere boy, under a life sentence for murder. He will be 20 years of age in March ; has served two years of convict life. He and another were keeping company with a young girl. The girl's mother was generally in the way, and the three conspired to murder her. They carried out the foul deed, were all arrested, and each sentenced to life imprisonment. The third prisoner is 41 years of age, and is undergoing a life sentence for murdering his wife. Thesa three men were laboring lor a settler on the coast of Noumea. They were in the field planting maize and tending other products. This .cottier had not felt disposed to pay the prisoners the small amount to which they are entitled by regulation. He was a hard task master, freeing a small 9- '

feet boat tied to a stake these men determined to trust the frail thing to convey them to Sydney. Putting in a few biscuits, and some cornsaoks for a sail, they stole the boat and faced the ocean billows. That was on the 14th December. For four days they had no water, save sea. with which they laved their burning mouths and bodies ; then a heavy Btorm came on and they caught sweet water. Twice the bont capsized. On the 19th they struck the mainland of Queensland between the Btunnet and Kolan rivers. Here for four days they wandered about with no food except what the beach provided. The boat split up to pieces in the surf, and on the 25th, the twenty-first day from Noumea (Christmns Da)'), they reached the lock-up. They wanted to go to Sydney. During the tedious fifteen days and nights their sufferings were unexplainable. The wind and current carried them to our coast—thpy knew not how. They were emaciated; in appearance, but a little feeding and creature comforts have buili them up again. The men were subsequently taken before the police magistrate and remauded to Brisbane.