MICHAEL SERINGUE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume 22, Issue 277, 22 May 1873, Page 3

MICHAEL SERINGUE.

The following account of the escape of Michael Seringue. the French communist from the transport ship Orne, which put into Hobson's Bay en route for New Caledonia, is from the pen of Marcus Clarke,- in the Melboumo •'Argus":— " The arrangements for the safekeeping of prisoners on board the Orne are alieady known. Seringue says that he was treated with great kindness. A strange notion, however, was in his head. He thought that any mvi 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 does not alFord evidence that he was not the "ferocious being" paintid by the polico aJJiJie, and his situation allowed him to remain a oit the ship till 9 p.m. On the eveum* of 2lcit April, ihe lighter Perthshire waa lying alonside, and at about G. 30 Soriugue, who was not without acvOuplices, though for obvious reasons I d> not mention their names, L>ofc over the sido of tho Orne, and — hanging in the port aubans — 'Waited until 7.30, when all was quiet, and then dropping into the collk-r lay concealed among the coals in not unnatural terror lest tie men below should discover him. All tho while the sentry on board the Orne was keeping guard with loaded chassepot above his head. At 9.30 he judged the hour for his last effort had arrived. Tying his pocket-book and papers in hia handkerchief to keep them dry, he lowered himself over the side of tho lighter and swam to the stern, where, happily, a boat was in tow. Cutting the rope with his knife, and hanging to tho 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 given, he loosed his hold of the boat and struck out in the-direction of the lights on the Sandridge shore. After swimming for three quarters of an hour, he espied a vessel, and, nearly exhausted, made for it. He caught the cable, and fastened himself to tt with his belt fearing lest he should faint, and rested there for nearly an hour. Tlavving secured before he started the allowance of brandy which had been given to him in his capacity of as-sistant-cook, he comforted himself with a dram, and started again for the shore about midnight. About half-an-hour's swim brought him aground, nearly opposite the sugar factories. 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 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 Sandridgo. Thf publiehouscg were not closed, and helping himself to brand r, he proffered a half-franc piecf. The landlord waa unwillinir to accept the strange coin, an' 1 , uunbleto explain, Michael — drippinsr like Neptune — flung the coin on the counter and departed. By-and-bye he found an empty shed, and. ahiveringly crawling in, slept until morning. At sunrise he went down i to tho beach, dried himself and then,

'having rested placidly until midday, walkod calmly along the road tv Melbourne. " A French gentleman, who had \ isited the Onie, was crossing the Falls* bridge at about 1 o'clock, when he was hailed. lie stopped. '[) > ,ou not remember? You spoke to mo vtdterday on board the Orne.' " Yes f But what do you do here? 'I? Oh, I am 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 belter say nothing, and follow me.' Seriuguo followed his adviser, ami was housed and fedHe slept for 18 hours, and on awaking declared himself not much the worse for his exploit. I am not an admirer of the Communists, but I confess that I sincerely hope tho poor devil has seen the last of his troubles, and will be declared by-and-bye to his uncle, the father of "the colonel, and to hia wife and child, who are liviug with that respectable gentleman." A subscription for Seringue has been. set on foot, and the '" Argus " announces its willingness to take charge of contributions.