Peterson's Escape.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 9906, 31 October 1900, Page 8

Peterson's Escape.

A Capital Account.

Recommended for the D.S.M.

"TataramoV a correspondent at the front .writing to the Wuipaw* Mail, gives the following account of Trooper Peterson's escape from Nooitgedaeht :—

Shortly after our imprisonment we met several Australian members of the Border Horse, who showed us a tunnel they were making, with a view of escaping;. Their tent was near the fence, and consisted of a square hole dug in the ground and roofed with a couple of old bankets sewn together. The tunnel started from the end nearest the fence and they had' got to the far end of it just beyond the outside fence when we §rst saw it. The ground was very hard and they only had ahold pick and a shovel to work with. They worked in turns during the day, and at night carried the spare eariti away in sacks and boxes, and sprinkled it about the camp. A sentry was always walking up and down just outside the fence, so one had ro work very cautiously. One always sat in the tent watching the sentry through a hole in the blanket root, and holding in his hand a striDg which was lastened to the man working in the tunnel, signalling to. him by a certain number of jerks to stop work when the senlry approached the spot, and to start again when he had passed. The Australians allowed several of our fellows to join them in the work, and to find the money for the purchase of extras to keep their strength up, and to take on the road with them. On the 12th of July, a forinight later, the tunnel was about twenty yards beyond the fence and it was decided to make the attempt that night. The night turned out very badly for the purpose, but having made up their minds to try that night they determined to risk it. A strong wind during the day had turned some of the reflectors ot the electric lights round and one was facing the tunnel outlet, in addition to which a large grass fire wa9 burning on a hill overlooking the prison, and made the place almost as light as day. To make matters worse, by the time the fite had burnt out the moon had risen. However, the first to emerge from the tunnel crawled away safely, also the second. The third was Trooper Andrew Peterson, of Napier who albo got away safely, but; the forth man who, burdened with an overcoat, and a lot of provisions, made such a noise that the sentry heard him, and walking up to see what it was crawling on the ground, put his hands on him and took him in charge, finally looking him up for the night in a railway van which was kept near the fence. The remainder of our having meanwhile hurriedly blocked the mouth of the tunnel with a box of earth prepared for the purpose, the Boers did not find the tunnel that night though they did next day. The first man to get out had no provisions, having entrusted them to his mate, the man who was caught. So next day, feeling hungry, he went to a house to try and get some bread, and was promptly arrested, brought back, and lodged in the truck. The second to get out had provisions, and as nothing more has been heard of him we hope he got througti safely. Pe'enon also took with him several tins of fish and preserved milk, in addition to a number of scones. As day after day wore on and he was not brought back, we began to think he might safe. We have since, heard that he reached the lines, but not before he had b u en wounded several times, first by the Boers near Machadodorp, aud then by a British outpost which he rode into one night, the horse he was riding also being shot. Furthermore, it is stated that lie has been recommended for the D.S.M. (Distinguished Service Medal) in consequence of the valuable infoimation he imparted regarding the Boer positions around Maehadodorp. He certainly deserves it. About a fortnight or so after his escape the Boer sentries told us of a man in kharki, who had been seen galloping about in their hues near Maehadtdorp. The Boers, our informant told us, were running ar"U d calling out " (<aki, kaki,'' and getting their riflcf and blazing away fioni all directions, but the man ultim--lely escaped. So we, knowing what a young dare-devil Peterson was, c>me to the conclusion that if might have bp.en him on a commandeered, horde.