AN INTERVIEW WITH M. CURY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 859, 17 August 1888, Page 33

AN INTERVIEW WITH M. CURY.

(BY OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.) As soon as I learned that Cury, the Freucfc escapee from New Caledonia, was released from custody la9t Friday, I was determined to have a quiet chat with him over his adventures. X found him looking a far different man to when X saw him a week or two ago at his first examination at Government House. Then he looked _ liked a hunted hare at bay. Now he walks, looks, and talks like a man who has something to live for. Last Friday he was dressed m a dark grey tweed suit. He has shaved off his beard, and his greyish moustaohe was carefully trimmed. Had he any objection to an interview ? “ Certainly not,’" said Cury, “My story is a long one, and would till a great many columns of your paper, and—oh!—very well, I will give you at present a short resumd. Well, to start, I was born at Laon, m the Department of Aisne, in France. My people were well to do. I was taught the trade of a wine merchant. In time I became a wine merchant in Paris, where I did a large trade, both wholesale arid retail. My wines were well known over a large district. 1 married and had two daughters. Well,.you see,when after war began and when Pans was besieged, I lost a good deal of my business. I was an intimate friend of Rochefort, Pascal, and others who took a prominent part in the Commune which followed the war, I was always a Republican, and I threw in my lot with the Red Flag Party. I held a position undtr them. I was Secretary of the Finance Department for furnishing the Army of the Commune. 1 used my money freely. When order wa3 restored I was forced into bankruptcy—because I had lost my trade. I had spent my money with the Commune. I was helpless. I could not pay my creditors. A great personal friend of mine was M. Eser* geret. He was my chief during Commune. He was afterward .Minister of_ War. and a lot of other things. Another fuend of mine was M. Goulerd, French Ambassador in Brussels. When I became bankrupt I went to him and stayed in Brussels for a long time. It was not until 1879 that the Frenoh authorities arreßted rue on the charge of fraudulent bankruptcy and escaping from mv creditors. That is the official charge they made against me when I returned to Paris to see my family. But that was only a pretext; - The real cause of my arrest was that the Government wished to punish me far the part I took in the Commune. Ah, they, could not do that legally after the lapse of seven years since the Commune. No, but they punished me as a bankrupt. I was sentenced to ten years’ hard labour.. Yes, it was a terrible blow. The .shock to my dear wife was so great that it broke her heart, and she died while I was in prison. Alas ! X was far away from her in her dying moments. Oh, the grief of it _ } ‘ J was not badly treated myself m New Caledonia. Being a. man of education they made me a clerk in the military department. The food ? Ob, yes ; that was poor enough. At 5 aim. we got coffee made with very nasty water ; at 10 a.m. we got 250 grammes of cooked meat and 750 grammes of bread—that is, we ongbt to have got that quantity, but it was geperally only 600 grammes and we got a little soup ; at 5 p.m. we got our last meal, of rice, haricot beans, and coffee. That is all. Oh, yes; we got plenty of tobacco.- The prisonerßare divided into classes. I was in the fifth class. The first and secondclass men got some thin, poor wine daily, but I dlcl not get any. The first and second class also had wages paid them, abont 3s 6d per month, to buy delicacies with. Our dress was white twill with straw hats. Oh, yes, very, good and suitable clothes. Qtir hours of labour were eight per day. Well yes, the convicts as a rule in New Caledonia are treated very badly. They are worked very hard, and the officers over them are very strict. They treat them as so many beasts of burden. The first-class men only are allowed to marry ; the French Government send out female oouviots of the best class to marry them. Yes, I failed for about £50,000. My losses I attribute to the Commune. You see I threw myself into the political strife. I paid too much attention to politics and neglected my business. You see, like others, I was disgusted with the reign of the Monarchists ; I wanted to see a Republic established. I know now that the Commune was too radical. But I was always an advanced Republican. Ah, if I had 'been sent back-to New Caledonia" I should have been imprisoned for the rest of my life. I tried to escape three times, and was caught and severely punished, but the fourth time I got away. You see, I have two daughters in I’aris; one of-them is 22, and the other 20 years of age. They are living with relatives. But I wanted so much to see my dear children I was tempted to strike for liberty. My anguish was j, great while I .was in prison, but 1 was comforted in knowing that ' I was not a criminal. I was. a political offender.’ I hear that application is to be made to the Government of this Colony for assistance to me. Well, lam very sensitive ; X do not like to ask for it. I would rather it came unasked: - Yes, I "am. helpless. - I am without money, clothes, or friends. ' I am willing to stay' in New .Zealand and, work for my living. I did not like • Gasparini ; he is a criminal. I separated from him .as soon as I reached this Colony. Oh Imy onlyfwisb is to see my dear children. I would not mind bow hard ' I worked 'if • I' s c'ould again clasp them in my-arms.' v Yes ; I was glad'to get my liberty'to-day. When I first heard of the news I said to myself, “Oh ! now is a great load lifted off my heart.” : I could not help, it: I burst, into tears. . X thought of ■ ;the'iong dreary years in New Caledonia ;/Ithought, of my wife’s broken heart and my dear children, and how hard it : -was to be punished for my political creed !. An fovoir !