THE WAY OF ESCAPE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12772, 25 May 1912, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE WAY OF ESCAPE.

THRILLING PRISON STORY.

Mr Michalo Juvanovitch, : the former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mon^ tenegro, who has just arrived m Gon« stantinople, narrates a thrilling experience.

In October, 1907, he and about 20 of his colleagues 'were condemned m Montenegro to 15 years' imprisonment with hard labor for having conspired against the dynasty of King Nicholas I. '■'■• DIGGING A WAY OUT.

AU the time oi their detention ) the prisoners had to wear heavy chains on their feet. The chains of Juvanovitch weighed : 111 b. About 10 months ago they conceived a plan to escape .from the fortress. It consisted m digging a subterranean passage. It was an ex-tremely-hazardous undertaking, full of difficulties and perils. It was crowned, however, with complete success, owing solely to the courage and perseveranca of Juvanovitch.

Ho and Radovitch, who were confined m one cell, feigned serious illness. Their chains Were consequently removed. Dur» ing night time they began digging the passage* The accumulated earth they succeeded m disposing of > little by -little, down the drain. For over six months the work; went on quietly and assiduously without, any interruption. One of the.^ warders, , -however, noticed that the attitude of the two statesmen was not that of persons stricken with illness. He reported his suspicion to the medical attendant. For a while it seemed, that the prisoners' cause was lost. Juvanovitch, however, continued to play his role with such admirable skill that the suspicions of the ! warder arid doctor were soon completely dispelled. FREEDOM AT LAST. ' ' The digging of the subterranean passage went on for another - two months. The intrepid couple intended also that it should communicate with the other colls where the /rest of their colleagues were incarcerated. These, too, contributed their own share of the work of digging. During the daytime the tiolea were covered by the mattresses, which served the prisoners as beds. . ' ' On the night of the flight they communicated with one another by a certain sign. There was no practical difficulty now m the way of their escape, as'the whole fortress was. plunged m complete darkness arid silence. One^>f the prisoners succumbed. All the others slipped away after having buried him and freed thejr legs from the fetters; The feet of Juvanovitch show terrible wotinds from the chains he bad worn for over four. years.