THE ESCAPE OF ROCHEFORT.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1850, 27 June 1874, Page 3

THE ESCAPE OF ROCHEFORT.

We give the following farther details respecting the escape of Bochefort SPECULATIONS REGARDING- THE COMPLICITY OPTSE CALEDONIAN AUDHOHITIES. Begarding the way in which the escaped Communists managed to elude their keepers and the extent of the complicity of the authorities at New Caledonia our inform mt had not, of course, the opportunity for noting facts which he possessed in relation to the proceedings on board. He freely expresses his own opinion on the subject, but as it is a narration of what is testified to form observation we prefer to give such statements concerningmatters of fact as Follett is in a position to supply, leaving readers to draw their ownconclusions. He states that on the day preceding the departure of the ' P.C.E., the Governor of the Settlement gave the prisoners permission to go out in a boat, and that the Governor subsequently left Noumea for another part of the island, taking the gunboats on the station with him. In the meantime the barque sailed. The same night, however, the Governor returned to Noumea, when the prisoners must have been reported missing and the vessel they had gone in been suspected. But no steamer was sent in pursuit, although from the fact.that, as before stated, the barque was still within sight of the island, it is extremely probable she would have been overhauled. Although the vessel could not have been forcibly stopped, permission might have been asked to search her. Our informant states that he has since heard from a person who left New Caledouia subsequent to the departure of the' P.C.E.,' thac the idea of pursuit was abandoned by the authorities on the pretext the barque had too good a start. Another matter which seems unaccountable is the fact that the prisoners should have been on board from before midnight, and .the barque not sail until eight o'clock on the following mornin, and yet that they were not missed, or if missing, that 'no search was instituted. During the passage Hochefort stated that his escape had already cost him a {large sum of money, but he, of course, did not vouchsafe the most remote due as to who the recipients of his bounty were. These statements are just given as we have received them, and our readers must draw what deductions they ohoose on this subject, which is now being rigidly inquired into by a French General despatched to New • Caledonia for the purpose. It is at least certain that escape from the penal settlement has been deemed almost impossible ; and in reply to correspondence from the English Government on the subject when New Caledonia was ohosen as the place of banishment for Communist prisoaers, who were deemed a source of danger to the Australian colonies, the French Government maintained, the strength of the position—a boast which has assuredly not been borne out in the present instance. eoohefobt's Accorar of his teeatmeni.

During the passage from New Caledonia to Newcastle, which was a remarkably short one-only seven days—Rochefort exhibited great nervousness and fear of being recaptured. Whenever a vessel hove in sight all the Communists went below, lie was. very sick, and almost constantly drinking tea. He stated that he was very well treated on the island, having being allowed full liberty so long .as he duly reported himself eaoh night. He, with Groussett and Jourde, were kept confiued to the Peninsula, but were permitted to go out shooting, etc. The other three lived in Noumea, together with the majority of the Communists, who have full liberty and earn their livings at various occupations, being prohibited only frorq leaving the island They .'are not treated in qny way as ordinary convicts, DOUBTFUL STATEMENTS,! ' Several statements which Follett has made on the face of them appear vory 4oubtfml,au4tk93QiWQat oucadisctedjfc.

Among other things he says Itocheforfc fell overboard. The first account of this ' i occurrence given by him was that whea two or three days out the captain and he were struggling on deck, both intoxicated, and they tumbled over. The boat, he said, was being towed astern, and so they were saved. This he afterwards contradieted by saying that Eochefort never drank, and that he was sitting on the rail when he fell over; that the boat, was on deck, and was lowered at once, the captain (on deck) remarking that " It was a pretty fine thing passengers tumbling over in this way." A third version was that Rochofort. slipped overboard when first getting on to the vessel. Tho fourth version, that captain and mate ..foil overboard. It is quite clear that there is no foundation whatover for the statement about the captain or Rochefort falling overboard, 'the statement about the . Governor taking tlie gunboats away also" seems to be a mistake.

BE WARDS, FOB THE ' P.C E,' SERVICES.

Follett says the captain and owners of the 'P.O.E.' received £1,000 for their ' part in the mitter. He further says that tho crew were promised £10 a-pieco by Rochefort. About this ho also tells two stories. On the one hand stating that ho did not get hi* money, and again that ho went ashore with the captain, and following Rochefort up obtained it in French money, for which he only obtained £6 when exchanged. - CAPTAIN LAWS STATEMENT. The Captain of tho' P.C.E.' states with regard to Follett's account of the affair , that Follett was shipped at Noumea as 1 assistant'to the stewards That he had previously been locked' up in gaol .at.. Noumea for vagrancy. That the Governor of tho island was away from Noumea ten days previous to the escape, but arrived the day after the ' P.C.E.,' had left. He also says that there were two,-, gunboats and a frigate lying botwoen the shore and his vessel, and he cannot understand how the boat containing the six esoaping prisoners could h'ave passed the sentries at the Peninsula, where Eochefort and two of his companions were confiued, and have also got past the, gunboats and frigate uuless there was,; £ complicity on the part of the Preach, as' it was oustomary to challenge all- boats. Che story about himself, liochefort, or the mate falling overboard is without a shadow of foundation. He admits ~ being on shore the night previous to their departure, and thinks the mates were also; but says he was aboard by twelve o'clock. The sinking of a boat.with, a, grindstone he says is contradicted by 1 the fact that the boat was picked up next day. Upon this fast he referred us to Capt. Jackson, of the ' Olio.' How tho Communists got on board ho does not; say,! ' but adds that they first showed themselves on themselves on the following afternoon. The copy of the ! "Bow ' ' Bells" he says was not procured in Noumea, but was bought by his wife at Newcastle, and ; was not given to Follett to build a fire, but is now on the hulk 'Cautero'in this port. ! The men had escaped before they reached his vessel, and he does not consider, therefore, that he is responsible for the lacWs of the French authorities. He,, confirms Follett's statement regarding " their treatment on shore. He believes their intention was originally to go on to ;1, Sydney in the open boat, a journey which"' two convicts performed once before, and which, owing to the steady trade winds, is not attended with very great danger; but that they altered their intentionjin favour' of stowing away aboard the barque. ; One : of them first showed himself on the fol- , lowing afternoon; they then gave "false ' names, which were entered in the logbook, and are there still. He first no?'" ticed the resemblance between the portrait in " Bow B ills" and Eochefort, and showed it to the latter, who admitted hia identity, as stated by Follett. Groussett, who roads English fluently, at once translated the aocount of Rochefort contained in the number into French. The Communists, he says, only paid £5 each for their passages, and promised nothing to. the crew with the exception of a gratuity to the steward, which; Eochefort offered on account of his kindness to him duriug his sickness. The first timo the' full names of the passengers were givon was at the Custom-house, Newcastle, where they , entered their right names. He says . Rochefort was not the loast afraid of the approach of any French vessel, as lie in-' ; - formed the captain that, after the vessel' " was three miles from shore, they, being political prisoners, could not be taken off an English ship. The captain further ' adds that he wants Follett on a oharge of obtaining money on false pretences. He will not give us any information as to how the prisoners escaped or how they got aboard his ship. In reply to Dr Lang, who presented an address on vellum to liochefort in Sydney, Rochefort said ho could not stato now how he escaped, but it would yet be known. He vindicated to Captain Law the principles of Communism, particularly their olaim that the municipal government should be oleetive, but ' repudiated all respousibility for the ex-' cess committed, and said that the mob threw open the gaols, when the mis-' creants, who were beyond oontrol, shot 1 down their own officers, or anyone they met. Rochefort expressed great admiration for Gambetta, who, he said, would be the next President for the Frenoh Republic. CAPTAIN JAOKSON'S STATEMENT.

With, reference to the point oa which Captain Law referred us to Captain Juok* son, of tlio schooner ' Clio,' the finding of the boat by which the Communists,made their escape to the barque, Captain Jaok-.. son says that on the trip referred to., by\ Captain Law, he left Noumea two dayr' , previous to the 'P. 0.8,,' and does not!' know from personal observation anything'' that transpired immediately after ttie t3S-, r ; cape of iiochefort and his companions. He says, however, that the general opinion in Noumea when he w&9 last there .was that Gapt. Law kaew all about the [intended escape prior to its being carried , into effect. He merely gives this as the v substance of opinions communicated to' himself by persons resident at Noumea. . ' PtmTBE INTENTIONS OP BOOHBFOBT.

Ifcis stated by Follett that, from what he heard the Communists saying, ttooheforfc seemed disposed to proceed direct to Rngland, aud send from there to France , for his family and his brothers and sisters. ; From England he contemplates agitating , with the view of gathering together his,.l supporters, and he. will return to "La Belle France" as soon as ever he feels it safe to do so. It has since been stated by a Sydney paper that iiochefort contem*. plates settling in Switzerland, and not in England, in the meantime. 1 The movements of the refugees after their arrival, in Newcastle on the 27th' have already been reported.' liochefort,' Gfroussett, Jourde, and Pain left Sydney in the mail steamer 'Cyphrenes'on the 11th for , ian. , Francisco, and late telegrams have,- announced their arrival in Now lou.—Sta)'.