—— eae 
and secrete them fora short time’ 
1809.] 
were out... Mr, Ligpibbott and Sherman 
furmed one company by themselves. 
They then drew lots to ascertain who 
should first venture out, and the order in 
which they should proceed. The prin- 
cipal immediate danger, to be appte- 
bended, was from the sentinels upon the 
top of the wall, who might not hap} en to 
be asleep upon their post. ‘Tie per- 
son wito drew the iirst chance to vo out, 
happened to be a prisoner who was un- 
well, and accordingly declined going, Mr. 
Lippine: tt, and Mv. Sherm Ally || avreed 
with him ‘to take his chance off his 
hands. Mr. Sherman having taken off 
his irons, first went out immediately Myr. 
Lippincott fullowed, add the rest pur- 
sued in their order; no noise was made, 
and the sentry remained undisturbed. 
Lippincott and Sherman crept round the 
walls of the town, until they came toa 
yiver, vn the other side of which was a 
smail village. After travelling up and 
down the shore of this-river, thev dis- 
Cov iis a canoe hauled upbefore the door 
Of 2. Spas tish hut: this with great difficulty 
they dragged into the river, netwithstand- 
ing they were molested by dogs, whose 
noise Was nearly thwarting their attempt. 
After 
landed neer a guard- -house, and were 
nearly falliag ito the hands of the guard ; 
Gwing to the darkness of the night, | how- 
ever, they avoided them, Here ‘they tra~ 
velled about in search of a place where 
‘they could be cencealed for the ensuing 
day, until being weak and fatigued with 
the difficulties they had encountered, 
their strength failed them,.and they sat, 
or rather fell down in the street. It was 
nearly day-hght, and they had but a short 
tine to provide for their safety, at length 
discoverihg a light, in a small hut at some 
distance, they approached it, they made 
themselves known to the poor tenants, 
&S prisoners in distress, and immediately 
olfered them two or three pieces of gold; .a 
they shook their heads, but upon dou- 
biing the sum they consented to receive, 
They 
emained in this situation until the next 
night, when they made their escape to 
another og where they remained 
secreted for several weeks, when they 
made aan move, trusting to their 
friend, which they carried in their poc- 
kets. 
The other sixteen prisoners took a 
course along the edge of the shore, except 
Noses Smith, who being damew hae un- 
well, and unable to proceed, concealed 
himself in the bushes, where he lay until 
the second night, during which time the 
dloxtuty Mas, No, 182, 
of part of General Miranda's Squadron. * 1 
eliecting this, es crossed ever,’ 
aS 
a 
eavalry and other soldiers passed by, and 
were near falling upon him in parsui¢ 
of the prisoners. ile crept oat, and taking 
the course that Mr. Lippincott and Sher- 
man had taken, crossed the river, where 
he again concealed himself antilthe ensue 
ing night, being two days without eating. 
The next day he came across 4 friend who 
informed him where he could find Mr, 
Lippincott and Sherman; they received 
him in with them and afforded him their 
assistance. Shortly afterwards all three, 
Mr. Lippincott, Sherman, and Smith, eme 
barked on board of a hoat, that they pros 
cured for that purpose, and put to sea 
Int expectation ot being picked up by some 
English vessel off the ‘harboar, This ex- 
pectation was realized, tho’ not by enkng= - 
lish vessel, and after a voyage of 31 days, 
they arriv ed safe in the United States in 
January 1869, when they proceeded to 
their homes at Philadelphia and Neéw- 
York, having been absent more than two 
years, @ and nearly two years in prison, 
The other fitteen prisoners pursued the 
edge of the shore for about ten miles, | 
when their progress was intercepted by a 
river, or ferry: in pursuing this river up 
and down, in order to cross, they hap- 
pened all to meet at an old Spaniard’s 
house, for the purpose of procuring means 
te cross over. ‘The eel immediately 
knew who they were, and began to ask _ 
them some en and offered his ser= 
vices to assist them, which they gladly ac- 
cepted. He engaged with them, that upon 
their giving him what money they had, he 
oak conceal them that meht,: and the 
next ensuing night woald carry es to 
the Indian Territory, about 40 miles froma 
Carthagena, where they might easily make 
theirescape. This agreement they con- 
cluded, and paid him what money they 
had, being in the whole about Sv dollars, 
The nest day the Spaniard was informed 
thut the governor had offered ten dollars - 
ahead for then. This reward he found. 
would arsount to more than he had re. 
ceived from the prisoners ; accordingly, he 
went and most treacherously made an 
agrcement with the government to give 
themup. The next night, towards even- 
ing, he, together with oe or three other - 
Spaniards, “wok the prisoners on board of 
a boat to carry them to the place agreed 
upon. After passing along by the town, 
he rowed them to the shore, under some 
pretence or other, when immediately ap- 
peared about 50 armed soldiers and horse-~ 
men, according ‘to appointment, ready 
to receive them, and instantly took them 
into eastody, and carried them back to 
their prison. 
R ae 
