SIR JOHN WALTERS' ESCAPE.

Inangahua Times, Volume IX, Issue 1458, 17 October 1884, Page 2

SIR JOHN WALTERS' ESCAPE.

» This distinguished man in the Peninsular War was the most admirable spy ever attached to an army. He could assume the character of every degree aud station, so as to deceive the most acute. He gave the most reliable and valuable io formation to

Lord Wellington, and on one occasion he was inti listed by his Lordship with a very particular ltussiou, which he undertook efleetuallyHo perform, and to return on a particular day wit,) the information required. Just 'after leaving the camp, uowever. he was taken prisoner; before he had time to exchange his uniform, a troop of dragoons intercepted, uud carried iiituoi.; aud the commanding officer d> sired two soldiers to keep a strict watch over him and carry him to headquarters. He was, of course disarmed, and being placed on a horse, wast ' galloped off by his guards. . Ha slept one nigiit in the kitchen of a small inn ; conversation flowed on very glibly, and as he appeared a stupid Englishman, whocould not understand a word of French or Spanish, -he was allowed to listen, and thus obtained precisely the iutellige.uce he vfas in search of. The following morning, being again mounted, he overheard "a conversation between his guards, who deliberately agreed to rob nim and s:ioi)t him at tne mill where they were to stop, and to report to their o;fi.*-r i. .at th.y hud beeu compelled to fie at nin in consequence of uiin attempt to ■.scape. Shortly before their a: rival at tho mill, the dragoons took from thair | prisoner his \v«,„h and his parse, lest, they might meet with some one wiio would insist on having a portion of tha spoil. On reaching tiie mill, they dismounted, a.id to give appearance of tiie truth to oheir story, tiiey went into the house, leaving their prisoner outside, iv the hope that he would make some attempt to escape. In an instant Walters threw his cloak upon a neighbouring olive bush, and mounted his cocked hat on the top. Some i empty flour sacks lay upon the ground, and a ho; so laden with well filled flour - sacks stood at the door. Sir John contrived to enter one of the empty _ack3 and throw himself across the horse. Wheu the soldiers came out ofthe 1 house, they fired their carbines at the supposed prisoner," and galloped off. A short time after the- miller cameout and mounted his steed. W_.ter» contrived to nd himself of the encumbrance of the sack, and sat ,np bebiud the man, who, suddenly turning round j saw a ghost, as he believed, for the j flour that still remainded in the sack j had whitened his feilmv traveller and j given him a ghostly appearance. A push sent the frightened miller to thegronnu, when away rode Walter* with his sacks of flour, which at length : but sling made ludicrous spectacle of J man and horse. On reaching the | English camp, were- Lyrd Wellington i was auxiousiy deploring his fa;,., a J sudden shout from the soldiers made J his Lordship tur;i rou*-d, when a li,' n'e i lesembliug tlie statue ia Don Juan j galloped up to him. Wellington j affectionately shaking him by tiie naad I said, ' Walters, you never y_tdee»ived me ; and though you have come iv a most questionable shape, I must congratulate you and myself.' — Taken from English Ecceutricities, by Jolm Timbs. — ■—^_w_» __a__>____>_Ha