Gun running for Casement in the Easter rebellion, 1916Spindler, Karl
History
Gun running for Casement in the Easter rebellion, 1916
Spindler, Karl
Casement, Roger, 1864-1916; Ireland -- History -- Easter Rising, 1916
The Irishman was a good fellow, as became apparent afterwards, so I
plucked up courage and asked him to sell some valuables for me, which I
still possessed. He did this, and he also brought me a sum of money
which one of my mates had handed to him for me. I was now the lucky
possessor of some pounds sterling. All I wanted now was a suit of
civilian clothes, and some one to open my cell door. My Irish friend,
after some hesitation, promised to help me. It was his turn on guard the
next night but one, when he would bring me the necessary clothes and
help me to escape. He explained to me also how he proposed to divert
suspicion from himself. His scheme was not a bad one, and I looked
forward to his coming as a child waits for Santa Claus.
But again Fate willed otherwise. Next morning an escort came into my
cell to take me to ----; they did not know or would not say where. Late
that evening I arrived back in camp. Some of the bank-notes I fastened
by means of sticking-plaster to the bare soles of my feet; the others I
made into a thin roll, which I soiled and then hid under my
straight-combed hair. I had often tried this method, and it succeeded
again this time. After two years' experience as a prisoner of war, I
knew the ropes.
When I arrived at the camp I had to go to the orderly room, where the
whole staff was assembled. There I had to undress and was thoroughly
searched. As I had to stand on my feet for this operation no one dreamt
that my hoard was concealed under them. Feeling that I was safe once
more, I could not overcome an impulse to have a little joke at the
expense of the English. I laid some small silver and copper coins on the
table in order to show them that I had obtained money in prison--for
they knew that I had no money when I entered the cell at Cromwell
Gardens.--General stupefaction. All eyes and mouths were open with
astonishment. The commandant was the first to recover his speech. 'Have
you got any more money?' he asked me, and with a most insolent smile I
answered, 'Yes!' 'How much?' he asked quickly. 'Several pounds.' 'Where
have you the money concealed?' 'You must find out that for yourself,' I
answered calmly. 'I can force you to tell me,' said the commandant. 'You
won't do that,' I said. 'First of all you have no right to do it, and
secondly if you did you would find nothing.'
For a moment the Englishman was at a loss for an answer. He shrugged his
shoulders and looked questioningly at his officers, who were apparently
less surprised than he was at my impudence; for it was not the first
time they had seen me in this rôle.
After a pause the commandant ordered me to dress. The case was
dismissed. This was the action of a gentleman. A few minutes later the
money was in the safe keeping of one of my friends, who listened for
hours to the recital of my adventures.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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