§ MR. BLAKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, If it is true that an Irish boy, named Michael Reardon, a few days ago, deserted from a training ship at Falmouth; that he was captured, brought back to the ship, and placed under arrest, but managed to elude the sentry yesterday morning and, leaping overboard, drowned himself; if it be true that he said a day or two ago to a shipmate that, rather than suffer the punishment of flogging, he would drown himself, and has now done so; if he can state the number of desertions from training ships during the last three years, and also the number of boys who have been flogged during the same period with the birch, cane, or otherwise; and, if it be true that the boys are tied up while undergoing such punishment?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHSir, it is the fact that Michael Reardon, having been granted leave on Sunday, the 3rd instant, did not return to the ship, and that on Monday, the 4th, he was apprehended by the local police and taken on board with another boy who had also deserted. He was to have been birched on the Wednesday, as it was the second time he had deserted; and it appears ho did tell the other boy under arrest that he would drown himself rather than suffer punishment; but the boy did not report it, as he did not believe he was in earnest. Reardon was seen in his bed at 3.30 on the Wednesday morning and was missed at 4, and although a reward has been issued for his apprehension and the harbour has been dragged, he has not been found alive or dead up to the present time. He was, however, a very good swimmer, and the officers of the ship are inclined to the belief that he got safely on shore and has again deserted. I am unable to state the number of desertions or of the boys who have been birched or caned. It is true that boys are tied up while undergoing this punishment.