The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-08-10
Patrick O'Donohoe Interesting Ac-
counts of his Escape,

VOV0tb VI H1S ESCAPE,
The Dublin Nation contains the follow
ing account Of the escape OF PATRICK O..
DoNoHoE. one OF the Irish exiles banished
with MITCHELL, MEAeHER and O'BRlEN:
We have this week received two des.
patches one dated from Sydney, on the
18th of February, the other from Mel.
bourne, on the Sd Of January, treating of
Patrick O'Donohoe's g escape. We are not
now, we believe, at liberty to reveal the
names Of our correspondents; but we has
ten TO place their narratives before our
readers.
The letter bearing the earlier date runs
thus:
"O'Donohoe is off. On Sunday, the
10Th OF December. he escaped from his
district. crossed Bass Straits in storm.
and arrived on the Australian continent
on the 22d. The dangers of his run, ap1
his hair-breadth escapes, shall be given TO
you hereafter. He wrote out vim ndica-
ton OF his escape previous to starting, and
sent il by sure hand to one Of the most
distinguished members of the Legislative
Council. From his arrival on the 22d ult.,
he traversed 300 miles of the beach and
indentions OF Hobson's Bay, seeking ship
bound for America. Once he was receiv-
ed on board vessel bound for Spanish
settlement. and had actually paid the cap
tain f19o passage; but the fellow proved
to be a-cowardly Welchman, who went
back Of his bargain. The poor fellows
sufferings were frightlul. For meny days
and nights he was without sleep or rest,
and on one day he travelled ninety miles
through the bush, subsisting on brackish
water, without particle offood. On New
Years Day. he went, disguised, along
side the Great Britain, in Hobson's Bay.
TO ascertain if he. could get off by her
But he found the locality thick with detec-
tives - Zone of those institutions which
glorious England propagates wherever she
extends her empire)-and he had to fly,
in hurricane Of hot winds, TO remote
creek. That night he entered this city,
clothed in a sou wester and blue shirt, tar
like land storm beaten. With singular
good fortune, he walked straight into ho-
tel winch turned out to be kept by an Irish
man. He was received with the tenderest
welcome, and tended with most touching
care. Four Irishmen, armed cap-a-p pie,
mounted guard at his door. and on the fol
lowing day he actually held levee, at
whichthe principal men ofthe town attend
ed-every man of them armed in his de-
fence. Men representing half million Of
capital waited on him and pledged him
their friendship. And, though it was
known TO at least FIVE hundred police and
government sympazers, not one Of them
dared to approach the house. Believe il,
he will not be taken alive or undeiended.
Three American vessels lie in the harbor,
and our plan is to remove him to the coun.
try till we can secure berth for him, and
then we shall embark him from some one
oi the thousand creeks which indent this
coast. He is six miles from Port Arthur
to day. and done with chain gangs. skilly.
and the Black Serpent forever
The communication from Sydney is o.
follows, satisfactorily completing the hur-
RED narrative:
"Thank God, a third Of the deported l.
rish Rebels, Patrick O'Donohoe, has Of
length escaped from his brutal prosecutors.
the tyrant Dennison and his convict blood
hounds in Van Dieman's Land. | regret
thatit is not in my power to furnish your
readers with the full particulars Of Mr..
O'Donohoe's escape from the moral plague
poison of the South Seas. Suffice It TO
say that he succeeded in reaching Port
Philip in safety, where. having met few
Trustworthy friends, arrangements were
quickly set on foot to get him out OF the
country. contract was entered into
with the captain Of vessel bound for a
foreign port, TO take him off, for which SER
vice the Captain received the sum of fl9o.
Mr.. O'Donohoe was Immediately after put
on board the vessel in Hobson's Bay. But
judge of his astonishment and surprise
when. after getting on board, the Captain
informed him that unless he procured a
clearance from the water police office, he
could not take him away! To this treach-
erous proposition Mr.. O'Donohoe demur-
Ted-remonstrance was vain-the coward
~, dishonest skipper was inexorable. Mr..
O'Donohoe had but two alternatives to
choose between--to submit to be cheated
out Of his money. and leave the vessel, a
pennyless outcast, or to compel this roug
ish speculaior to refund the fi9O. He
determined on the latter and IN order more
effectuallyto enforce his last demand, he
drew loaded pistol from his bosom, and
roolIy told the skipper that unless he inn
1nediateIy refunded his money he would
blow his brains OUT The threat took inn
mediate effect-the brave sailor trembled
from head to foot, and handed back the
cash. O'Donohoe then left the ship. and
hadxo fall back once more upon his friends
in Melbourne, who Immediately determin-
ed upon sending him on to Sydney, where
he would stand better chance OF ulti-
niately escaping the fangs OF his pursuing
and merciless prosecutors. lie was ac-
cordingly smuggled on board another yes-
sci. which after splendid run, carried the
Irish Rebel in safety to Sydney.
"Patrick O. 'Donohoe was never in Sc
curer asylum. Dennison and all his con-
yict satellites could not injure hair Of his
head. But let me tell you how this came
to pass. Turned into the streets Of a
strange city. where he had never previous
" set foot. O'Donohoe first wandered a
bout at random. At length he entered a
hotel, and asked the landlord if he could
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