Grass Valley telegraph., 1853-10-20
ESCAPE OF. MITCHELL,
THE IRISH PATRIOT

THE 1RlSH AIRlOI.
HIS a9rival in California aoith has Family.
From the Commercial .AdUertiSer, we take
the following news, containing an account Of
the arrival of John Mitchell, the Irish Pat
riot and British exile.
What lover of liberty will not rejoice at
lis escape? Where is that American to be
found who will not inwardly greet him cor
dial welcome? Here he may not only find
40 Asylum from the cruel bonds Of tyranny,
hit before him will open field of action
where his liberal and generous soul may eX-
pand uncircumscribed by law and bound on
y by the broad and glorious privileges of an
American citizen.
By the arrival Of the bark Julia Ann,
Can't. Davis, So days from Sydney, we have
lies of the Sydney Morning Herald, to the
zaal of August. We are indebted to DR.. J.
3. Phinney, who returned to this city on the
Julia Ann, for late papers and other favors
By this arrival, we have the gratifying in
telllgence of the escape Of the Irish patriot,
John Mitchell, and his family, from their eX-
lie in Van Dieman's Land. Mr.. Mitchell was
on his parole at Van Dieman's Land, where
his friend J. P. Smyth who was formerly an
editor in Ireland, and afterwards connected
with the New York Tribune and who had left
this country to effect his escape. succeeded in
accomplishing it in the following manner !:
Having procured fleet horses and guides in
aitferent parts of the Island, they went to-
gether to the Police Office, where Mr.. Mitch
q delivered up his parole. The Police imme-
St 3 0ff folo1i 1oi1j3fo ~ NJ
which was near at hand, and escaped to the
mountains. Here he wandered about for near
ly three months. subsisting on the bounty of
the farmers in the vicinity, who, it seems,
were all his friends. Meantime. Mr.. Smyth
was seized, heavily ironed, and in this condi-
tion, marched fifty miles to Hobart Town.
where, after short confinement, he was re-
leased.
At length, Mitchell succeeded in procuring
y passage to Sydney. Upon the same vessel,
ty the aid Of friends, his wife and six chill
diPn had also taken passage. Mitchell was
ia disguise, and during the passage to Sgd
Bey lid not allow himself to recognize any of
MS mily. After remaining in Sydney about
three weeks, he left in the Orkney Lass for
Honolulu, under the assumed name of War
rem. This vessel touched at Tahiti, was over
taken by the American brig Julia Ann bound
for San Francisco, having on board Mrs
Mitchell and children, under the care of Mr..
Smytb The Orkney Lass was to have left
TahN the day before the Julia Ann arrived,
but is fortunately detained, so that Mr..
Mitchill was enabled to join his family and
friene When the English Consul at Tahiti
learn | that Mitchell had been on the Island
and as about to leave on the Julia Ann, he
made every effort to capture him, but the
bark hurried her departure and saved him the
trouble.
John Mitchell was banished to Van Die
mans land about five years ago, having pre-
viously been confined on ship-board and at
Bermuda for nearly two years. Mrs. Mitchell
with her children Joined him about three
years ago. Mr.. Smyth, who assisted his es-
cape, was also one Of the Irish patriots who
fed to New York, and from thence went ex-
pressly to rescue his friend. We congratu-
late him on his success, and the friends of lib
erty everywhere, that John Mitchell has
thrown off the shackles of British tyranny.
and now enjoys the freedom which the United
States has afforded so many of his country
men. May Smith O'Brien soon follow him.