Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-16
Escape of Stephens, the Irish
Head Center.
TEIEDoons OPENED EYrAIsE KEYS.
Irish-Anlcricans in the Plot.
Full Narrative OF the Extraordinary
Event.
The Government Preparing to
Resist an INsurrectiOn
i'm ireland!
Special Correspondent. of the y. Y. TimesI

DUBLIN, Saturday, Nov. %, 1S65.-There is
news this week from Ireland From shore
to shore the country in which | write is 4
blaze of excitement The English Govern
ment and their supporters are in consterna-
ton; the Fenians and their sympathizers
wild with joy and exultation; everywhere
throughout the limits of the United King
dom surprise and amazement are the pre-
dominant feelings. Stephens, the famous
Stephens, the reputed Head Center" of
the Fenian Brotherhood in Ireland the
brains carrier" the director of the Fenian
organization, the man whose capture was
thirsted for so ardently by the British Gov
ernment, and over whose arrest they reioiced
as over a victory of their army in the field
has burst his bonds, and escaped from the
hands of his captors. Bolts, and bars and
iron-cased doors, frowning walls and whole
army of jailors, have been powerless to de-
tain the "Fenian Chief" He has passed
unnoticed and in safety through them all.
Stephens, as is well known, stated openly
more than once that he had been through
the principal Irish prisons in disguise, and
that there was none of them strong enough
to hold him. His words were looked upon
by most persons as an empty boast: every
one believes them now, for he has proved
their truth in the sense he used them by es-
Gaping from Richmond Bridewell on vester-
day morning, leaving nothing behind him
but open doors and an empty cell to tell the
story of the cleverest and most extraordinary
escape that has ever been heard of out of
the pages of a sensation romance In vain
have been the efforts TO recapture him; in
vain the frantic pursuit, the eager searchings,
the examinations, the proclamations, the
threats and the rewards Thebird has flown,
and his tenantless cage will never again, in
all probability, receive him: not the faintest
clue to his movements after he walked
through the open gates of Richmond prison,
amid the torrents of rain, the bowling winds
and binding darkness on yesterday morning
not a whisper as to his present location is
known to have been obtained by the author
ties up to the hour at which | write HE
is gone, and forever" is the exclamation on
every lip: he may chose to remain, for pur-
poses best known to himself, in Ireland in
preference to seeking security in France or
America, and it is just possible that the en-
issaries OF the Government may track him
to his hiding place once again; but that he
will be captured a second time without blood
she'd or that he will suffer himself to be re-
captured while he has strength enough left
to fire 4 shot or strike a blow, are views
which those who know Stephens will refuse
for an instant to entertain
On Saturday, November IL, Gust a fort
night ago., Stephens captured at Foir-
field House in the manner already described
to our readers On the same evening he
was lodged in Richmond Bridewell, the Jail
in which all prisoners committed for trial in
Dublin, or awaiting their committal are con-
fined. On the Tuesday and Wednesday fol-
lowing he was taken to the Castle Yard to
attend the preliminary investigation in his
case, and on each occasion was safely con-
veyed back to Richmond in the evening.
Precaution unheard of since 1913 in Rich
mond prison were taken 10 provide for
Stephens safe keeping. He was lodged in
the Top story of the most central part of the
building, the only other prisoner lodged on
the same corridor being Kickham and Bro
ply, who were arrested with Stephens, and
a lad named Mcleod about whom | shall
have something to say presently. The
prison staff was REINFORCED by % of
the Metropolitan Police, whose sole duty
was to assist in guarding the Fenian
prisoners. But the prison officials dis
trusted even the police; there might be Fe
mans in the force-rumor positively averred
there were, and in this case who could say
what might become of Stephens? Full OF
this idea, and with a profound belief in their
own wisdom, the Governors of the prison
excluded every one by night from the corri-
dor on which Stephens cell was situated.
Confident that complicated locks and massive
bars were better security than could be af-
forded by the presence of the police. But
the prison authorities has yet another string
to their bow-another very deeply laid plan
for preventing Stephens escape which they
to be q very knowing dodge in |
deed. In the cell next to that occupied by |
Stephens they placed the boy Mcleod, who |
had been sent to Jail on some petty larceny |
charge, promising him his liberty and ego |
on the condition that he would pull wire !
"a his cell, which sounds Il large gong placed |
at the end of the corridor, in case he heard !
any musul noise in Stephenss cell during |
the night. Mcleod, who gladly con-
sented to the arrangement, was allowed |
numerous privileges and was permitted |
to sleep through the greater part of |
the day in order that he might be better
qualified for the work Of watching and lis
.ening at night. While his iailors are thus
levising means for keeping him in custody, |
stephens on hiSpart was taking eXtraordina-
nv measures to lull them into a state Of secu-
ritv. He refused from the day he entered
to the morning of his escape to see anybody
from the outside world, wife, friend or law
yer. Mrs. Stephens procured the necessary
pass" and visited the prison to see her
husband few days after his arrest but
stephens declined an interview, declaring
hat "he would never see his wife within the
walls Of a prison" Several old friends
called, but he would see no one; he wanted,
he said, "to be left alone with his cares" In
pursuing this course, Stephens had a double
object in view he knew that if the plans he
was then engaged in were one day carried to
success, suspicion would naturally fall on
hose who had visited him in prison, and he
ilso knew that the apparent absence Of all
between him and the rest of
he world outside the prison would render
he surveillance to which he was exposed
less strict. The correctness Of the latter as
is proved by the fact that the
Board Of Superintendent, believing that
he twenty-five policemen we're, under the
circumstances, an unnecessary addition to
he prison staff sent twenty-five Of them
pack to their regular duties, retaining but
hree of them within the prison.
THE ESCAPE.
Such was the position of affairs up to
Thursday night last. At eight o'clock on
Thursday evening the corridor in which
stephens slept was securely locked, the cell
door was, Of course, kept locked, except |
Turing the hour allowed for exercise. This
corridor forms the upper story Of one wing
IF an L shaped building, it is about thirty
Yards long. and is divided from its contin-
nation in the other wing by heavy, solid
iron door, which was kept securely locked.
At the wrong side Of this door, through
which they could not even see the prison
ar's cell door, the three policemen were sta
Toned. At the other end Of the corridor is
4 massive iron door, with huge cumbersome
lock, opening directly on the lobby Of n
,tone staircase, by descending four flights Of
which You reach the ground. The door Of
the cell in which Stephens slept is cased
with iron the keyhole is on the outside,
the inner side being complete blank. The
door is secured by huge swing bar, fastened
bv paddock Of about eighteen inches in cir
conference. At ten o'clock on Thursday
night the KEYS Of the cell and corridor doors,
with many Others, were deposited in the case
provided for the purpose, in the Governors
room. The night was wild and stormy, the
rain roured down in torrents. and a fierce