The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-14
The Fcnian Troubles In ireland
HEAD CENTRE sTErHENs' ESCAPE.

From the Dublin Frcemans Journal
The escape Of Stephens Is OF the remark
aud at the same time instructive and suggestive
that has occurred In connection with the Fenan consp
racy. That his escape the result treachery there
longer any doubt and that that reachery was aided
by the oosson OF due precanton on the part OF the
authorities Is no loss plain TIE prison 'cas in fact for
and the only matter Of surprise il that all the prisoners
as we'll as the chief not liberated by those who
used the master key with such effect
At the time stephens left by the southwestern gate Of
the prison il was raining in torrents and blowing nearly
full gale from the southwest There IL doubt Of bis
having left the Jail about half past o'clock and at
that time, on such night In all probability he did not
meet soul save stray policeman who would take no
notice OF gentlcmany looking walking rapidly for
town. The only rumor which bears the sembance OF
probability is the which has been generally circu-
hted that Stephens after he reached town the
ing of his escape met his friends by appointment and
proceeded at once TO the neghborhood OF Howth where
he got on board fishing smack that put 10 sea be-
course was adopted II was a practical one, az the
wind and sea, though very heavy, were or the
shore and there would be nothing easier than for the
smack (which belongs TO most wcathery class Of
sels 70 get INTO the Of long seagong ships, and
put Stephens board Of them, perhaps board
borne in mind that stephens and his friends knep 10 s
hour chen he icoMid be reLdsed and cU IN all prcba-
tiy for week before his escapc ~ds ELECTED Under
the circumstances. there every TO believe that
the plans Of the conspiraors did only embrace the
release Of stephens from prison. but all matured
and arranged for his safety when he reganed his liberty
Among the other flying reports one that Stephens
ved 70 get away to France and to be In time for the
mail steamer leaving Havre this day for America This
rumor We need not say, Is purely absurd, a. II Ste
phens able adopt the shortest routes and quickest
modes Of travelling he could only barely reach Havrc
this day We do not mean TO say that he will land
at French port IL he reach H. but one thing
We are sure oftha he could not reach Havrc this day
unless he exposed himself to all but certain capture
All the friends and associates of Stephens are closely
watched. and men In all kinds Of disguise out In
search Of information Il is stated that the detectives
have found out the craftsman that made the duplicate
keys from the moulds he furnished WITH and which
were the means OF lberatng Stephens II this clever
locasms rs found out he , can tell by whom be was rae
had TO work According to the statement Of the prisoner
Mcleod, who s now undergoing ssnence OF two years
imprisonment for the robbery OF ewery, and whose cell
between that Of stephens and Kckham Il appears
that when the person let Stephens out OF his cell
% have left ~ the corridor OF q Which wsre the ces
Of Of the Fcnian prisoners. with view, sup
posed Of lberang Duny but reaching the iron door
which led 10 they turned back they heard the tramp
Of the police constable In the corridor ut the other eide
OF the double locked IRON door which divided stephens
Corridor , from The one 70 wh.n Duly was confined ~
would have frScd badly Win ts policemen Mr. John
Lentslene, ID l., aud Mr. Cory Connclan, Inspectors
General OF Pr actively engaged yesterday and
ths day IN making the most minute inquiries into cir
cumssnees attending the escape Of Stephens, but the
iocesuings were strictly private The top OF the boun
oaiy wall near which tho tables were found, was exa.
mihed by Acting Inspector Clifford II Is covered With
old loose mortar, which even rope thrown over u
Wouiu OrnB uoWn py tho stone ght IL remains as "
has been fer years shows maj no rsoa ,er escaped
ccr Il and 0rf ne table, w,rs oniv PLACID gh,re ey
Jcuna % ",s ,no.e ~so soa seek % dtrer ne means
that wherever stephens 10 he has The false keys which
opened the southwestern outer gate and The two doors
70 be found The police have received from
persons on the look out at al the ssaports here and in
England scotland and Wales nom which steohens could
sail, hut none OF them give any ud,nes Of him.
gentleman who resides at Roundtown states that Al
he was going home shortly sfer one o'clock Friday
ClaDprasS street. near The rsad leading TO the prison
Tha s~nass sahsd hin ssr ikhs Tor hi DiDs which he