The Portland daily press., 1866-03-27
The Fenians in Mechanics, HAN.

-- At o'clock last evening, when the reporter
OF the Press reached Mechanics Hall, the
building was swarming with Fenians of al
ages, bothsexes and various Conditions The
galleries were packed with ladies; Chambers
Band was in the corner of the west gallery:
the floor was occupied by members of the
brotherhood, who had already marched
through the snow from their hall in Free
street; the aisles and stairs were crowded
from the street to the platform. and the throng
fairly overlooked into the street.. Through the
evening the F. B. sat and stood with its hat
on, and the printed .placards warning visitors
not to spit on the floor were extensively dis
regarded, SO far and often as the density OF the
throng would permit. .igl,le r7sl
r, At about a quarter past eighta policeman
pushed through the crowd, followed by the
speakers of the evening, who were received
with boisterous enthusiasm, the band playing
0 no, you'll not forget me, MOTHER" with the
utmost zeal. Mr.. D. orc. ODonoghue, the
Head Centre of the organization in Portland
presided, and remarked in his Introductory
speech that the L r. B. would suspend John
ny Bulls corpus pa proposition which the
audience raptmously applauded, while Celt
who stood near the platform brought down his
bit OF a stick with a rafting blow on the dais,
Immediately turning around and calling for
fOrderP with the most ludicrous gravity.
The speakers were four. Mr.. P. ON. Lar
kin, who has recently returned from Ireland
young, dark haired, smooth faced, with
square forehead, a mouth expressing much
delicacy and pensive expression. His adj
dress was simple, direct, forcible and at times
eloquent. Mr.. ]. E. Fitzgerald, of Boston,
rollicking Irishman, looking for all the world
like Henry Ward Beecher, with light nous.
tache, and with voice like bull of Bashan.
Mr.. Fitzgerald was wrecked on the Boheui.
an, but was born for rebellion and so could
not be drowned. Mr.. ]. ]. Crowley, of Bos-
ton, tall, thin, smooth faced with dark hair
and blue eyes. Mr.. Crowley said James Steph-
ems had beaten st. Peter, for the Saint got out
of prison with an angel to open the one door,
but the Head Centre had got out of Rich
mond BrideweD, through eight, OF nine, or
less doors, with divel an angel to help" Fl
nally Mr.. j. j. Maybery, of Portland, after
whom the band played :" st. Patrick's day in
the morning." and the public meetirg W adj
journed at about II, to be followed by ! pri-
vate joint session of the Brotherhood nd SIS,
terhocd. Messrs. George Francis Il in nd
p, A. Stnnott were expected but did OF ap- I
pear. Mr.. Train sent an apology.
q Resolutions were adopted pledging Il Q a.
sembly to support Stephens and o'Mahony.l
All the speakers united +. in asserting that
Stephens is still on the ould sod," and asked
only for help to furnish $4,000 stand of arms
for the enrolled and drilled army Of 100000
men. Contributions were very few during the
public meeting, and though bonds were offer
ed there were no sales. Perhaps the sugges-
ton that John Mitchell is the discussing agent
of the brotherhood in France, may have
checked subscriptions, and perhaps not-who
knows? An allusion by Mr.. Larkin to the as
sistance received from the United States dur,
ing the last great famine, produced the livell-
est sensation for the eyening-whieh is saying
q good deal. TTp n TfrCTT1F M ~,