The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-06-25
THE FENIANS.

THE FENlANS.
Mass Meeting In the Vicinity OF Jones'
Wood Yssterday-rwelve Thousand
Persons Prssent-speeeh BY james Ste
phens-scenes and Inoidents, 30.
Yesterday viii be remembered by the Irishmen Of
New York and vicinity Is long as they live The Fenian
Brotherhood have held many public meetings in the open
air. but that for numbers responsibility order ana
enthusiasm vaed the reception given outside Of Jones
Wood yesterday TO Central Organizer Stephens
On the last occasion Of Mr.. stephens appearance at
Jones' Wood many thousands OF the Irish Americans
unable to leave their employment to attend and
listen to exposition Of Fenansm and his interesting
narrative OF his personal adventures In Ireland rhe
meeting held yesterday for the purpose OF allowing
all to behold the man whose name has become SO Ia
nous in the history Of Fenansm, and TO hear from his
lips account Of his work in the Green ISLE The
idea Of Sunday meeting was happy thought as the
result must have satisfied Mr. Stephens that his country
men disposed hear both sides Of the question be-
fore they decide upon their individual action.
THE COMMON
outside OF Jones' Wood tho place selected for the
gathering stand capable Of accommodating about
twenty persons had erected In basin on the Com
mon between Sixty.seventh and Sixtyeighth Streets
the ors and Stripes serving as canopy TO protect the
occupants OF the sand the rays OF inc over
ALL upon flagstaff, hoatcd large and beautiful green
flag, with the Irish harp The street embankments on
either side and the raised bluffs adjacent furnished
ceen positions for the audience look down upon the
| stand in the basin and those collected about it.
A little TO the south Of the stand hurredly
erected crib for tho accommodation of the band while
still further off, and surrounding the basin, numer
booths and open wagons, from which those indivd
uals who desired to the thirst Of the crowd and
at the time turn "honest penny" reailed root
beer pop and kindred beverages at the usual prices.
day being excessively hot and there being shade
trees upon the common everybodys throat was tckled
everybody fell back to the tanks and for cool
ing beverages Many cursed the Sunday law which cut
of their cobblers and cocktails and poured down the
| 'soft' liquids with very bad grace and many ugly
| grimaces
THE ASSEMBLING OF THE MULTITUDE
commenced early twelve O'Clock, noon, those who
early evidently being DESTROYS Of having the first
| selection OF positions TO and hear From that
hour until three O'Clock every minute made large acqui
sons to the assembly until at the hour for opening
All and sexes were collected upon the ground some
hudded together beneath the centre stand others recn
few made themselves happy and comfortable upon
the huge boudcrs fringng the hills about the common.
The main part Of the audience however collected about
the speakers stand, and joked and porspred until the
Sixty ninth regimental band appeared and struck up
"Finnegans Wake when Instantly. IL by magic, the
hustle Of the surging thousands ceased and the Irish
heart was mute before the enlvening strains Of their
| national airs.
/
very favorably impressed the bchoder II is very sel
dom more respectable looking body OF Irish citizens
1 ably disposed and there not the slightest sign Of
mischief in the eyes Of the audience. Indeed, through
out the entire speech OF Mr. Stephens, with very few
exceptions all conducted themselves with marked deco
rum and manifested earnest desire to catch every
word that fell from the lips Of the Organizer The few
temporary interruptions that Mr. Stephens encountered
prompted alone by patriotic desires the part OF
enthusiastic rshmen to relieve themselves OF their pent
| up feelings
| A POLICE FORCE
from the Nineteenth precinct under command OF Cap
tain Todd present 10 maintain order but they took
up position several hundred yards distant, and might
st well have been absent the services Of but
was called into reqnisition TO enthusiastic
Roberts cansman who had not the good sense to keep
| quiet. ...t-9
THE RECEPTION AND ARRIVAL or sTRrHrNs
just before three O'Clock the Committee OF Manage
| mcnt, accompanied by the band Of the Sxy-ninth
regiment left the common and proceeded to Sixysxth
.n sy one meet e vino s hs
| march TO the common. An immense concourse OF
men, women and children fell In behind th' party and
blocked the most eectuay As they neared the
stand the crowd upon the common rushed in from the
right and left and josted each other fcarfuliy II
with The greatest difficulty the committee and their chief
could keep their positions behind the band and for few
| r,oments it was feared the mass would trampe Mr.
Stephens under foot their anxiety to get near his per-
and obtain close view of the remarkable victim of
British Justice However. by vigorous use OF their
arms and elbows the band committee and Mr. Stephens
succeeded reaching the stand amid the widest demon
STATIONS Of enthusiasm by the swayng multitude
on THE STAND.
/
minutes 1t appeared extremely probable that his al
mir would force passage on TO the platform Threats
enlreaes, and small application Of physical force in
! duced Thorn 10 forego any such intention
certain degree OF quiet and order being restored,
| Mr. CHARLES FERGUSON member of the ], r. b., was
introduced TO Mr.. Stephens and proceeded 10 read
Of resolutions ndorsng the Head Centre and his
policy, which had been adopted at recent meeting of
the l. II b Circle of tn city On hearing the resou.
| tons read great enthusiasm was manifested by tue
| audience.
/ rre
and his hearers evidently thought Its final complete
success He spoke for about one hour and half and
several occasions intercepted by shouts from
General Sweeny's friends. The cry Of "Put him outm
Immediately raised and promptly executed. Mr..
stephens stated the reason fer the meeting being held
Sunday that 1t had come TO his that the
joYfy of the Irishmen In this city could not afford
lose day 8 work and for INA. reason no had called
| pended, and had also made it free meeting.
John OMahony, he said, to blame for many Of the
troubles He was good honest patriot, hut
vanity had led him away from the path OF duty Ire
land II was the same spirit which, made many in
this country think that the eight ten thousand men
enrolled u America were OF consequence 10 the
than the fifty sixty thousand thoroughly drilled
Ireland should be free (AppsGse) At Chicago 1rst
then al Cincinnati and finally Philadelphia
red out the cation Of the Senate party which had
drawn their canse the laughter and sccrn Of the
world At considerable length he then efArred
to the visit OF Mr. Mechan aud Mr. r W.
Dunno 20 Ireland, which occasion Mr. Meehan
lost number Of documents which fell into the hands OF
the English authorities and gave them their first reliable
intelligence respecting the extent Of the conspiracy IN
not only wild but . criminal one. In this connec-
ton he also referred to his escape from prison,
saying that he only consented 10 leave on be-
ing positively assured that means Should b. fur.
Dshed 10 commence fighting In Ireland last
y yas ON e paopm TSs !ans sepesn had aso
been instrumental In cfecting his IL was Colo
nei Kely-tlou cbecrs)-and the mar who did the
work inside the prison would arrive from ireland In
day or two The Canadian movcuept was next spoken
Of He did not believe thu, swecDy and Roterte were