The New York herald., 1871-10-21
The LAST FENJAN RAID.
Interview with General O'NeiIl.

From the 81. Paul (Minn., Pioneer, Oct. 17.l
General O'Ncill arrived last night on the Pacific
road and was Immediately taken to the county jail
by Deputy United States Marshal Cleveland. The
General looks to be IN splendid condition, physi-
caly and so far as recent events are concerned they
do not seem 70 wear very greatly upon MS elastic
OF a conversation held last evening with the noted
General by a Pioneer reporter:-
General O'Ncill left for Pemplna last Wednesday,
and arrived here his return last night, when he
was immedla,ely arrested 6y Deputy United States
ts tram motg he g s
The General says that 1t has been enormously
movement & ' He declares tnas he Is NOT at present
connected with the Fenian organization at all. OIL
cialy or otherwise. lie has always sympathized
tcularly when these people were British subjects.
His services, w,xsscver they may be worth, are
liberty especially against the British government
He is not conscious OF having violated any OF the
he has done IN this matter, As an Individual he felt
al perfect liberty TO oer his services to any people
people are British subjects He dld not take any
men up to the tort or that vicinity. After ne got
had right to DO Just what he pleased. lie denies
that ne organized any force OF men FOR raid upon
.Arer you got upon British territory did you
organize any force TO overthrow the British author
.When got on British territory felt that had a
right to do Iust as pleased"
Further than this the General declined TO answer
"Wnat dld yoa do. General after you got on to
~ do not desire TO answer that, further than to
say that had right to do just as pleased"
How many men had you with you on British ter
III do not feel disposed to answer that question.
desire 70 state that II mad not been interlered win
by the United states authorities would have mad
fully one thousand men with me-"
..For anything l chose to do with them. They
wonid have have been SUBJECT 10 my command ior what
"wncn you went up there dia ron expect to nnd
these men there"
.'rnen they went by arrangements
81 didn't ss say hsrs &c. ddnt say whether they went
DO you know as matter OF fact that they lived
therein
ado you not know that they did not live there ~
{smilng.) You put me IN mnd Of an attorney
now. do not wish TO answer that question:
'.When you were arrested how many men dld you
Il do not wish 10 answer that question. Will
answer that question: though, IN an indirect way.
had enough men ~ resist Colonel Wheaton mad
desired to light United States soldiers. had fought
TOO long under the Stars and Stripes to want to
light United States troops, whether they mad crossed
the line legally or Illegally, Colonel Wheaton had
thirty or forty men, Colonel Wheaton went over In
II desire to state the intimation has been thrown
out that The men were arrested without show of
resistance The three mcn--mysei, General Curey
and Colonel Donnelly--have as good record for
bravery as Colonel Wheaton. The only reason why
resistance was not made was because we respected
the United States authorities. We had made as
good record as Colonel Wheaton in the late war
for all thai constitutes soldiers. White we were IN
Colonel Whealoa's charge we were treated In very
gentemanly manner Instead OF wearing the United
States uniform ne would act with more propriety IL
he should wear the British uniform. As pr0sccut-
ing attorney, though he made perfect ass OF him.
scir and showed q complete ignorance Of the law.
General Cutey came down with me as lar as The
crossing Of the Red River, where lie stopped. Most
oi the men VINO were arrested with General Curlcy
Colonel DonneIiy and myself renamed AZ Fort Penn
bina IN custody, but were expected TO be released
the day lett. They will probably, when released,
90 10 the Red River and seek employment
up there with The British psa usaa ., e
The dissatisfaction exists principally among the
French haIInreeas ,l ana believe they are IN the
small force In the British Territory'
Thc General thinks that notwithstanding they do
people is to remain apparently LOYAL The true state
oi affairs up there cannot be made known at
present.
~ believe the action OF Colonel Wheaton IN be on.
trely unauthorized IN crossing into BRUSH territory
and arrestlng any one. Nor do / believe his con.
commander or at Washington. He went mnnn
British territory and ordered ms men to fire and
they did fire several yoeys Il Is surprising tnat
there was no one killed. Had there been any Killed
| nave no doubt he would have been guilty OF
"Tnerc was no invasion at all. There was no
Eppjan raid We were not acting as Feniaus
and had DO connection whatever WITH that organi.
"Tne statement that body OF men were secn
with Fcnisn Dag Tying near the fort or on British
territory Is not true The statement that Donnonn me-
knocked man OF horse and rode away with the
II am not aware tnat have violated anv law of
the United states. Before | arrived from Pempnn
was informed that should be arrested did nOt
fear any arrest i have fought and bled for the
too largo a country for me to Try 10 hide IN and !
do not fear anything tho Jaw can do TO me for any
recent action OF mine"
I'ns ended the Interview AMI we Ieft the General
to his mcltnhOus