Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-09-02
THE ESCAPED FENIANS.
How the Plot for their Escape wns Arranged
and Carried Out--Its success.

INV INC Estnht Nma Arranged
and Carried Outfits success.
The method of escape of the Fenian
prisoners, six in number, who have ar
rived in New York, was suggested 10y
the experience Of John Boyle O'Reilly,
now editor of the Boston Pilot. In 1869
the whaling bark Gazelle, of New Bed
ford, was cruising off the Australian
coast, under command of Capt. David
II. Clifford. To this vessel O'Reilly,
then a prisoner, was conveyed in a small
boat, through the assistance of his
friends. Capt. Henry @. Hathaway,
then third mate of the Gszelle and now
city marshal of New Bedford, was in
strumental in saving the escaped pris-
oner's life, who, having been by some
mischance thrown into the water, was
supported there for several hours by
Capt. Hathaway, and finally rescued in
nearly lfeless condition. From this
incident and Capt. Hathaway's kindness
and sympathy, warm friendship
sprung up between the two men, which
has since continIed. O'Reilly was very
anxious to assist the other Fenian pris-
oners to escape, and when, after consul
tation with other sympathizers in this
country, it was concluded to make an
attempt in that direction, the manner of
his own escape naturally suggested the
most feasible plan.
Capt. Hathaway's advice was sought
by those in charge of the expedition,
and he was urged to take command of
it, but this he felt obliged to refuse. He,
however, gave them the benefit of his
experience on the Australian coast, and
his directions were followed almost to
the letter. The bark Catalpa, of 202
tons, then in the merchant business,
though formerly whaler, was pur-
chased, nominally, by John 7. Richard
son, of New Bedford, and others, Mr..
Richardson, who owns an eighth inter
est, acting as agent. AS the vessel was
to sail ostensibly for whaling voyage,
she was fitted ont for that purpose, un
der the direction of Capt. Hathaway,
Capt. George Anthony, man about
thirty years old, and who from his youth
has been engaged i'll whaling, was Sc
lected as master. This was his frs
voyage in that capacity, but the seaman
ship and courage he had displayed pre-
viously, fitted him for the position.
The Catalpa sailed from New Bedford
April 80, 1875, clearing for o whaling
cruise in the Atlantic and Indian oceans
The crew was composed mainly of Ma
lays and Portuguese. So quietly hat
all the arrangements been made that NJ
suspicion of the true object of the voy
age was excited. 1t is said that the only
persons in addition to the promoters o.
the scheme who knew of the plan wer,
Capt. Hathaway and Mr.. Richardson
Capt. Anthony, of course, knew the ma
ture OF his errand. None of his crew
had been informed of this, although i
is thought that the cooper, who is al
lrishman, may have had some idea of it
The whaling merchants in New Bedford
denounced the purchase and fitting on
of the Catalpa as foolish venture. TIL
first news from the vessel after she sail
cd was received in March of this year
when she was reported to be off tn
west coast of Australia, with $50 barrel
of sperm oil. When the first intimatio1
of the rescue was received in May last
it WAS generally disbelieved, even tn
agent stating that the vessel could no
be in the place assigned to her. It wa
generally thought that the Catalpa woul
first make port at New Bedford, a.
though the originators of the expedi
ton expected she would land the res
cued men either at Fernandiua Q
Charleston. The six mel who escape
were soldiers in the English army, an
were sentenced to penal servitude fo
life