The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-06-22
THE AUSTRALIAN FENIANS.
How the Escape WINS Planned In Boston Two
Years AGO and How IL was Carried Out.


Years AGO and How IL wa, Carried Out.
The report which reaches us, says the
Boston Transcript, of the rescue of the
Fenian prisoners from the penal colony
in Australia has created considerable in
terest in this vicinity, from the fact that
the details of the plan were arranged
and partially put in execution in Boston
some two years ago; and the mention OF
Mr.. John Boyle O'Reilly's name in con-
nection with the affair induced the
writer to call upon that gentleman with
view of ascertaining further particu
lars. That gentleman was perfectly
willing to converse upon the subject,
though he had received no more definite
news than has already been made pub
lie. Mr.. O'Reilly said it had been incor-
rectly reported that he was the leading
spirit in the scheme, although he was
aware of all the details from its incep-
tiop, and from his knowledge of the to-
Biography of Australia and the official
management of the colony he was en-
abled to give much information and
many suggestions of value to the active
| participants.
In the first place large sum of money
had to be raised by the Irish nationalists
to effect the object desired, as the field
of operations included almost an entire
circuit of the globe; and the obstacles to
be overcome at the colony would have
been deemed insurmountable, except by
men actuated by the highest purposes,
strengthened and emboldened by irwin
ciblo courage. There were eight pris-
oners to be rescued, two of whom were
. | 1nnatal II, tho prnot f.o1,trol otnnn
Of Freemantle, and the others were dis
making the roads, hundreds of miles
apart. A sufficient sum of money hav-
ing readily been raised, one of the best
and most trusted men of the Irish ma
tional revolutionary party came to Bos-
ton, and in about six months his plans
were completed. A ship was secured
and fitted out for whaling voyage I'M
der command of New Bedford seaman,
whose nautical experience peculiarly
qualified him to execute q plan with
which he expressed hearty sympathy
the moment it was mentioned. Messen-
gers were dispatched by steamer to
Australia and to other parts of the Brit
ish dominion, to put themselves in
communication with the prisoners.
The gentleman who was the master
spirit of the enterprise intended to go to
, Australia himself, but it was thought
best for him not to do SO, as he had been
confined in prison in England, and O
successful disguise would have been
next to impossible.
1t was arranged that the vessel should
, reach the Australian coast at a certain
, time and signal the men on shore, and
the plan was to rescue the prisoners,
convey them across the country and
, have them all meet together on the shore
at q certain time to take passage on the
vessel. Means were furnished for sup
plying each prisoner with horse, suit
of clothes and revolver immediately
, after he escaped. Each individual es
. cape had to be managed independently
of the others, and each had its peculiar
, difficulties to be overcome. These plans
, were all carried out and ready for execu
l tion some six months ago. 1t is under
stood that many of the British officer!
/ in Australia can be approached" ant
that the only question is often as to The
, "price of a rescue; hence the man
ayers could readily secure certain O
J their men, though how many Cor wheth
Q er any at alD were rescued in that wa,
t will not be known until they arrive safe
: ly upon American soil, safe from arres
l by British officers and free to relat,
4 their experiences in detail. The sigma
8 which was agreed upon that the rescu
8 had been successful was the cutting O
the cable, which it appears was don,
= about the twenty-seventh of April, be
Y tween Java and Australia, and whicl
Q served the additional means of prevent
: ing pursuit If the surmises of thos
familiar with the plans are correct tn
vessel ought to be nearing some part O
the Pacific coast about this time, an,
!; further intelligence will be awaited wit
anxiety. The prisoners whose rescu
+ was SO boldly planned were all humbl
!, men, private dragons In the Englis
9 service, were sent to Australia in 1S6
t, to be imprisoned for life, and were thu
u punished by the English government
/ If they are arrested before reaching thi
country or some other safe point thei
u execution on the gallows will speedil
II and assuredly follow.