The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-09-02

Inc following story OF inc escape VI 'le
Fenians from Freems mile, Australia, was Civ
en- to Woy5d reporter by James Wilson
He told FIRST how he was q private IN the
Fifth Dragon Guards and alluded to his of
fence trial and conviction. lie and his fell
low prisoners were first taken from Dublin 10
Milbank and thence to Catham, and trans
ported 70 Peth, W. A., by the convict ship
HaugirttfmOnt, but subsequently were con-
faeS m the convict prison al Freemantle, w.
A. lie then went on TO describe the escape.
ave had said he, "Sy our good conduct
got the confidence of the officials, so that we
were not so closely confined as many of the
prisoners, and were set at work under fore
man or watch, of course, outside OF the pris-
on walls. We did sli sorts of work, making
roads. grubbing uI trees, breaking stone, and
sometimes lighter work. When l came to
see that perhaps there was some hope of es-
cape beca,ise Of the freedom that was allowed
us, set to work to see if could not find
means Of getting away found some plans
which seemed to me would succeed If could
get any one over here in America TO help us.
| wrote to a gentleman here in New York
what my plans were and what wanted our
friends in America to do. Then waited a
long time without getting an answer, and be-
gan to get discouraged and down-hearted.
But wrote again to the same gentleman de.
failing my plan Of escape, and telling him all
about our hardships, and how much we want.
ed to be free, and urging him to try and do
something tor US. In due time | received an
answer to my last letter, and in 1t learned
that active measures We're being taken here to
help us to regain our freedom. felt like O
new man, and though l went on with my
work, at times hardly knew what was do
ing. Next l received a note from an Ameri.
can gentleman in Freemantle, who was trav-
cling through the country In disguise. We
appointed meeting in little thcket near
where l was working. | met him there one
day, and we had long talk about the plan
Of escape, and discussed it thoroughly. He
told me all about the Catalpa, and that the ar
rangements to take us from the shore at Rock.
ingham were complete. The disputed point
was as TO how we were to get from Freeman.
| tie to the coast. | was in favor Of going on
horseback, for thought if We were pursued
we would have a better chance of escape.
The gentleman (Mr. Collins, however, said
that il would be difficult to obtain horses
enough for us al! without exciting suspicion,
and that il would also be difficult to use them
| for the same reason since we must make our
escape in the daytime, At night, you know,
we were locked up. We could get couple
of carriages easy enough, he said, and they
would conceal US as well rs carryus. Short
| ly after we had another interview, and il was
decided that we should attempt 10 carry out
our plan on the 18th of April Everything
had been made ready, and he told me to get
my companions together and med hlm with
them at the same place AZ 8 O'Clock in the
morning of the day we had appointed. Then
| told the details of the plan to my compan
4 al. al. Ia
morning of the Eth CranStou and Hasse,t
were at work around the prison. Hogan was
dong some painting on one of the houses
connected with tire prison. Darfah was al
his duties as messenger, and Harrington and
myself were doing some Stnnework near the
sea ietty A little before : O'Clock CranstOn
came over 10 US and told the warden that vi
were wanted nj the Governors house To move
some furniture; so we three walked on TO
cether IN that direction, aud into the thicket
4 where we net the other three who had man
aged To get together much the same way, bu
they had TO pass a guard Of twenty-iour sol
diers, which they did by means of a forged
order. We then walked about two miles be
fore we came 10 the carriages We lost NJ
time in getting in, and started of at rafting
pace toward Rockingham, where we were :,
take the boats. 1t was a mighty exciting
luIlNc, tot VIC tApcStVu C'tiy minute w MA
puTssers; but IL seems that We were not miss
ed at the prison until we were about half WAY
10 Rockingham, which We reached AZ II
Io'clock. At Rockingham We found a whale
boat manned by white man and i've or SIS
negroes. The men who drove stepped only
long enough To hitch the horses. and then ",
all piled into the boat and pushed OF. The
boat had one small mast and sail, but rs Their,
was only little breeze we took to rowing
We had got little ways from the shore whcr