The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-06-30
THE FENIAN ESCAPE.
Bold and Successful Plotting by Yankee
Named Jones-AlI Hut One Of the Fenian
Convicts Get Safely Away.

Bold and Successful Plotting by Yankee
Named Jones-All but One Of the Fenian
Convicts Get Safely Away.
Late European advices fully confirm
the reported escape of the Fenian pris-
oners from Australia. Rev. John
OReilly, the Irish pr est stationed in
the colony of Western Australia, at
Freemantle, the scene of the occurrence,
has written home to his mother the fol-
lowing interesting account of the es-
cape:
my DEAR MOTHER: You are aware before
ny. Hither were sent, some seven or eight
years ago, number of the prisoners sentenced
to penal servitude on the occasion OF the Fe-
MAN disturbance. These were gradually re-
leased, and at the beginning Of the present
manth only eight remained in confinement in
Western Australia. All the eight had been
soldiers. The prisoners of the establishment
work in gangs throughout the town, and the
Fenians were distributed at different points
with the rest. Among the prisoners some are
chosen to fill offices OF trust in connection with
the prison arrangements, and are called con-
stables. One of the Fenians was constable,
and by delivering pretended orders to the
warders in charge OF the working parties he
WAS enabled To get six OF the Fenians together
when occasion required. The occasion came
yesterday. At o'clock, by means OF this man.
the six convicts got just outside OF Freemantle.
Here two men were in readiness with horses.
The convicts mounted these animals and made
off, 1t appears that toward the end Of last
year gentleman, represented rs from one OF
-the neighboring colonies, arrived here. He
put up at the best hotel in the port, aud has
since mixed with the best society He went
by the name of Collins. His business
here was always an enigma to the
residents, but it was supposed by some that he
had come here with the view OF seeing his way
to the opening up of some business. Another
person lately arrived here, too, named Jones,
Yankee, but as he worked at a trade no one no.
tced him. Now, it appears these two persons
were the chief actors in the plot. They ar
ranged the details Of the flight and awaited
the fugitives with the carriages at the place OF
rendezvous yesterday. The party drove to
spot about sixteen miles or so from Freeman
tie, where they were seen to enter boat evil
IDENTIFY belonging TO a whaler in the oHing.
Yesterday the port and metropolis were in a
state of intense excitement. The Government
chartered our only steamer-a peaceful mail
boat-put on board guard Of pensioners and
police 1--WE have no soldiers in the colony, and
sent it in pursuit. A little before the steamer
an open boat manned with water police, had
| started on the trail Of the runaways. To-day
| at the steamer had returned. crowd had
assembled on the jetty to see her come in.
was among the number. She did not bring
back the prisoners. She reported being along
side the whaler. Tie Captain and one boats
crew were absent. The authorities in the
steamer requested to go on board, but were
refused permission. AS the vessel lay in neu-
tral waters they could not use force 10 attain
their desires. The water police boat is still in
chase of the missing ships boat, but doubt if
they will come up with her under cover Of the
darkness of the night, and it threatens to be
dark indeed. The absent crew, with the fugi-
tives, will make the ship, and even il the police
crew found them, and there was fight, as
there would be pretty sure to be il forced
capture were attempted, it is very doubtful
who would be the victors. Against the fifteen
water police there would be the six prisoners,
their two accomplces, and the boats crew.
The whistle is sounding its warning, and my
letter must hurry to the post"