The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-06-25
THE EENLAN ESCAPE.
ALL BUT ONE GETS SAFELY AWAY.

The Dublin correspondent of the London
7th inst: "The text of the Rev. John
O'Reilly's letter, giving particulars of the
eecape of the Fenian prisoners from West
ern Australia, 10 pablished to night. Fa-
ther OReilly writes: My dear Mother
You are aware before now that Western
Australia is q convict colony. Hitber were
sent, some seven or eight years ago, a
number of the prisoners sentenced to penal
servttude on-the occasion of the Feniap
disturbance. These were gradually re-
leased, and at the beginning of the present
month only eight remained in confinement
in Western Australia. All the eight had
been soldiers. The prisoners of the estab-
iishment work in gangs throughout the
town, and the Fenians were distributed at
different points with the rest. AAfongst
the prisoners some are chosen TO fill Offices
OF trust 10 connection with the prison ar
of the Fenians Was constable, and by de-
livering pretended orders to the wsrders
in charge ofthe working parties he was emf
abIed d get six of the FGOiSpS together
when occasion required. The. occasion
CAME yesterday. At9 o'clock by means of
of Freemantle. HeS two men we're in
readiness with hOPses. The convicts noun
ted those anima p and made off. 1t appears
that towards the end of last year gentle
man, represented as from 6ne OF the neigh
boring colonies, arrived here. He put up
at the best hotel not, IL ehe port, and has since
the name of Collins. His business here was
always an enigma to the residents, but it
as supposed by some that he had come
here with the view of seeing his way to
the opening mp of some business. Another
person lately arrived here too, named
j ones, Yankee, but as he worked at a
n N n
those two persons were the chief actors in
the plot. They arranged the details of the
flight, and awaited the fugitives with the
at the place of rendezvous yester-
day. The party drove to a spot about six
t zen miles or 80 from Freemantle, where
they were seen to enter q boat evidently
to a whaler in the offing. Yester-
day the port and metropolis were in state
of intenselexcitement. The Government
o ,artered our only steamer-a peaceful
mail boat-put on board a guard of PEN
sioners and police 1--WE have no soldiers in
in the colony. aud sent it in pursuit
little before the steamer, an open boat man
ned with water police, had started on the
trail of the ronaways. To-day at tie
steamer returned. A crowd had assem- bled
Oh the jetty to sec her come in. was
amongst the number. She did not bring
back the prisoners. She reported being
alon gside the whaler. The captain aud one
boats crew we're absent. The authorities
in the steamer requested to go on board,
but were refused permission. AS the yes
eel lay in neutral waters they could not
use force to attain their desires. The
water police boat is still in chase of the
missing ships boat, but l doubt it they
will come up with her under cover of dark
mere of the night, and it tbreateDs to be dark
indeed. The absent crew. with the fugltlves,
will make the ship, and if even the police
crew found them, and there was fight, as
there would be pretty sure to be if forced
were attempted, it is very doubt
full who would be. the victoFs. Against the
fifteen water police there would be the six
prisoners, their two accomplices and the
boats crew. The whistle is sounding it's
warning and my letter must hurry to the
post"