The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-09-07
How the Plans Originated for the Es-
cape Of the Fenians.

BOSTON, Aug. 20.-The originator ot
the scheme for the release of the Fenian
prisoners was Mr.. John DeKoy, an ex-
Fenian convict and now a reporter on q
New York newspaper. He consulted
j. Boyle O'Reilly, who suggested Capt.
Hathaway, City Marshal of New Bed
ford, and the three agreed upon Capt.
George S. Anthony, an experienced
whaler, familiar with the routes, ETC.,
to Australia, to command the vessel,
the Catalpa. The Catalpa sailed from
New Bedford April 80, 1875, as an ordi-
nary whaler, did her regular work, sent
home from st. Michaile, in the Azores,
2lO barrels of sperm oil, and whaled all
the way out. She was purchased while
lying in Charlestown, in March, 1875;
for Sl25,250. She was originally a
whaler, but for some years had been in
the West Indian trade, and had there
fore to be fitted for whaling with blub-
Der, deck beats, harpoons, etc. Casks
were put on board, and provisions for
two years. The cost, including the adj
vance to the crew, was S210, 900, which,
100000 for other expenses, makes the
total cost 100000, all of which was
subscribed by the Irish Nationalists in
various parts of the United States.
While the Catalpa was whaling, Mr..
John j. Breslin, a native of Dublin, was
selected to make arrangements for the
liberation of the prisoners. Capt. Des-
mond, of San Francisco, who had spent
several years in Australia, was chosen
to accompany and assist Breslin in his
work. They sailed from San Francisco
Sept. Is, 1875, in the Cyphrenes, under
the assumed names of Collins and Jones
respectively, and arrived in Sydney
Oct. 16, 1875. They established COM
munication with the convicts James
Wilson, Thomas Darraigh, Martin Ho-
gan, Robert Cranston, Michael Har-
rington, aud Thomas Hassett. These
men were formerly British soldiers, and
were connected with the Fenian move
ment in Ireland during 1866. They
were tried before military commission
or court martial at the Royal barracks,
Dublin, in March, 1866, and were SEN
fenced to penal servitude for life.
After several notes had passed be-
tween Breslin and the convicts a meet
ing was arranged, at which the plan
of escape was unfolded. Itwas to have
horses and carriages outside the grounds
of the prison at certain time when the
prisoners were to escape and TO be
driven to the coast, some twenty miles,
and take boats to the vessel. By means
of forged order the prisoners obtain
ed leave of absence, and gained the
carriages and coast through Breslin
and Desmond being on time. At the
coast the party embarked in whale
boat of the Catalpa, which also came
to time, and rowed away from shore,
and after several narrow escapes from
the police boat and the Government
gunboat Georgette, which pursued
them, they gained the Catalpa, after be
ing out in an open boat all day and the
following night in gale. The police
boat came up, but was frightened away
by the weapons of the Catalpa's crew.
The Georgette came up twice and de-
manded the prisoners, but was refused,
despite their threats To blow the Catal-
pa out of the water, and was finally
forced to give up the attempt in dis
gust. The Catalpa, after two months
voyage, arrived safe in New York at 2
q. m. yesterday.-COr. Chicago Times.