The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-08-21
Escaped Fenian PrIsoners-Thcir
Arrival In New Y0rk..-An Ac.
count Of Their Escape from the
British Penal Colony. y ~: ID,

British Penal Colony. ~ -
New YoRK, August 19.-The whaling
bark Catalpa arrived here tbismornipg,
from New South Wales, with the Fenian
prisoners who escaped from that country
some time since. The names Of the men
are: Michael Harrington, Thomas Dar.
ragh, James Wilson, Robert Cranston,
Thomas Henry HasSett, John J. Breslin,
alias Collins, Thomas Desmond, ala!
Johson, John King, alias Jones, and
Thomas Brennan, alias Hall.
When the ship Catalpa, with the six
escaped Fenians on board, arrived this
morning, dispatches were sent over the
city to members ofthe committee appoint
ed to receive themen, and shortly after
daybreak the committee assembled at the
Battery, and boarded the vessel. The
meeting between the old veterans aboard
and the tried men who came to welcome
them was hearty and whole.souled
greeting. The men laughed and wept in
turn. The Catalpa is a slow sailef, having
consumed nearly four months on the voy.
age. Alter two months the stock Of pro-
visions was so meager that the men were
put'on short allowance. They all arriy.
ed, however, in good health and spirits.
Captain Anthony, who commanded the
Catalpa, has a daring mein, tempered
with smile calculated to win confidence.
One Of tho most touching incidents Of
the reception OF the exiles was the meet
ing with hlWilliam Foley. Foley was also
q soldier in the British army, and had
seen hard service in 1866. He was tried
on the charge OF treason, found guilty
and sentenced to twelve years penal SER
yi.ude. He served his term with the
men who have now arrived, and knew
them all intimately. The Catalpa lay
of Freemantle before Foley's term ex:
pired, but he knew her mission, and bid
her God speed, and to-day he welcomes
his fellow convicls as brother freemen.
The men disembarked from the vessel
this morning and proceeded to 0,Dono'
van Rossa's hotel, where they will TEN.
porarily remain.
Thomas Henry, one OF the Fenians who
arrived in the Catalpa to-day, said 10
reporter:
ave were expecting for about two
years that we would be. rescued from
prison, and always kepton, the alert Tor
movement Of any kind which could be
turned 10 our advantage. We were no:
tilted OF the sailing Of the Catalpa, and
expected her in March, but wedid not hear
Of her arrival until few days before the
l7,h OF April, the day on which we effect.
cd our purpose. After breakfast on the
10th, about ten minutes TO o'clock, we
left the prison gates unobserved, and en-
tered carriages provided for us. Our
party numbered eleven, including out.
siders, who kept in front and rear to keep
sharp plookout for enemies. We reached
Rockingham at 311:30s A. M, where b
whale.b boat from the Catalpa was lying,
and got on board. The boats crew were
then in charge oi an officer from the yes.
sci. During the journey by land We were
not molested, though we met several per.
sons. When we were two and 4 half
miles from shore the police came up,
and captured our horses, which had been
left on the beach. We had great trouble
III finding the Catalpa, and the police got
boat and were searching for lis. 4. 4
storm arose and blew US out to sea, and
our provisions were destroyed, and We
were all wet. Night came on, and We
were in deplorable condition. When
daylight broke we saw the Catalpa and
made for her. When about seven miles
from the vessel We saw the Colonial
steamer Georgette and the police cutter
searching for us, but they could not see
US, owing 10 the rough cross seas. The
police kept the Catalpa in sight while the
steamer went to land. We were then
twenty miles from land and near Botten.
ness, and rowed with all our strength to
the barque. AT this time both the Catalpa
and the police had discovered US, and
the latter. was fast pulling toward us, but
We headed the police cutter and reached
the Catalpa first, and scrambled on board.
The crew OF the 'barque gave cheer and
We rushed over 10 the other side Of the
deck and drew ourrevolvers and present.
ed them at the heads OF seven men in the
police boat. The. steamer Georgette was
commissioned by the Government officials
to follow us. The barque could not 60 to
sea that night, as the wind was dead
ahead. The next morning the Georgette
bore down on us and demanded that the
Captain Of the. Catalpa give up the pris-
oners, which the latter refused, and the
Georgette sailed for shorep -Four thouS'
and dollars have been raised here for the
relief Of the prisoners. .g X
l sIe1a