Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1876-09-13
THE FENIANs' ESCAPE.
what Virgfnian did towards
Securing the Liberty OF the
Fenian Prisoners.
From the Virginia Chronicle. |


About one year ago John J. Bresin, of
New York, Thomas Desmond, of San
Francisco, Thomas Brennan, of New
York, and John King, of Australia, were
selected by the Irish Nationalist Society,
to effect the liberation of certain Fenian
prisoners confined at Fremautle for al
legged crimes against the English Gov
ernment. That the escape was effect. d
is but too we'll known to the English au.
thorities, but how it was effected is best
told by Thomas Desmond. one of the
Committee of Escape, who arrived in
Virginia this morning. Mr.. Desmond
was selected by a,resident of Virginia City
for the perilous undertaking, and
Judging from his manner and his modest
story, any one who listens to him can but
be- impressed by sentiment of respect
for the intelligence of the man who select
ed him.
The story of the escape, as related by
Mr. Desmond to Chronicle representa-
tive to-day, is as follows: The prisoners
were communicated with through man
named Foley. a then recently discharged
prisoner residing at Fremantle. and post
ed In regard to what they should each
and every one of them do to effect the Oh.
cape of all. Everything being in readi-
ness, on the 18th of April last the men
were quietly got together about 8:l5 A..
M, and driven from Freemautle to Rock
ingham, distance of % miles, and ar
rived at the latter place at 1890. They
immediately embarked in whale boat.
hoisted sail and, SAILED the seas over
in search of the Catalpa, the vessel
which had been purchased by the Com.
mittee of the Nationalists and embarked
on an ostensible whaling cruise. After
sailing few hours the mast broke and
the men were left on the open sea all
night. The Georgette, a coastinQ
steamer, had been chartered by the au.
thorities to start in pursuit of the run.
Always, and the regular police boat was
started in pursuit also. The prisoners,
after drifting around all night on the
bosom OF stormy sea, saw on the morn.
ing of the 18th of April two vessels in
the ofting, one of which was the
Georgette. the other the Catalpa. In
order that they should not be observed i,
was necessary to keep at least six miles
from the Georgette, which they vdid
About 2 O'Clock in the afternoon of the
18th they deserted the police boat in
pursuit. and then ensued a race for lib.
erty, the like of which had never before
been witnessed in that locality. The
Fenians reached the Cataipa about
twenty yards ahead of the police boat.
The Captain of the police boat then re-.
turned to Fremantle and reported that
the prisoners had escaped. When the
escaped Fenians arrived on board the
Gaia lpa they learned that the Georeette
had been alongside, and that the Govern
or OF the prison at Fremantle had made
inquiries for them. On the morning of
the 10th the Georgette came alongside
the Catalpa for the second time,
and the Governor of the
Fremantle prison demanded the prison.
ers. Captain Anthony, commander of
the Catalps, replied that there were no
prisoners on board. The Governor said,
You are deceiving me. I can see them
now. l have telegraphed to your Gov.
eminent. and you are amenable to En-
glish laws" The telegraph cable hav.
ing been cut by Bresln on the night of
the 10th. the prisoners knew very well
that this was untrue.-Rep. The Gov
ernor continued: II will give you fifteen
minutes in which to surrender these
prisoners. If you do not do it, I'll blow
your mast out" Captain Anthony
pointed to the American flag which was
| flying from the mainmast and said /:
THAT protects me-" The Governor OF
the prison. finding he had made mis-.
take, asked permission of Captain An
thony to go on board the Catalpa, The