The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-07-06
The Escape Of the Fenian Prisoners
'7f from Australia.

/
The following is a copy of letter
written by the Rev. John 0'Reilly, of
FFeemantle, Western Australia, to his
mother in Kilkenny, Ireland. 1t bears
date April is, and later information
confirms the reported escape of the
prisoners mentioned: ~
Ny DEAR MOTHER: You owe to the
accidental detention of the mail steam
er the letter which l am now writing.
The cause of the delay is an event that
will probably excite so much attention
/ in the old country and America that it
will form the principal, if not the sole
topic of my note. You are aware be-
! fore now that Western Australia is q
convict colony. Hitler were sent,
some seven or eight years ago, num-
Der of the prisoners sentenced to penal
servitude on the occasion of the Fenian
disturbances a little before that date
Thesewere gradually released, and at
the beginning of the present month only
eight remained in confinement in West
ern Australia. All the eight had been
soldiers. The prisoners of the estab-
lishment 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
constables. One of the Fenians was a
constable, and by delivering pretended
orders TO the wardens in charge of the
working parties he was enabled to get
six of the FeniaHs together when occa-
sion required. The occasion came yes
terday At 9o'clock he withdrew those
whom he required from under the
warders in charge. The six prisoners
assembled at a spot just outside Free
mantle. Two carriages with two horses
each were in readiness; they got in and
away they 90. / must retrace my steps
little. Toward the end of last year q
gentleman, represented as from one of
the neighborfng colonies, arrived here.
He put up at the best hotel in the port,
and has since mixed with the best So
ciety. He went by the name of Collins.
His business here was always an enig-
ma 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, a
Yankee, but as he worked at a trade no
one noticed him. Now it appears these
two persons were the chief actors in the
plot.
They arranged the details of the flight
and awaited the fugitives with the car
riage at the place of rendezvous yester-
day. The party drove to spot about
sixteen miles or so from Freemantle,
where they were seen to enter a boat
belonging to a whaler in the Ofling.
Yesterday the port and the metropolis
were in a state of intense excitement. |
The government chartered our only
steamer, peaceful mail boat, put on
board a guard of pensioners and po-
lice 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 four o'clock !
the steamer had returned; a crowd had |
assembled on the jetty to see her come
in. was among the number. She did |
not bring back the prisoners. She re-
ported being along side the whaler.
The captain and one boats crew were
absent. The authorities in the steamer
requested to 90 on board but were re-
fused permission.
F. As the vessel 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 if they will come up with her
under cover of the darkness of the |
night, and it threatens to be dark in
deed. The gallant crew, with the fu-
gitives, will make the ship, and if even
the police crew found them and there |
were fight, as there would be pretty !
sure to be if forced capture were at
tempted, it is very doubtful who would |
be the victors. Against the fifteen wa
ter police there would be the six pris- |
oners, their two accomplices, and the |
boats crew. The whistle is sounding !
its warning, and my letter must hurry
to the post ~ -. TIA .t-H |
With kindest love to all, believe me,
your afectiOnate son, --. ..-----I
J. O'REILLr. |