The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-06-29
THE FENIAN ESCAPE.
Bold and Successful Plotting by Yankee
Named JOnes-All But One of the Fenian
Convicts Get Safely Away.

Bold and Successful Plotting by Yankee
Named JOnes-All But One of the Fenian
Convicts Get Safely Away.
Late European advices fully confirm
the reported escape of the Fenian pris-
oners from Australia. Rev. John
O'Reilly, the Irish priest stationed in
the colony of Western Australia, at
Freemantle, the scene of the occurrence,
has written home to his mother the fol-
lowing interesting account of the es-
cape:
g MY DEAR MOTHER: You are aware before
now that Western Australia is a convict colo
ny. Hither were sent, some seven or eight
years ago, number Of the prisoners sentenced
to penal servitude on the occasion of the te-
MAN disturbance. These were gradually re-
leased, and at the beginning Of the present
nanth only eight remained III confinement n
Western Australia. All the eight had been
soldiers The prisoners of the establishment
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 con-
stables. One of the Fenians was constable,
and by delivering pretended orders to the
warders in charge of the working parties he
was enabled to get six OF the Fenlans together
when occasion required. The occasion came
yesterday. At o'clock, by means of this man.
the six convicts got Just outside of FreemantIe.
Here two men were in readiness with horses.
The convicts mounted these animals and made
off. It appears that toward the end OF last
year gentleman, represented as from one OF
the neighboring colonies, arrived hero. He
put up at the best hotel in the port, aid has
since mixed with the best society. He went
by the name of Collins. His business
here was always an enigma 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,
Yankee, but as he worked at trade no one no
ticed him. Now, it appears these two persons
were the chief actors in the plot. They ar
ranged the details of the flight, and awaited
the fugitives with the carriages at the place OF
rendezvous yesterday. The party drove to
spot about sixteen miles or SO from freeman
tie, where they were seen to enter boat evil
IDENTIFY belonging to whaler IN the oting.
Yesterday the port and metropolis were IN
state of intense excitement. The Government
chartered our only steamer-a peaceful mail
boat-put on board guard of pensioners and
police Eve have no soldiers in the colony, and
sent it in pursuit. A little before the steamer
al open boat, manned with water police, had
started on the trail of the runaways. To-day
at the steamer had returned. crowd had
assembled on the ietty to see her come in. l
was among the number. She did not bring
back the prisoners. She reported being along
side the whaler. The Captain and one boats
crew were absent. The authorities in the
steamer requested to go on board but were
refused permission. AS the vessel lay in neu-
trail waters they could not use force to attain
their desires. The water police boat is still in
chase of the missing ships boat, but doubt if
they will come up with her under cover of the
darkness of the night, and it threatens to be
dark indeed. The absent crew, with the fuSi-
tives, Will make the ship, and even if the police
crew found them, and there was fight as
there would be pretty sure to be if forced
capture were attempted, it is very doubtful
who would be the victors. 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.