New-York tribune., 1876-08-21
THE ESCAPED FENIANS.


PLAN OF ESCAPE.
The six Feuian prisoners who escaped from
the penal colony In Western Australia on April II ar
rived in tnis city saturday morning by the whaling bark
Caalpa, commanded by Capt. George Anthony, after
voyage OF four months. The men were soldiers IN the
British army, from which they deserted To JON thc
Feman insurgents and their ofrense considered 80
grave that they were not included the general amnesty
extended TO the Feniaus time ago by the British
Government. Their names Thomas DaIraSh, Rob
ert Cranston, Michael Harrington Martin Hogan James
Wilson. and Thomas Hassett They were tried and CON
votod in August 1906 and sentenced 10 penal servude
for lfe After an imp isonmeu Of nearly two years IN
England thsy were transported TO Western Australia in
the convict ship Haugoumont. For a time they were
closely confined in the prison a Frcemane but by good
conduct they gradually gained the confidence Of the
prison officials. and were allowed work the roads
outside OF the prison walls.
The prisoners were men OF more than ordinary uteli
gence and the latitude allowed them suggested to their
minds the possibility OF escape. One of them. James
Wilson, found opportunity to write TO his friends in this
city describing their condition and their hopes Of escape
properly aided. For long time the imprisoned men
received no encouragement. but at last letter came
from America which contained the cheering news that
their friends here would every means in their power
40 aid their escape AS soon the condition Of the
Australian prisoners was made known IN tina city, their
fends here began TO form their plans The Dark CataDa
was purchased at NewBediord and fitted ont ostensby
for q whaling voyage in the early part OF 1879. Inc
vessel reached Bunbury West Australia March - 1870
In the mean ne agents Of the friends OF the prisoners
bai been sent 10 Australia. In November. ls19 Mr.
Brr,ln Who claimed TO be an American capitalist
arrived in Freemante forthe assumed purpose " making
Investments. About the same time a Mr. johnson. "A
,gcnaEer arrived at Perth Ere mantle, and
obtained employment. Both OF these men were secret
agents of tie American Feniaus and aided IN the suhse
oucnt escape OF the prisoners. Communication was at
-.g.H. ,t-.v,. IH.Ftflts t.T4
secret meeting between Bresin and wilson in tie under
brush near prison walls the final plan OF escape was
arranged. Wilson informed his five comrades who
agreed TO make the attempt The seventh InaH James
Keely was suspected of being unfaithfu to then and
was not Let into Tie secret He was left behind when
the escape made.
The mon were at wor; usual on the morning OF the
l7;h OF April when tie Warden sent order to Dai-
ragl Harrington, and Wilson 20 20 20 his house and
move some furniture They walked IN that direction
uuul they met the other three men, who had passed the
grlaId by of forged order. They walked two
miles the place where their friends were IN waiting
with carriages and driven TO Rockingham, where
,rba.e,sat was IN waiting. The fu.;itivos not
missed from the prison until they were halt way 10 Rock
in-Lam. The plans Or their escape had been wen it''
and by means of relays Of horses they Travelled rapidly
and without delay. The whaleboa at Rockingham was
reached before the pUrsuers came IN signt hut the
Catalya was 20 miles away. The fuCiDyes embarked
were yet within sight of the shore their pursuer reached
hc beach. TIE horses ard carriage aband0ucd by the
Fenans seized by the police, Who mmediuteiy put
of in boat in pursuit Durn, the night the two boats
OF the pursued men and tine pusuers-were out sl sea
The ugtiyes failed reach the Catalpa, and the police
boat pa without detecting their presence The
next morning the escaping prisoners found that tie Ca
talpa was s some distance away, while tAe Goyefnm nt
steamer GcOrgete was bearing down on the whaer
at spr4d which made il evident that she would reach
the Catapa before the small boat could d over the III
teryening distance. The GCorgete ran alongside the
Cltapa, the officers supposng the iugltves were on
board but not discovering them she went back to port
Tor coal The small boat with the prisoners on board,
which had not been discovered by the Government
steamer, continued To the Cataipa. The
Ceorgettc her return discovered the fugtyes, and
immediately gave chase. An exciting race ensued The
Catapa me; the furtycS Lalf way, and they were on
board the waer aud under the American flag before the
Georgette reached them The captain OF the Govern
men' steamer rs the Catalpa approached, fred shot
across the Of the whacr, and commended her cap
tan to surrender the prisoners Capt Anthony shouted
Oac if the Georcette fired Oh the Caalpa she fred
upon the American flag. The captain Of the Ghor-1e
then gave Capt anthony 10 minutes in which TO sur
render the prisoners. but at the end of that time had
evidently concluded that he had no right to fire on the
whaler AS he turned about ana sailed back to port with
out ofTcrn. TO modest her.
The Catalaa continued her voyage without further mo
lestatiuu or interruption, not stopping between Free
mantle and Nev-York. Tie escaped men, with the eX-
ccptiOu of Harm gtOn who slightly l during the
voysge, arrived here in good health and present fine
physical 9ppearauce They provided with citizens
dress which in the hurry Of tie escape they wore over
the prison They provided with su-tan-
tai clothing by their friends here upon their arrival As
soon as the Catalpa touched the wharf the escaped
Fenians were driven to the O'DOnOvan Kossa Hotel
where they warmly received BY their friends Of the
,.9 DrfPa
and talsed freely Of their adventures.
ATTENTIONS TO THE ESCAPED PRISONERS.
The sidewalks in front Of the ODonOyan Rossa hotel
We're tArongcd yesterday from morning until night with
groups OF Irshnen, who were anxlously waiting for an
opportunity to shahe hands with any Of the reiu-
gees who might he visible from time to time. The en-
trance 10 ae Lo,el was crowded with men, whose
anxious taces showed plainly their sympathy, ana IL vas
with difficulty that any one could approach the point
where Martin Hogan stood. Mr. HOGAN surrCuuied
with Ills friends, Of them acIUaintaDccs OF his
youth, others strangers. Among his visitors was an
old man with gray hair and whisEerS, who worked
his way through the crowd, and 5ezng Hogan's hand
in botA Of his raised it 20 his lips, kissed it, and
muTnurci q blessing. Hugan's hand was bhsirTed ana
sore the excessive shaking 10 received Yesterday
center OF friends Tie sergeant remarked that
he IL All MS lie had shaken hands 80 oucn a.
crowd sure 10 follow them. Mr. Darragh, while
Testh- upon tn sofa ln the Loel arOs, Was Inquired
Iur Dy OLD man. apparently 80 years OF
age or over, who, with feeble steps, reached
him, aud upon his knees thanked God that he
hal lived TO see of the patriots of his country.
Tie refugees the recipient, OI visits from many
ladies' Michael Harrington told reporter thdt there
were srl left in the colony, who were liberated
uurl ticket Ui leave some time previous o. the escape,
b9 since tbe cvetcmert had had their tickets Of leave
re>cra The refugees to-day discussed tAcir fate the
hone and belief being tna they VIII receive ihrF p'fJ
again ODonuvan Rosa devoted the WEDie day 10 the
interests OI his guests cscOrty them through the cy,
which was "a new sight 10 most Of them MI OIanstOn
has gone TO y cW-BcdiUrd.
Sergeant IhOInH3 Darr2gh, who alone OF me SIX men
was sentenced 10 death which sentence was aitcrWard
csa.-ltcl stood all tho afternoon yesterday shaking
hands with lrshneu and recountAg the details oil the