The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-06-14
THE RESCUED FENIANS.

ARRIVAL IN NEW YORK OF AN Ex-FENIAN
PRIsoNER--NEws TO THE 18TH OF JANUARY
PREPARATIONS ron THE ESCAPE.
On Monday morning William Foley, OF the Fe
nan prisoners recently confined In Western Australia
arrived in this city from Queenstown, on tho steam
ship Wisconsin. when the Of tho escape of the
prisoners reached here fow days ago It was though
that Foley among the number but IL now appear
that his sentence expired last January and he sailed
from Perth, Western Australia, the 10th OF that
month for London From London no proceeded u
Dublin and after spending fortnight there went to
his home in Tippcrary, but finding OF his friends
there except one uncle, very old man, he went TO
Cork, where he remained about ten days, when he
started for, New York. On arriving In this city he
to o'Donovan Rossa's hotel and asked
where certain cx.Fcnian organizer, under
whose orders he placed when in Ireland
could be found, and would give no Information TO my
else His whole conduct was striking though
rather amusing, illustration Of the firm hold which tho
old Fenian discipline, carried out among the Irish
soldiers OF the British army, still has the minds Of
those who under its sway On being intro
duccd to O'Donovan Rosa, Thomas T. Bourkc and
other prominent irish natonalss who happened to DO
present when he arrived tho former asked him several
questions as TO whore he camo from, and what he
wanted with tho cx-organizer, but no would give abso
utey Information till he reported 10 his old chiot
and received instructions what to DO and what
safe to speak to. His namo, his sun-browned
face his peculiar hat and many circumstances about
his appearance and manner convinced those present
that he Of the Fcnan prisoners. and many eager
inquiries were made concerning the escape; but NJ
Foley had not heard the news till informed Of IL by
ODonovan Rosa and his friends his invariabe
that he would be very glad II 1t ruc, but that
he did believe 1t and knew nothing about IT. After
hours waiting the he sought found and
brought to where the ex-Britsh soldier and political
prisoner standing the midst OF eager crowd.
After years separation each recognized tho other
Instantly, though the dashlng dragoon was sadly
changed the worse, and hearty greeting followed
He taken away from the crowd possible,
and then the tongue which had refused to speak was
unlooscd and many interesting facts in connection
with the preparations for the made known.
The mlssrg link found, and more intelligent
ide. OF the whole affair thus DO formed The ol.
lowing is the substance Of Folcy's Story given to
HERALD reporter by the gentleman who received it,
PREPARING EscAPE.
Toward the end OF last November two gentlemen arrived
In Western Australia, and knowing the MEANS at once
placed themselves in communication with tho prison
crs and commenced to thoroughly survey the ground
which they were TO work Foley, being on ticket.
ofcAve the timc and having just got out Of hospital
where he had been suffering IRON heart disease was
stranger giving him certain information which showed
him what his mission was On understanding was ar.
rived great deal Of delicate work had 10 DO done
and every precauton taken TO AVOID attracting tho at
teniion Of the authorities but 10 the last moment OF
Foeys stay in the colony not the least suspicion was
aroused Tho two agents each followed legitimate
occupation and acted In every way II going TO make
their home In Western Australia or bent solely on
making lasting business connections with tho colony
and so discreet their movements and conduct
dreamed they were anything but what thoy
appeared 10 be- Il asked no questions" said Foley
'and lhcy told me nothing which had not right q
know"
Toward the close tho spring OF last year all the
prisoners not ticket leave, and two OF tho
who had tickets oileave were sent IN rom the various
bush and lodged In The principal convict station ~ Free
mantle. Their names were James Wilson, Martin Ho-
gan Thomas Hasset Thomas Darragh Michael HarrlnR.
ton Robert Cranston and James Kelly, lite senenced
mon, and Thomas Delaney and James Mccoy, whose
tickets ofleave revoked These were ALL with the
exception of Wilson, engaged in constructing
vor within tho prison OF Frenante, which situated
on hill, intended TO supply water to the shipping IN
the harbor Wilson was training horse tho
Of the prison. and this employment enabled him 10 90
out OF the prison several times each day
and gave him many facilities for pcrfectng the plan 81
escape Many dsappointments occurred, however, ow.
ing 70 unforeseen accdents and one golden opportunity
lost trough falling to connect With certain ship
Tue ability OF the agents tested tho utmost and
the patience Of tho cxpectant prisoners was sorey
tried still nothing occurred 10 arouse the suspicion
OF tho prison officials and connected with tho
attempt lost heart Two days before Foley took his
former asking him how he should correspond with him
Wilson SAID sDon't write TO MS any morc am con-
ndent we shall all follow you SOON" When taxing his
leave two days neither could speak but could only
exchange silent but hearty shake OF the hand. This
January 10 Foley took his passage on sailing
vessel for London and after voyage Of nhety- -four
days arrived in that city.
CHANCES OF PURSUIT.
Though he could not feel that all had escaped
foley expressed the greatest confidence in the safety
those who had got board tho American ship. The
Gcorgctc, which sent in pursuit Of the Catalpa
according tho statements OF the Sydney papers,
photographed here from San Francisco, Is only small
screw steamer, built the Clyde, about 200 tons
burden, which Is employed In carrying mails from
Champion Bay, the most northern settlement In West
King c ca n y h se0
colony, and she Is manned by only ten men a. the
mos.-ordinary sailors who never saw any service iu
Perth aud Frcmantlc there not more than thirty
policemen at any time, and II all Of these went on
board the Gcorgette the released soldiers and thes
friends would make short work OF them In handto.
hand light The only artillery In tho colony 10
in Pcr,h-iour old 9-poundcrs belonging 10 company
OF volunteers, the members OF which livo scattered
through the surrounding country and could not be got
together short notice There are about forty retired
soldiers living the ncghbornood OF Perth, but they
are all old men could be collected Of any shorter
notice than the volunteers. IL would take some tamo
parc pursuit. and tho point on the coast selected
tor the according 10 arrangements made pro-
vIons 70 Foley departure - about twenty-five milo.
from Frcmantlc Everything considered, 1t would
several days to enable tho Gcorgetto 10 start n
pursuit, and by that tmo the Catapa, or any other
vessel which they might be, would be beyond h0T
reach. Then the Gcorgcttc could not be provlsonsd
long cruise could tho police force she pom
be spared from the colony for any length Of
time and there ship oil mt all In tho neigh
borhood Altogether the chances Of tho recapturS of
the by the Georgette appear 10 be very fo
NOTE even II she would risk boarding an American
ship tho high Boats had been already
secured when Foley Loft 10 accommodate all
the prisoners, and convey them suficcn: distance
10 sea, 10 that they might not get on board any
ship IN British waters 1.-The news" said Foley,
''sccms good 10 DO ruo II Is so short tlmc sncs
them within tho prison walls and ell can say
Is, God speed them on their way, and may God blcsa
the Yankee captain who took them aboard"
Foley is thirty eight years OF aga, and enlisted IN
1853 the Bombay Horse artillery, under the East In
dia Company and served all through the Sepoy rcbc-
lion. In 1850 no returned 10 England and after
rc-enlisicd In tho fiith Dragon GuArds, In which
regiment he remained iii his arrest for Fcnianism in
February, 1865 He IL simple, quiet man, bus
known by his comrades TO DO man OF indomitabie
courage Before his Imprisonment u IL said hc
OF magnificent physique being SIX ect In height and