The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-06-15
movements are watched with great anxi-

movements are watched with great anX;-
ETY. by all parties.
A large delegation is present here from
Kentucky, heavily reinforced by solid men
from Chicago. who propose pushing Bris-
tow as a compromise candidate. Some OF
the former are so wild as to declare lie can
carry his state if nominated; but the i'm
possibility of doing this seems to be ar in
siderable obstacle in the way of his Sue
cess
The heavy men Of the New York Re
form Club have not yet arrived Ohio men
talk with enthusiasm of Hayes war record
and Of his political repute; but outside OF
his own delegation there does not seem to
be any strong feeling il his favor. There
is no fight against him, because it is not
thought worth while. Morton's proximity
hurts him. The recent talk about Wash
burne as a candidate on whom all may
unite has further decreased the chances OF
a candidate from Ohio. The pressure to
nominate man from New York is very
great. 1t is felt that the Empire State will
be the pivotal point Of the Presidential
fight, and that the best way to make a vic
tory is to nominate a candidate from that
State. The New York delegation is siren
nous upon this point. Their choice is
Conkling, but they will defer to the choice
of the other delegations if it should be
thought that William A. Wheeler OF +. d.
Morgan will make the stronger candidate.
Mr.. Wheeler develops a great deal OF
strength and seems to grow in favor. lie
has few enemies and many very earnest
friends who are working for him most en-
ergetically
Gen. Alex. Shaler, one of the delegates
chosen by the Reform Club to go to Gin
cinnati to electioneer for Secretary Bris-
tow, declines going. He assigns as a rea-
son that he has never been a partisan in
politics and does not choose to become
one now, lie is Republican and only de,
sres to have the Convention nominate the
best man to be found, regardless of local
ity With such a man he deems success
assured. He could not, however, consent
to 60 to Cincinnati as the champion Of the
claims OF any individual.
Escape of Fenian Prisoners.
The Irish American citizens recently
perfected aad carried out a plan for the
escape Of some twenty of their compatri-
OTIS, who were confined in the British pc
nal colonies in Western Australia These
men were convicted Of completely in the
Fenian invasion of Canada, few wears
ago, and were held in very rigorous con-
hnement. Ihelr release was one OF the
boldest efforts of the kind in history
and bids fair TO he entirely successful al.
tbouoI, thio lattor ,,oin+ 10 NOT asou,od az
0'7N 'Aii7 ''01 PoA''' 40 ~ vs. '-
the released men are still at sea III some
,,,,l..,,.., 1,.;.,,,, III rt,, a.,
unhho" II l"'i'u"e0' iii0 Ai0i'i" Si'e' LIZ
following history of the plan and execution
4.,.,;.
Vi 'no on'ol Pii'o
1t is now some two Years since the idea o.
releasing the Ecnian prisoners confined i,
Western Australia took definite shape and be-
gan to be acted upon. The chief reader and
prime mover in the enterprise is one of tht
bravest and most devoted OF the Irish national
lists, residing in one of our eastern cities but
whose name we are not vet ut liberty to di
vu'ge A remarkable fact in connection with
the whole business, which must be kept in
mi nd from the outset. is that from the begin.
ming to the present time only eight persons have
been employ ed as principals in the scheme and
these have made and carried forward ali the
plans and worked out all the details with never
a lack of harmony and not a whisper from one
of them during all these months which has cX,
cited even suspicion Of the great work they
were performing.
Bowie O'Reilv Of the Boston Pilot had been
at one time comrade in the army and a fellow
prisoner with these men in Western Australia.
BY extraordinary eXertlons he had escaped
being mainly helped bv the captain of an Amer
lean whaling vessel. He knew the country il,
which these men were confined; he knew BY
bitter experience all the dreary details of their
prison life His position as an Irish nationalist
was characterized bv untlinchin@ devotion 10
the cause, resolute determination, and hui
manity which rendered him intensely DESTROYS
of winning for his te!low-prisouers left behind
the prize of liberty which he had won for him
self. To him the chief actor resorted for a de-
tailed plan of operations in the matter: and ii
is due entirely to his judgment and thoroughly
wise arrangements that such ii measure of sue
cess was attained. But one other person in
Boston was a member of the ronspiracy Mr.
Dennis Is. eastman, like Mr.. O'Reilly, former
ly fellow prisoner (poiticaD in Australia
with the men Just released, and like him escap-
ing at the peril Of his life. These two associ-
ates have worked untlringly.
Were not the prisoners now atioat somewhere
on the ocean, the relation of the details OF the
scheme dis carried out would seem like rehears-
ing an idle tale. Toe prisoners i'll Australia
were scattered up and down the country hun
ureus of miles apart. The two best men We're
IN FreemantIe, one of the most strongly guard
ed prisons in the world, with 300 mounted ran
gers to scour the bush in all directions. in case
prisoner should eiude the vigilance of the III
side guard and work outside Altogether the
extremes Of the points Of Imprisonment Were
600 miles apart. The stupendous operation was
to be performed of releasing these men smulta-
ncously, by a plan concocted in country thou
sands of miles away, through men who must
continue their labors for months, yes, years,
and all the time be silent As the grave though
employing subordinates by hundreds, and com
PEELED to raise money by thousands. 1t has all
been accomplished, and it is believed every
prisoner is on his way to friend V port.
eastman knew Freemantle wei-it had long
been his miserable home. Boyle OReilly was
no whit behind him in knowledge of the lllaces
of confinement in the hated prison islan'l, and
both were familiar by experience with some
necessary operations in trial for escapement.
Sufficient funds were first raised, the faithful