The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-13

ARRIVAL IN NEW YORK OF PATRICK TIERNEY,
THE LAST BUT ONE OF THE FENIAN MILITARY
PRISONERS SET FREE AFTER THIRTEEN YEARS
IMPRISONMENT.
The City OF Chester, which arrived last night,
brought to these shores the last but of the pris
held by Great Britain the charge Of Fenian-
ism. His name is Patrick Tierney. and he had been
confined at Spike Island Prison, in Cork Harbor Ire
land for nearly thirteen years. He was arrested in
May 1866, charged with stabbng with intent to kill.
an informer named John Warner, and upon the 2lst
of June following convicted and sent
to the prison named, where he remained,
enduring hardshps or less severe. until the
4th of the present month. when he taken OFF in
small boat from the prison and placed on board the
City Of Chester. The Queens pardon was granted on
the 18th of November, and is conditional upon his
again setting foot upon English territory. At
the time of his arrest Terney soldier in tho
Eghty-seventh Royal Irish Fusileers. known as the
"Faueh-a- Ballagh' regiment and was only
twenty-five years old. He appears to be
in good health and spirits and talks cheer
fully of the future. He entered the British army at
the age of eighteen and consequently about seven
years in the service when convicted Previous to be-
coming soldier he had been a leather worker, and
while confined he learned the stonecutter's trade.
His mother died in 1872 while he in prison and he
informed of the fact until few weeks ago,
when he learned it from his brother. Mr.. Tierney
took up his quarters at Sweeny's Hotel.
in Chatham street, after his arrival and was
there called upon by number OF re.
porters, to whom he told the story of his
suferings and release He complains of the treat
ment he received at the hands of the principal warder
of Spike Island Prison, who loaded him with chains
and then forced him to do the work Of man with
free limbs. That official he says told him on his ar
rix af fha hat ha fha
meanest pickpocket within the walls and would be
made to feel 80 before he left it.
ATTEMPTS ESCAPE.
On one occasion, driven to desperation by unjust
and invidious hard treatment, he tried to escape
fined bread and water for months and then. being
convicted of an attempt to escape, was treated with
increased rgor Although suffering from an abscess
in the back and pains in his limbs caused by wearing
heavy fetters he not allowed to go into hospital
His release came about through visit from
his sister. in March last. He told her how he
treated, and her. efforts in his behalf
resulted in the sending OF commission
r0m q Dublin Ss cs f nn nqurS ne tn
Sir Walter Crofton and DIR. O'Connor, OF Cork. who
of the Commission. After that royal commits
the political prisoners Its members the Right
Hon. Spencer Talbot and Sir Henry Holland. men,
bers of Parliament.
SENT INTO PERPETUAL EXILE.
They examined the prisoner as to his treatment.
and were kind enough to inform him that Her
Majesty had graciously determined to release him.
On November 20 he informed by DR.. Barlow.
Of Spike Island, that he about to be set free
condition that he should leave the country forever.
Tierney asked if there was no alternative and was
told there none. Then he asked that his friends
be teegraphed that they might see him before ha
should leave He was told that if he did not leave
just then he could not get away for fourteen days
more. and he had only ten minutes to decide Tho
prisoner said he had been long confined that few
days more or less not Of much consequence and
he would wait to the friends from wnom he had
been separated long. Pending the time Of release
thus postponed the Doctor offered to admit Terney
in the hospital, where he could have some little COM
forts and nutritious articles of food.
would you have permitted me to enter the hos
ptal but for the fact that am recased? asked the
long suffering prisoner.
Certainly not" was the reply.
'Then I'll get along without your nutriment for
the time have yet to remain" said Tierney. and he
did so.
His friends permitted to have an interview Of
twenty minutes duration with him. and then he was
left indoubt when he should be set free. He
notified day Ave minutes before the boat left the
island. Seventeen pounds ten shillings and ten
pence given to him the earnings OF
his thirteen years, and he marched down
to the boat by the Deputy Governor. Instead OF
being rowed to Queenstown, to be put on board
Of the tender, he was pulled round the island In =
small boat by prison warders and put on board the
City of Chester. The officers and men treated him
with great kindness. and he had prosperous pas
sage or little more than eight days.