Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1879-08-09
A FENIAN'S FLIGHT.
Story OF the Escape and Adventures OF
John Boyle o,lteiliy.

In the last issue of the Boston Pilot,
John Boyle O'Reilly, its editor, gives
the first correct story Of his escape from
the penal colony of West Australia, to
which he was consigned as Fenian
some 10 years ago. The story is as fol-
lows:
"For several months previous to the
date of my escape, l had been resolved
on and in preparation for an attempt.
No one knew my mind. l had before
seen SO many fail that l concluded it was
best to make the effort alone. Fortu-
nately I was dissuaded from this pur-
pose. One day l was visited at the
camp of the convict road party named
above by Rev. Patrick McCabe, Cath
ole priest, whose parish extended
over hundreds of miles of bush, and
whose only pensioners were convicts
and ticket-of-leave men. One day he
rode to my hut, and we walked toge.h-
er into the bush. / had then made all
my plans for escape, and freely told
him my intention. 1T is an excellent
way TO commit suicide he said; and he
would not speak of it any more. As he
was leaving me, however, he leaned
from his saddle and said: Don't think
of that again. Let me think out plan
for YOU. You'll hear from me before
long, / was not compelled to work
with the criminal gang on the roads,
but had charge of their stores and car
ried the warden's weekly report TO the
Bunbury Depot. On my way with this
report one day came to plain known
as the sRace-course. As / crossed it l
heard a scoo-ee,' or bush cry, and saw a
man coming towards me. He was q big,
handsome fellow, with an AK on his
shoulder. He came TO me with friend
" smile. my name is Mcguire he
said: sI'm n friend of Father Macs,
and he's been speaking about YOU l
said as little as possible, not knowing
the man. Seeing my hesitation he drew
out card from his wallet, on which
Father McCabe had written a few words
to me. Then / trusted him He told
me that be was clearing the race-course,
and he would be ct work there a month.
The American whalers, he said, would
touch at Bunbury for water in February
Ct was then December), and he was
going to make all arrangements with
one OF the captains for my escape.
THE PLAN.
"Early in February, on my return
from the weekly trip with the report, l
found Mcguire at the race-course, wait
ing for me. Are you ready? he said.
One of the whalers, the bark Vigilant
of New Bedford, was TO sail in four days,
and Captain Baker had agreed to take
me on board, if he saw me at sea, out
side Australian waters, and he had even
promised TO cruise two or three days
and watch for my coming out. es..
"Maguire had every thing arranged
On the night of the 18th vas to get oui
of my hut at O'Clock, and strike into q
bush on a line of his selection, where
the native crackers would be at fault.
had previously secured pair of free
mans shoes, as the crackers could east
IL discern the mark of eonvict's boot
Having left the camp, was to hold .
straight course through the bush till
came to an old convict station on the
Vase road, where l was TO lie till
heard some one on the road whistle the
first bar of .Patrick's Day This wa:
repeated again and again, till we were
sure We both had every point agreed
Then we separated.
"At Z O'Clock that evening the War.
den of the convict party visited tht
criminals hut, and found tha, all wert
present. He saw me sitting in my hui
rs he passed ON his return. One of the
conyicts came to my hut to borrow TO
bacco, and stayed long time, making
NE very nervous. He went away be
fore 8, however, and, as soon as he wa
gone, changed my boots, pat out thu
light, and struck into the bush. The
forest was dark ,butthe stars were clear
had not gone 200 yards when saw 6
man close TO me, evidently following
me. 1 waited till he came up. 1t Wa
mahogany sawyer, named Kelly,