The Red Cloud chief., 1879-09-04
A PENIAN'S FLIGHT.
story Of the Escape and Adventases
Inhn lRaNla OfRsilIN.

4 FENIAN'S FLIGHT.
Story Of tn. E.esp. .nd Adventures Of
John Boyle O'Rssliy.
In the last issue Of the Boston Plot,
John BOYLE O'Reilly, its editor, gives
the first correct story OF his escape from
the penal COLONY Of IVES. Australia. To
which he was consigned as q Fenisn
some 10 years sgo. The story is as fol-
lows:
"For several months previous to the
date Of nv escape, I hsd been resolved
on and IN preparation for an attenpt.
No one knew my mind. hsd before
seen so many fail tha. / concluded it was
best 10 make the effort alone. Fortu-
nstely ] was dissuafsd frJm this pur-
pose. One dav I Vas visited ut the
camp Of the convict road party named
above by Rev. Patrick McCsbe, a Cath
Ole priest, whose parish extended
over hundred. Of miles Of bush, snd
whose only Pensioners were convicts
and ticket-of-lesve men. One day he
rode To my hut, and we walked tngeth-
or into the bush. | had then made al
my plans for escape, and I freely told
him my intention. at is IN excellent
way o commit suicide he said and he
would not speak of it any more. As ne
was leaving me, however, he leaned
( from his saddle and said: Don't think
of that again. Let NE think OF: q plsn
for you. You'll hear from me before
long l was not compelled 70 work
with the criminal gang on the roads,
but had charge Of their stores and car
ried the warden's weekly report 10 the
Bunbury Depot. On my way with this
report one day | came To a plain known
rs the Race course As | crossed IL
heard a 5000 ee,' or bush cry. and saw 8
man coming towards me. He was a big,
handsome fellow, with an AK on his
shoulder. He came To me with a friend
ly smile. my name is Mcguire he
said; I'm a friend Of Father Macs,
and he's been speaking about you |
said as little as possible, not knowing
the man. Seeing my hesitation he drew
out a card from his wallet, on which
Father McCabe had written a few words
TO me. Then I trusted him. He told
me that he was clearing the ra~ce-course,
and he would be at work there a month.
The American whalers, he said, would
touch at Bunbnry for water in February
lit was then December), and he was
going 10 make all arrangements with
n Of the captains for my escape.
PIE PLAN.
"Early in February, on my return
from the weekly trip with the report,
found Mcguire at the race-cOurse, wait
ing for me. Are you readyH he said.
hnn nf tho ,uholnra fhn harH Veil Mt
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.
Mcguire had every thing arranged.
On the night of the 18th | vas TO get out
Of my hut at 8 o'clock, and strike into
bush on a line of his selection; where
the native crackers would be at fault. |
had previously secured a pair of free
mans shoes, as the crackers could east
lv discern the mark of a cOnvict's boot.
Having left the camp, | was to hold a
straight course through the bush till /
.ie to an old convict station on the
Vase road, where | was TO lie till |
heard some one on the road whistle the
first bar of 'Patrick's Day This was
repeated again and again, till we were
sure we both had every point agreed.
Then we separated.
"At I O'Clock that evening the War
den of the convict party visited the
criminals hut, and found tina, all were
present. He saw me sitting in my hut
as he passed on his return. One of the
convicts came to my hut to borrow to-
bacco, aud stayed a long time, making
me very ervous He went away be
fore 8, however, and, as SOC as he was
gone, l changed my boots, put out the
light, and struck into the bush. The
forest was dark, but the stars were clear.
| had not gone 200 yards when saw a
man close TO me, evidently following
me. | waited till he came up. 1t was
a mahogany sawyer, named Kelly,
whose pit was close to my hut. He was
a good fellow-though he had been
transported for life. Are you Off?' he
said in a whisper. 81 knew you meant
it. / saw you talking to Mcguire a
month ago. and l knew it ALL | was
dumb with establishment and alarm.
IL this man had wished he could have
/ put the police on the alert, or he could
do it next day. He held out his hand
and there was a culver in his husky
voice. God speed you,' he said, Civ
ing me a grip like a wise I'll put them
on the wrong scent tomorrow if l cam
/ shook the manly hand in silence, and
kept on my way.
AT THE RENDEZVOUS.
"About IL o'clock l came Il the old
convict station and lay down behind a
great gum-tree at the roadside. In half
an hour or so two men rode up, but
passed on. They were farmers, prob
ably, but may be a patrol of mounted
police. Shortly after l heard horses
coming at a sharp trot. They halted
near me and l heard 'Patrick's Day
whistled clear and low. In an instant |
was with them-Maguire and another
friend, M. They led a spare horse.
l mounted at once and without a word
We struck into the bush at a gallop. For
hours we rode on in silence. At last
Mcguire, who led, pulled up, dismount-
ed and whistled. Another whistle was
heard and in a few minutes we were
joined by three men, two of them
cousins of Mcguire. The third took the
horses and went off after shaking hands
with me. We then formed in Indian
file, to prevent the discovery of the num-
Der, each one covering the others
tracks, and walked on for about an
other mile, till we came to q dry swamp
nea the sea.
REACHING THE SEA.
"Here NJ remained with me,
while the others went forward. M
told me that we were close to Bunbury,
and that the others were gone for q boat.
After half an hours anxious waiting we
saw a light, as if a match were struck,