The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-08-08
A REMARKABLE ESCAPE.
Flight from n British Penal colony
The True story of the Adventures
of John Boyle O-RciIiy-


Boyle O'Reillv. its editor. gives the first
correct story of his escape from the pen
al colony OF West Australia, to which he
was consigned as a Fenian some ten
years ago. The story is as follows
At last, after more than ten years of wait
ing, ! am relieved from promise not to state
the full particulars of my escape from the
penal colony of West Australia in 1869. The
account / have heretofore, given publicly or
privately, has been true in detail: but il has
not been the whole truth, nor have the events
been placed in the actual order Of their Oc-
currence. The suppression and alteration
were made Tor the sake of those who ran
great risk i'm helping q prisoner to escape.
ON my arrival i'm the United States i'm No
VembeT, 1862 / was beset ON all'Sides for the
story of my escape. To meet this and the
better to protect the liberty and lives of the
brave friends who helped me 90 leave the
penal colony, / related as many incidents of
my escape as could be described without in
Producing their names OF assistance. 1t has
always PANIED me 10 Keep back so much that
should be told, thereby making il appear
that l myself had done everything without
assistance. The only account" / have hith-
ertO written was a wholly fictitious one,
which | had TO send to Australia to the man
who was the manager of the actual escape.
In case of his arrest, or of his being suspect
ed OF helping me to ''abScoud,' he would
produce this extraordinary document and
cOufOuud all the evidence that could be col
but one of those who helped me TO leave the
colony are living, to receive NY public ac-
acknowledgement and gratitude. Capt. David
r. Clifford, on whose ship was received and
well treated for several months, Is dead. The
penal code has ceased to be a living law i'm
Western Australia. I'm the following ac-
count therefore, / need only suppress the
names of those who are still connected with
the government of the colony. 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 1 concluded it
was best to make the effort alone. FOTtu-
nately l was dissuaded from this purpose.
One day ] was visited at the camp at the
convict road party named above by the Rev.
Patrick AicGabc. Catholic priest. whose
parrish 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 together
in the bush. ! had then laid all my plans for
. escape, and l freely told him my intention.
1T Is an excellent way TO commit suicide. ~
he said and Ec would not speak of il any
more. As he was leaving me, however, DE
leaut from the saddle and said Don't
think of that again. Let me think 0ut plan
for You. You'll hear from me before long
PLANNING TEE ESCAPE.
I was not compelled TO work with the
criminal gang ON the road, but had charge of
their stores and carried the warder's weekly
Ignal. 10 the BUuauTE depot. On my way
with this report one day, came to plain
known as the Grace Course 90 As I crossed
Is heard ''coO-Ce,' - OF nE~l CTE- and saw a
man coming toward me. He Wg- biz. hand
some fellow, with Gu axe ON E.~ shoulder.
lie came TO me with friendly smile. My
name is Ia-uiTe,' Lr said; 81 friend of
Father Macs, and he's been speaking about
YOU ! said as little as possible, not know
ing the man. Seeing my hesitation, he drew
. ont q card from his wallet. ON which Father
NcCGhe had written few words 60 me.
. hon tool r-.|H Il
clearing the race course, and he would be at
work there Tor q month. The American
whaier-, lc said, would touch at Buubury
for water in February Git was then Decgui-
beT), and hc wds going 10 make aIl arrange
mcnts with one of the captains foTWy escape.
Early in February, ON ny return from the
weekly trip with the report louUd'hagUirc
at the race course Warrington me. Are you
ready" he said. One OF the whalers, the
bark Nigiiant. of New Bedford Mass. was
to sail i'm four days, and Captain Baker had
agreed to take me on board. II he saw me
at sea outside Australian waters; and he
had even promised to crnise two or three
days and watch formy coming out Mcguire
had everything arranged. ON the night of
the 18th was 10 get out of my hut at s % clock
and strike into the bush on q line OF his Sc
lection. where the native tTacEcTS would be
at fault I had previously secured "a pair of
freemau'S shoes, as the trarkerS could easily
discern the mark Ola convict boot. Having
left the camp I was to hold a straight course
NIlItN-iL tttt it~Ii il-t tlil 20 tlll blt4
station, on the Vase road, where ] was to
. lie till ! heard some one ON the road whistle
the first bars of "PatTick's Day" This was
' repeated again and again till we were sure
we both had every point agreed. Then we
separated At O'Clock that evening the
waTder of the convict party visited the Grim
iuals' hut and found that all were present.
lie saw me sitting i'm my hut as he passed ON
his return. One of the couyicts soon after
came TO my nut to borrow tobacco, and stay
ell long time, making me very nervous. lie
. went away before s, however, and as soon as
he was gone, changed my boots put out
5 the light and struck into the BUSH
START FOR LIBERTY.
The forest was dark, but the stars were
clear. I had not gone POO yards when ]
saw man close to me evidently following
me. ] waited till Hc came up. 1t was a ma
. hOgauv sawyer, named Kelly, whose pit was
close 10 my hut. lIe was a good fellow
4 though he had been transported for life.
'.Arc You OF 2' he said i'm q whisper. u
knew vau meant It, ! saw you talking o.
. Mcguire q month ago, and / knew IL all
was dumb with asJonIsMncnJ and alarm il
this man had visited he could have put the
P police on the alert. or he could do 10 next day.
He held out his hand, and there was guiyeI
in his voice. God speed you. he said, civ.
inc me a grip ike a wise TN put them on
the wrong scent tomorrow, t can
shook the manly hand in silence. ard kept on
my way About II O'Clock l came up to tn,
old convict station, and laid down behind q
great gum tree az the roadside. In half al
hour or SO two men rode mp, but they passe,
on. They were farmers, probably, OF may ID,
= patrol OF mounted police. Shortly after
heard horses coming at sharp trut. IheA
halted near me, and ] heard ''Eatrick's Day
whistled clear and low. IN an instant | Was
. with them-Maguire and another friend
NJ They led a spare horse. / mounte,
at once. and. without word, we struck int,
the bush at gallOp- For hours we rode OF
in silence. At last Mcguire, who led, pulie,
! up, dismOuuted, ana whi>tied. Anuthe
whistle was heard. ana i'm few minutes W,
We're Joined by three men, two of them con
+ sins of Mcguire. The third took tIC horses
and went of after shaking hands with mc
We then formed in Indian file TO prevent TIN
the others tracks, and walked on for aJou
another hour, till we came To q dry swami
near the sea. Here NJ remained with mn
while the others went forward. NJ toll
me chat we were close to Bunbury. and tina
, the others Were gone FOR the boat Ate
half an hours anxious waiting we saw
light as II ID Odd. .al were struck at half "a mil
distant This "a- repeated three times an
, we then went forward. We found Nagur
waiting for us on a itt-ic bridge across tn
road. They mad the boat ready. and he lc
the way. We had t. walk through mud u
10 Tine Knees ts5ioach tie water. In halI
: minute Mcguire and / WeIe in Tire boa
. + NJ remained Gu shore. Come uu.
/ . whispered Mcguire. NO, 80 answered UGl
NJ with % trembling voice 81 promise
r my wife not to 20 in the boat" .'AUright.
suec.ed one of the M1gnires go home [
your wife" As we pulled silently 0ut
, sea we could discern NJ standing ON "a
! beach
= IT WAS Not COWAHDICE.
D lie was brave man, as he proved afta
e . ward, and + hope the time may come when
. shall be free lomrUtiul his 1lrfe We WEI