, 1879-08-16
A PENIAN,s FLIcuT.
Story Of the Escape aud Adremtxres
John Bowie (,sRriUu

Story Of the Esedpe aud 1fdre,stxres o,
John Boyle O,ReiUy.
In the last issue Of The Boston Pilot. John
Boyle 0'Reiily, its editor, gives the first cor.
rect stnry of his escape from the penal COLO
ny OF West Australia, to which he was con-
signed as Fenian some ten years ago. Tie
story is as follows:
For several months previous to the date
OF my escape, ! had been resolved on and in
preparation Tor an attempt. No one knew
my mind. had before seen SO nany fail
that concluded 1t WAS best TO make the
attempt alone. Fortunately / was dissua-
ded from this purpose. One day vas visi-
ted at the camp of the convict road party
named above by Rev. Patrick McCabe, a
Catholic priest. whose parish extended
over hundreds Of miles OF brash, and whose
only Pensioners were conyicts and ticket-of-
leave men. One day he rode to my hut, and
We walked together into the bush l had
then made all my plans for escape, and I
freely told him my intention. It is an ex-
cellent way to commit suicide, he said; and
he would not speak u 1t any more. As he
was leaving ne, however, lie leaned from
his saddle and said "Don't you think OF
that again. Let me think out plan for you
You'll hear from me before long l was not
compelled to work with the criminal gang
on the roads. but had charge of their stores
and carried the warden's weekly report to
the Bunbury depot. On my way with tins
report one day l came to a PLAIN known as
the Race Course As | crossed it heard a
'coo-ee,' or bush cry, and sax a man coming
toward me. He was big, handsome TEL
low, with all axe Oh his shoulder. He came
to me with a friendly 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, lot knowing the
man. Seeing my hesitation he drew out a
card from his wallet, OF which Father Nc
Cabe hai written few words 10 me- Then
| trusted him. lie told ME he was clearing
the race course, and he would be at work
there month. The American whalerS, lie
said, would touch at Bunbury for water in
February (t was then December), and he
Was going to make all arrangements With one
of the captains fur my escape
TIE PLAN.
Early in February. on my return from
the weekly trip with the report, l found Ma
puire at the race course, waiting for Inc.
Are Won ready = he SAID Ore OF the whal-
ers, the bark Titiiam 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, outside Australian waters, and ne had
even promised TO cruise two or three days
and watch for my coming out
"Maguire had everything arranged. On
the night of the 18th was to get out oi nay
hut at O'Clock, and strike INTO bush on a
line of his selection, where the native track
ers would be at fault had previously Sc
cured a pair of freeman's shoes, as the track
ers could easily discern the marx OF a con-
yict's boot Having left the camp, l was 10
hold a straight course through the bush till
came to AN old convict station on the Vase
road, where | was to lie TIL | heard sone
one on the road whistle the first bar VI Pat
, rlck's Day This was repeated again and
au:.in tIll We were sure We both had every
point agreed. Then We separated.
! At O'Clock that evening the warden CT
the couyict party visited the criminals hut
AID found that all were present He saw
he sitting Ill my Eut as lac passed on his re-
turu. Oae OF the coavlctS soon after came
to nav hat to borrow tobacco, and stayed a
:
. went away before s, however, and, as soon
as he was gone, | changed mg boots, put out
til. Eight, and struck into the bush. the
! forest WIS dark, but the stars We're clear.
had not gone two hundred yards when
SAW man close to me, evidently following
! me. | waited TIL he camo up. 1t WAS ma
hogany sawyer named Kelly. whose PIT was
close to my hat. He WAS good fellow
/ though he had been tran ported for hle.
i Are you off, he said in 4 whisper. i
| knew You meant it. l saw You talking IA
Maguire month ago, and l kuew 1t all.
! was dumb with astonishment and alarm. Ii
this man had wished lie could have put the
police IN the alert, or lie could do 1t next
| day. He held out liS hand and there Was a
GuiveI IN his husky Voice God speed You,
he said, giving me a grip like wise: III
put them on the wroas scent tomorrow II
can l shook the manly haad in silence,
/ and kent Oh nv way.