The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-05-22
SELECT READING.
John Boyle O'Reilly's Escape from West
Australia.

O'Reilly enlisted in the Prince of
Wales regiment, thu Tenth Hussars.
lie was then about 10 years old. A
well educated boy, of ardent tempera-
ment, and sincerely devoted to the
Irish cause, he did what he could in
the regiment to promote the revolu-
tionary movement that began in 1868.
His connection with the Fenian insur-
rectionists was discovered, he was ar
rested, tried and convicted of high
treason, and he was sentenced in July,
1866, to imprisonment for life. This
sentence was afterward commuted to
penal servitude for twenty years.
o O'Reilly spent about year in the En-.
glsh prisons, working in chain gangs.
In November, 1867, he was transport
ed to West Australia in the convict
ship Hougoumont, crowded with felons.
For about thirteen months he worked
at road making near Bunbury in the
penal colony, associating with convicts
and ticket of leave men. Various ac
counts of the manner of his escape in
February, 1869 have been printed
The true story was not known until
Mr.. O'Reilly had been in this country
for ten years or more, wien time had
removed all danger of inculpating GER
tain friends who risked much in assist
ing him to freedom.
In the list of absconders printed
early in 1870 In the official Police Ga.
Sette of West Australia there appeared
this paragraph
"2-John B. O'Reilly. Registered
number, 9,S43. Imperial convict ar.
rived in Colony per convict ship Hon.
goumont in 1868 sentenced to TWEEN.
ty years 9th July 1866 Description
Healthy appearance F.; present age, 25
years 5 feet Z inches high, black
hair, brown eyes, oval vlsage, dark
complexion an Irishman. Abscon-
ded from Convict Road party
Bunbury, on the 18th of February,
1869"
The man to whom OReilly owed
his liberty was good Catholic priest,
the Rev. Patrick McCobe, "whose par
ish extended over hundred of miles OF
bush, and whose only Pensioners were
convicts and ticket Of leave men," He
was a ascholar and gentleman of rare
accomplishments, "almost always in
the saddle, riding alone from camp to
camp, and sleeping in his blanket un-
der the trees at night" "He was an
ideal disciple of Christ, says 30 Reilly,
"who labored only for his Master. He
was the best influence, indeed, in my
time he was the only good Influence
on the convicts in the whole district OF
Bunbury." We continue the quota
tion from Mr.. O'Reilly's own nara
tive:
"One day this remarkable man rode
to my hut, and we walked altogether
into the bush. l had then made all
my plans for escape, and freely told
him my intention. Its 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 the saddle and said : "Don't think
of that again. Let me think out a
plan for you. You'll hear from me be-
fore long.
"He went away and | waited weeks
and months and never heard word.
| was not compelled to work with the
criminal gang on the roads, but had
charge of their stores, and carried the
warder's weekly report to the Bunbury
depot. Finally, one day on my way
with this report, l came to plain
known as the Race Course. AS !
crossed it heard coo ee or bush cry,
and saw man coming toward me with
friendly smile. My name is Ma
guire, he said; Il am friend of Faith
er Macs, and he's been speaking about
you Seeing my hesitation, he drew
card from his wallet, on which Father
McCabe had written few words to
me. Then ! trusted him.
This was in December, 1868. Some
American whalers were expected to
touch at Bunbury for water. After
two months of suspense, news came to
O'Reilly of the arrival of the barks,
Mcguire announced that he had ar
ranged with the Captain of one of the
whalers, the Vigilant of New Bedford,
TO cruise for two or three days just
outside of Australian waters, and take
the fugitive on board from a small
boat. On the night of February 18th
OReilly waited until the warder had
visited his hut, put on a pair of free
mans shoes, as the traokers could
easily discern the mark of regula
ton conyicl's boot, and struck into the
bush.
About / o'clock came to an old
convict station, and lay down behind
an old gum tree at the roadside. In
half an hour or so two men rode up,
they passed on they were farmers,
probably, or may be patrol of mount
ed police. Shortly after, heard horses
coming at sharp trot. They halted
near me and heard "Patrick's Day"
whistled clear and low. In an instant
| was with them-Maguire and anoth.
er friend M. They lead spare
horse. | mounted at once, and with
out word we struck into the bush at
gallop. For hours we rode on in ST.
lence.
They reached the shore, found a
small boat ready for them, and pulled
about forty miles along the coast to the
point where they expected to meet the
New Bedford whaler. No one had
thought to bring food or water, ,and for
tyenty-four hours or more the suffer
ings of the party were intense. AT l
o'clock on the third day they made out
the Vigilant, under full sail, steering
north. They pulled toward her with
light hearts.
She was steering straight toward us,
so We stopped pulling and waited for
her But we were bound to be woful.
ly disappointed. When she was with
in two miles of our boat she fell off
several points, as if to avoid US. Every
one stared in amazement, Mcguire say
ing that Captain Baker had given his
word as a man, aud he could not be.
lieve that he would break 1t. One of
the men stood up in the boat and gave
loud hail that must have been heard
on board. No answer, Again he hail
ed, and we all joined in the shout. No
answer. 1t only seemed that the vi