The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-30
THE FENIAN LEAGUE.
wonderful Story About Sixty Thousand Stand
of Arms and Park of Artillery.
Toll

Oh arms ana a Rark OF Artlllery.
Toledo o., Special
Since the recent dynamite explosions in Lon
don, our Irish American citizens have been un-
duly excited, and have discussed the question
without fear or favor.
Said John Cavanaugh: II think the work was
done by the English detective force"
''What reasons have you for that statement"
asked.
"Well, the situation is this The English gov
ernment has lately dismissed many of it's detect
ives and explosive experts. Times are hard.
ard the men, to get employed, let OIL small
amount OF dynamite where it would do the most
| good, frightened the people, and consequently,
| the government now has to employ them. No
| lrishman would make war on women or chill
dren, though some innocent blood may have to
| be spilled before Ireland receives her rights"
John OConner, who fought bravely on the
Union eide during the war, and has been re-
| spected citizen SINCE remarked 1.-The dyna-
miters do not pursue tie right course in blow
| ing up public buildings. They shculd touch up
| the heads of government, like Gladstone ard
| Forster. They are the men who hold Ireland
| In slavery. If they could be removed, new and
good men would be appointed to their places
who are friendly to Ireland. What / think is
the most remarkable phase of the whole affair
| is England asking sympathy from the United
States. What sympathy did England show the
| United States during the civil warl She ran
| the blockade and furnished the South with arms
! and ammunition to carry on a bloody war, and
would have rejoiced if the Union had been sev-
cred, and now cries out for pity She deserves
what she got. and no pity from the citizens Of
| the United States"
| learned subsequently that there was pow
erful league in the city composed of Irishmen
who were sworn to secrecy, ard who were DOW
erfully armed and equipped. Hardly believing
this story, made several inquiries among the
friends OF Ireland, but could learn nothing until
by chance l struck a friend who would talk, pro
viding no names should be used, as the disclos-
ure might result in death to himself and friends.
He is well known in the city and holding
position of vast responsibility. His statement
was as follows
You perhaps know that after the war the
Fenians were organized, who were to strike
England through Canada Well, that organiza
ton exists today, powerfully armed and
equipped"
.'It is said you have arms concealed in this
city
THAT is not strictly true, but we have 1900
stands of arms burisd outside the city with
1000 cutlasses and as many revolvers and at
least 3d. 200 rounds of ammunition. But that is
not all, for near here, in Michigan, we have
park of heavy artillery supplied with caissons
and ammunition, which can be produced ready
for action, in day"
us that the extent of your resources?"
by no. means. The League owns 100, 900
stands of arms, besides artillery. ammunition.
revolvers and cutlasses enough to equip an army
OF 200, 900 men. This, perhaps, seems a ridic-
ulous story to you, but it is true Sixty thou
sand guns are concealed along the lakes and
Canadian frontier, in the handso of trusty men,
Buffalo, Erie, Cleveland, Toledo and Detroit are
the principal bases of supplies"
How did you obtain your arms!"
That was easy enough. Immediately after
the war funds were raised and committee ap-
pointed to purchase arms. l was one of that
committee, and in company with two others, in
1865, visited the principal military posts of the
South, and picked up an enormous quantity of
arms for nominal sum. These we had shipped
to Pittsburg, and then we commenced our work
on Belknap. We barganed with him for a
while, and at last he agreed, upon being paid
$4,000, to exchange the improved guns for our
old, worn-out muzzle-loading muskets. Bel
KNAPP got our check for $75, ,000 and we got the
guns. You know how our attack on Canada
failed, but we still retain our guns
have had an offer for the revolvers but will not
sell them. l can say nothing of the future, but
have been dogged by English detectives since
once by two of them whom I called to my ROOM
told them their business and told them to skip
They went over the border. My story may seem
remarkable, but it is true. l can tell You no
more, for the death penalty is enforced on all
who disclose the secrets of our order"
This is the story told and not denied, by prom
inent Irishmen, who seem greatly astonished
that it has leaked out. The story was con-
firmed by another member in conversation with
me tonight.