The Wilmingtonian., 1885-03-28
THE STORY TELLER.
A Romantic Escape,


cause, he did what he could in the regiment
to promote the revolutionary movement
that began in 1868.
HIS connection with the Fenian insurrec-
tionists was discovered, he was arrested,
tried, and convicted in July 1866, to imprs-
onment for life.
This sentence was afterward commuted to
penal servitude for twen-y years OReilly
spent about year in the English prisons,
working in the chain gangs
In November, 1907, he was transported to
West Australia in the convict ship Houg1u-
mont, 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 accounts of the manner Of his es-
cape in February, 1869, have been printed.
The true story was not known until Mr..
o'Reilly had beeu in this country for ten
years or more, when time had removed all
danger of ofinculpating certain friends who
risked much in assisting him to free
dom.
In the list of absconders printed early in
1869 in the official Police Gazette of West
Australia there appeared this para
graph:
"2.-John B. O'Reilly. Registered num-
ber, 9843. Imperial convict arrived in
Colony per convict ship Houeoumont in
1868; sentenced to twenty years 9th july
1866 Description Healthy appearance;
present age, 25 years; feet Z! inches high,
complexion, an Irishman. Absconded from
convict road party, Bunbury, on the 18th of
February, 1862"
The man to whom Boyle O'Reilly owed
his liberty was priest, the Rev, Patrick
McCabe, "whose parish extended over hum
dreds of miles of bush, and whose only par
islioners were convicts aud ticket-of leave
men.
He was scholar and gentleman Of rare
accomplishments, ''almost always in the
saddle, riding alone from camp to camp, and
sleeping in his blanket under the trees al
night"
We continue the quotation from Mr.
o'Reilly's own narrative;
Gone day this remarkable man rode to my
hut, and we walked together into the bush
had then made all my plans for escape
and 1 freely told him my intention. It's al
excellent way to commit suicide he said
and would not speak of it any more. As h,
was leaving me, however, he leaned from
the saddle and said: Don't think of tina
slaId! Let me think out plan for you
You'll hear from me before long.
'He went away, and waited weeks an
months and never heard word"
81 was not compelled to work with th
criminal gang on the roads, but had charg
of their stores. and carried the warder'
weekly report to the Bunbmy depot"
"Fnally, one day on my way with thi
report, came to plain known as the Rae
Course, AS crossed 1t heard coo-ee, q
bush cry, and saw man coming towar
me. He was big handsome fellow, wit
au ak ON his shoulder. He came to me wit
friendly smile and said;
'My name is Mcguire, am friend of Fl
ther Macs, and he's been speaking aboI
you"
Seeing my hesitation he drew a card fro
his wallet, on which Father McCabe ha
written few words to me. Then trustt
him.
This was in December, 1868. Son
American whales were expected to touch
Bunbury in February for water. After tv
months of suspense, news came TO O'Rcil
os the arrival of the barks.
Mcguire had announced that he had a
ranged with the captain of one of the whf
ers, the vigilant of New Bedford, to crui
for two or three days just outside of Au
tralian waters. and take fugitives ON boa
from a small boat.
On the night of February 18th, O'Reil
waited until the warder had visited his III
put on pair of freenan's shoes, rs t
trackers could easily discern the mark of
regulation convicts shoes, and struck in
the BUSH
About ii o'clock came to tho old c.
vict station, lay down behind au old 81
tree at the roadside. In half an hour or
two men rode up, but they passed on; til
were farmers probably, or maybe patrol
mounted police.
Shortly after, heard horses coming at
sharp trot. They halted near me and
heard "Patrck's Day" whistled clear a
low.
In an instant was with thom-Magu
and another friend, Nj. They led
spare horse mounted at once, and wi
out a word we struck into the bush at a G
lop. For hours we rode on in silence.
They reached the shore, found sm
boat ready for them, and pulled about 70
miIes along the coast to the point VIII