The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-08
CASH FOR THE DYNAMITERS.
The Shooting of 0DOnOvan Rosa Causes
Large Increase in His Income.
Fenian SkiTmishing and Dynamite Funds
What They Amount to, and How They
We're Collected and Expended.
MONEY FOR IRELAND.
How the Various Funds Were Collected, and
How They Were Disposed Of


wound is his fortune. Before he received it his
income from the contributions of the dynamters
had fallen very low, but his daily mail has since
brought in money to the aggregate up to tonight
of not less than $400, with indications that the
collections are being so stimulated that he will
get twice as much more next week.
It is pretty hard to get at the exact amount OF
money that was raised in Fenian funds, skirm-
ishing funds and dynamite funds. 1t is not diff
fcuit, however, to learn from different persons
concerned how most Of it was expended. At the
close of the civil war, in 1865, Fenianism under
O'Mahony in this country and Stevens in Ire
land, was in full blast. Money began to pour
into the treasury. Large numbers of officers in
the various volunteer corps of the Union and
confederate armies, who were either Irish or Of
Irish descent, Joined the Fenian ranks, and hosts
of them were quietly shipped over to
Ireland to work the organized fight
ing material there into military shape.
These men were paid out Of the Fenan
treasury, according to their rank, that is ac-
cording to the rates paid to United States
officers. This in itself was heavy draw upon
the funds; but it enabled the military Irish
American to have a good time in Ireland and
they enjoyed it like officers and gentlemen. At
this time the British lion was fast asleep, and was
at last aroused by the square-toed boots of the
gentlemen in question. The police authorities
were more than puzzled at the unusual number
of foreign-shod fellows with slouch hats and
bronzed faces that staggered through the quiet
6ttle Irish towns and villages, spending money
freely and spelling for the coming fight" No
Soubt there were scalawags among them, but
Sith these exceptions they were all picked men
Of splendid records as soldiers OF course, it
has often been said that they were towards. that
they did not fight because they were 'afraid of
the police and that they were simply known
SIS living upon the wages of poor Irish servant
girls in this country, etc. Well, this is one side
of the story, and, true false, it is repeated so
often that it is becoming tiresome and it may
be as well, just for the variety of the thing, to
give the other side.
DISAFFECTIoN AMONG BRITISH TROOPS.
am informed that most Of the officers who
went to ireland were carefully selected by John
OMahony, because of their promotion for brav-
cry in the field and the story of their failure in
Ireland can be told in a few words Their pres
ence in that country aroused the suspicious of
the authorities They made little effort at con-
cealment. principally because they knew that
their bronzed faces would be apt to give them
away under almost any circumstances The po-
lice machinery was set in motion, and the Brit
ish authorities were astounded at the discovery
that many regiments of the line in ireland, and
ali the militia were thoroughly honeycombed
with Fenianism. This was in '65. The proceed
ing on the part of the British government at this
juncture was cautious and wise. No excitement
was shown. No arrests were made The disaf-
fected regiments were, one after another, quietly
spirited out of the country, and when the time
came for calling out the militia, no call was
made They were left severely alone
and unarmed. In this way the whole
nucleus of the Fenian army was wiped
away without the firing of single
shot This was the blow that settled the bust.
ness for the Irish American officers. They were
recalled They obeyed orders, and that is the
whole of it. The government then dealt with
the leaders of the movement OF course some
officers refused to return and started little side
shows in the name of Fenianism, which, of
course, could amount to nothing.
There. now, is the other side of the story.
Probably it is just interesting as the old one.
1t certainly goes to show that in the eleventh
hour the British government was too smart for
the would be revolutionists. What the latter
could have accomplished if the government kept
on sleeping it is idle to speculate. It is not
probable that they could have effected the sepa-
ration of Ireland from England, but they GER
tainly came very near starting a most formid-
able rebellion In the light of little common
sense and inquiry the thing does not seem SO
ridiculous as it has been SO frequently represent
ed; and to say the least of it, there is some
ground for the suspicion that the oft repeated
charge against those men of knavery and cow
ardice is made more in blind prejudice than in
good faith.
1t will be seen that the cost of this organiza
ion in Ireland, and its incidental expenses, drew
heavily from the treasury of the Fenians with.
out counting the immense cost of arms, which
had now to be provided for, in the absence Of the
arms which Stevens thought the government
would put into the hands of the militia, which,
in Co. might be termed his militia, and with
which the row was to be started. The quiet set
back that the organization got in Ireland created
impatience Plans were made, and the money
was rapidly gathered, for the arming of the
''men in the gap;' but it was necessarily slow
business, and the impatience had already begun
to manifest itself here 1t is said that at one
time as much as $4,000 day were poured into
.he treasury, out of which Stevens got SIS, 600 a
day; but the work of arming the men was car
ried on so slowly that the eagerness of the
American Fenians, as they were called, exploded,
and the disruption of the organization, and the
attempted invasion of Canada, followed This
movement was condemned and opposed by the
!ong-headed men of the organization with one
exception, the glib tongued and decidedly
eloquent b. Doran Kilan He favored the
capture of the island of Campo Bello, the "sensi-
tive nerve as he called it, between this country
Canada. Up to the period when that movement