New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-30
j. w. GOFF AS AN FRESHMAN.
HIS PART IN THE RESCUE OF SIX pRlsoNKRa
IN AUSTRALIAN

THE TALE OF DARING ESCAPE FROM DHITu1
PENAL COLONY TOLD By ONE WHO AIDED
1.-THE SERVICES OF THE MAN VINO
Is MALrGNED AS A RENEoADE.'
Aware Of the fact that John W. Goa. the en-.
didate for Distrct-Attorney, b one Of the strong.
est men on the Peoples Municipal League ticket
the Tammany orators and writers have made him
the especial object Of their attacks A. be =
extremely popular among the Irshmen OF thb
city, every attempt has been made to cast asper-
sions on his loyalty to the cause Of Irish Home
Rule At recent Tammsny meeting In Parepa
Hall, w. Bourke Cochran stigmaused Mr.. Con ~
renegade Irishman," and there was published
yesterday an attack on him which also rejected
on his devotion to the Of his fell0wcountry.
men.
Irishmen who are informed about the factA 0f
course, place no credence In these slanders which
In many cases have only served to impel Mr.
Goh's friends to work all the harder for him.
There may be some, however, who are not SUM-
ciently informed about his loyalty, and to such
the following narrative will be Of especial inter.
est.
The rescue Of six Fenian prisoners from tho
penal colony at Freemantle, Western Australia, in
1878, accomplished largely through the efforts
Of Mr.. GOff, and the story Of his efforts in behalf
Of the unfortunate men stamps at once as false
the accusation that he is q renegade Irishman."
Thomas Brennan, an officer in Part III Of tho
Supreme Court, was one Of the rescuing party, and
he tells the following history Of the daring plot
and its successful carrying out:
do not mind telling about the rescue now, Is
harm any longer be done any one on account Of
their connection with 1t. a number Of regiments Of
tJ,a prf eh c<of OF nuh In
That city at that time full Of Irish Nationasts.
who trel"ss In their devotion to their country's
ments. active efforts were made to win them over 70
the Nationalists cause and with great success Tho
irish Republican brotherhood The regiments which,
supplied the greatest number Of Nationasts were tho
10th Hussars the Prince Of Waes's own regiment; the
5th Dragon Guards ard the I'd Buff Infantry
ARREST OF THE SOLDIERS.
Information Of this movement, however, reached
tho Government In way, and immediate steps
taken to put q stop to 1t. 1t was carly In tho
winter Of '88, think when troops surrounded a
liquor store In ThOmasst, which was the headquarters
Of the soldier Nauonalsts, and arrested number Of
them. recollect the affair very we'll, because
the prisoners march down WerbOurghst. under arrest
Soldiers stationed all over Ireland had Joined the
Irish Republican Brotherhood and Of suspected
men were made in various places The accused men
fenced some to be shot and others to penal servtuds
for life. some prominent soldiers were among those
Sergeant Major Dariagh. who was stationed at Cork
He had been acting captain, At Deasoa Bay south
Others were Mccarthy, veteran Of the Cnmean War.
Of whom Lord Cardgan said In the House Of Lord, Lords
fag: Michael Hogan, the handsomest man and bess
swordsman Of the oth Dragons; James Wilson;
gagcments In the Crirnean War and Indian mutiny:
Thomas mas, iIassett Richard crsnston and John BOYLE
Carthy were Sent to the penal colony In Freemante,
Western Australia.
PLANNING THE RESCUE.
John Boyle O'Relly made his escape after servina
for few years. He got away on the Gaselle, IN
American whaler from NewBedford, Of vhAoh Csptain
Clifford was In command and Mr. Hathaway chief mate.
When John Boyle OReilly came to New.York he was
met at the st. Denis Hotel by Judge James Fitzgerald!
Captain augustine z. Costello and John W. Gof:
letters to this country. begging for aid
"A meeting Of IrishInen was held in Baltimore in
rescue Of the six men. Among % these wero JOHN ".
Goff and John Dewey, OF New-YOrk, James Reynolds.
%e to- o w M ad By S ps
O'Reily, and in the winter OF 1874 bought the bark
and ns s was by TO Anon
Her crew was made up of Malays and Kanakas from
the sandwich Islands who could not understand the
Mr.. Cot had been most active in collecting the
voyage, Dennis Dnssan was the only irshnaD IN who
sailed the Catalpa. The rest were to meet in
May iS 1873, Mr. Goa and remaining 'i on board I'd
until the pilot boat left her and took US back to
New Bedford.
MAKING THEIR WAY TO AUSTRALIA
John Breslin and Thomas Desmond. who afterward
became sheriff In Francisco, went to Australia by
way of California Mr.. Goff secured me passport to
the Azores, where the Catapa to pick up. She
was delayed however and 1 communicated with Mr.
GoR, who directed to 60 to Australia by way Of
England. l slowed myself away a fruit steamer
bound for England, and when I discovered, .
few day after we left the azores was arrested as
ever off Gravcsend before they could turn me over to
the authorities and went to Melbourne. When I
there. having gone into the sheep raising business I
worried at my trade shoemakns.
and John Walsh from Ireland. We communicated with
the prisoners ne ss ana tine tsalps which hal arrived and
all the Government officials were to be at a recatta
s sand the nr %as S ana e
The prison, big stone building. situated outside
Of Freemantle, and was surrounded by desertliko
We took three light wagons and concealed ourselves
near the prison. At a. M on the appointed day the
on the desert in gangs. and were not very closely
watched, as escape by land meant starvation and BY
disappeared in the bush and made for our wagons.
DRIVE FOR LIFE OVER THE DESERT
Then came thirty drive for life the desert
to where the had been hidden. We had previously
cut all telegraph wires leading to the prison. We
found the boat In charge Of Captain Anthony awaiting
u.s. and quickly rowed out to sea. At O'Clock In tho
evening sighted bark. but. storm arising. We
lost her again. l shall never forget that night. II
seemed that in the very midst of success We were
doomed to lose our lives but when daylight came We
saw the Catalpa again. We were almost exhausted
with efforts, but started In brsky to row tho
three leagues which separated us from the Catapa-
As we neared our vessel. British gunboat tho
Georgettc approaching her from the other side We
rowcd with might and main until we reached our bark
We clamberrd board Just the eunboat sent shoe
In front Ot our vessels bow.
As the Georgette came alongside, every ono OF NJ
armed himself end swOre never 70 be taken alive:
The British boats captain had hoai Of the escape OF
the prisoners and demanded their surrender Captain
Anthony. however hoisted the American rag and do
they would comply with the demand. The English
men narleyed for some time. but we were firm ana