The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-18
Was Prominent in the Uprising in
March, 1867.
COMPELLED TO FLEE TIE COUNTRY.
Took Part in the Plans Of Rescue Of
His Imprisoned Countrymen in
Australia.

be buried from the hall of the Knights of
the Red Branch, corner of Mason and
O'Farrel streets, this afternoon at ?
O'Clock.
Mr.. Stackpole was born in Killulysart,
County Clare, Ireland, about ffty-fve
wears ago. When the Fenian uprising
occurred on March 5, 1867, he took prom
inent part in the stirring events connected
with that event-in fact his Identification
with that movement was of such conspic-
uous nature in the city of Cork that he
was comp elled to fee the country.
After many trying experiences he sue
ceeded in making his way to Liverpool,
where he was given an asylum by wealthy
Englishman with whom he became ac-
quainted and who sympathized with him
in his distress. Having been almost raised
in the dry-goods business it was but nat
ural that he should seek occupation of
that character, which he soon secured, but
in 1869 he concluded to seek q home in
America and embarked for these shores.
His first business experience In San
Francisco was in connection with the house
of Keane Bros, on Third street, and after
that house became consolidated with the
firm of O'Connor, Moffatt & Co. he was
sent to France as the European agent of
the firm. During the two years he spent
abroad he continued to actively engage in
every movement which he thought was
calculated to benefit the Irish people, and
on returning to this country he took
partnership interest in the house of ]. J.
| O'Brien, where he remained year or two,
| when he was appointed Assistant Appraiser
in the Custom-house under Cleveland
! first administration, and continued to hold
! the position under President Harrison and
up to the time of his death.
| During his term of Office there were sew
eral strong but Intellectual attempts made
| to secure his removal A certain class of
| politicians sought by every means they
| could command to bring this about, but
their efforts only served to show the re-
! spect which the business men of the city
entertained for the deceased. The mem
bers of number of the largest importing
! houses in the city took an active interest
| in the case and succeeded in securing his
! retention.
| Mr.. Stackpole was pre-eminently an
| Irishman and as such he loved his people
and the land of their nativity. Hardly
| prominent countryman Of his own visited
! this city who was not entertained by him.
Although not married man, he occupied
very pleasant suite of rooms in Alameda
for the past fifteen years and was always
delighted to meet his friends. He was fire.
quently consulted by prominent Irishmen,
both of this country and Great Britain,
when any movement regarding the welfare
of the Irish people was under deliberation,
! 1t was in connection with the famous
rescue of Fenian prisoners from Western
! Australia that the most effective work of
! Mr. Stackpole was performed in the service
! of his countrymen. He was one of the
| leading spirits in the formation of the
| plans which resulted in the release of his
| friends, who had been sent to the country
mentioned under life sentences for par
| ticipation in the same uprising with which
| he had been identified.
| The organization of this movement was
! effected here and is a tale that has been
often told, but will bear repetition now
| that one of its originators has passed away.
! 1t was concluded to secure a vessel which
| could move about in the guise of whaler
without exciting much suspicion, and a
| ship called the Catalpa was obtained,
! fitted out with supplies for two years
cruise and sent to the waters off the Azore
! Islands to spend the first season, with in
| structionS that when the season was over
| the vessel should sail for the South Ameri-
can coast to prepare for the work of rescue.
The crew of the vessel had been shipped
in total ignorance of the mission upon which
! she was bound, only the captain, George
Anthony, and Dennis Duggan, the ships
carpenter, being made acquainted with the
| facts. However, after the vessel left the
! Azores she proceeded to Teneriffe Island,
where she put in for supply of water, and
| this change in the course of the vessel
aroused the suspicious of the first mate,
! Sam Smith, and it became necessary to
into the plans of the party with zest, and
proved an invaluable assistant
| When the vessel reached the vicinity of
Bunbury, 120 miles from Freemantle,
where the prisoners were confined, she put
| in to land, and communication was soon
| effected with John j. Breslin and Thomas
| Desmond of this city, who had preceded
the vessel to that country to take charge of
the movements on land. A plan of action
] had already been formulated by those GEN
! tlemen, and by it the captain was instruct
ed to have boat at a certain point on the
beach at Rockingham, twenty-five miles
! from Freemantle, at specified time, and
| to remain there for a period of fourteen
| hours. In the event OF the rescuing party
not putting in an appearance prior to the
expiration of that time, he was to under
| stand that something had gone wrong and
was to Immediately put to sea and remain
away on cruise for several months before
he ventured back to note development.
Fortunately, however, no such emer-
gency confronted the men as the rescue
was neatly effected on the morning OF the
| 18th of April, 1876. The six prisoners were
| hustled into two light wagons and hurried
away to Rockingham, where the faithful
! captain was found awaiting them with a
| boat and crew of five men.
| A start was made for the ship, which lay
at a point about thirty miles off shore
but the fugitives had scarcely got under
good Roadway when furious storm came
up. The vessel was sighted, but it was
found impossible to approach her because
of the heavy seas, and nothing remained
to be done except to keep in as close as
possible until morning when the storm had
subsidized.
With the dawn came fine weather, but it
also brought within their vision startling
sight Away off in the distance, but swiftly
bearing down upon the vessel which they
were attempting to reach, was steamer,
which it was afterward learned had been
chartered by the Government to go in pur-
suit of the fugitives and the mission of
which was at once surmised. Fortune did
not desert the men at this critical iuncture.
however, as the occupants of the steamer.
falling to discover the fugitives on board.
and believing that they were still on land.
stood in for shore, and the little boat in
which the rescue party were seated having
remained undiscovered in the distance, was
enabled to approach the vessel and place
its passengers on board.
Their troubles were not yet over, how
ever for inst as thew had trimmed their