The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-07-11
THEY Made THEIR q
e. " g a
How the Fenia,1 Prisoners lrIzE-X
aged 10 Get Free from West
MI, err Australia. s$ .zs' 6.
John Breslin of New York and
Captain Thomas Desmond Of
San Francisco Rescuers.
A Daring Deed in Which the Men
Took Their Lives in Their n
s Own Hands. .. a. ..5
81 81 ;]l j \

Own Hands. .s... \. b. N
In reviewing the history Of the rescue
Of the Fenian prisoners from Free
mantle in Western Australia, I regret
exceedingly. that have not the ability of
doing 1t Justice and would prefer some
ether gentleman skilled in the art Of
composition, would describe it SO that
the younger generation and descendants
Of the Irish people may know the IN
donitable energy of men who were fight
ing for freedoms cause in those days..
However I shall try to place before the
readers q brief synopsis of the rescue ct
those prisoners who were transported to
Western Australia for expressing opin-
ions on the nefariols English NAL adj
ministration in Ireland which were Oh
noxiols to the British crown, writes M.
f. j. in the San Francisco Nation.
the United States were fully bent upon
rescuing the prisoners and for Dhis pur-
nose Mr.. Collins and Mr.. Johnson were
selected from among their brethren to
carry out the bold and difficult design.
1t was indeed a. desperate undertaking
for two men in the vigor of life and with
bright prospect before them in the land
Of Uncle Sam to take their lives in their
hands. for If caught in the attempt that
would certainly be the result. But they
were men who hated the oppressor's rule
and they cheerfully rished their lives TO
,iberate their fellow countrynlen from a
cruel and unjust incarceration in. q Britt
ish dungeon. They were endowed with
The spirit of Enmet whose fidelity to the
cause Of liberty and justice was never
questioned. @ - s.s8
They left San Francisco in September,
1875, and arrived in Freel1antle in No
yember of the same year. On their ar
rival in that most distant portion OF the
civilized world they observed the situa-5
tion in itsatrlle aspect and it seemed al
most impossible to accomplish the dan
gerouss mission upon which they had
embarked. A prison is as large as san
quentin with wall % feet high sur
rounding il, a troop of Cavalry, nurosrrs
|ous detectives and a man -Of-war prOEecs3
ing It,. and an overwhelming English
population. Such were the obstacles
these men had to contend with but they
were not to be deferred from accomplish
ing their purpose by SEEMING impossiblt-s
tiles. They went there fully determined
to put heir plans into execution and 70
rescue those six noble patriots from
land foreign to their nature-their life
blood ebbing away for the want Of
proper care and from the I'm nbearhble at
ulcsphere. But while they were Lam
gushing in Freemantie their fellow
co1ntrymen in the United States were
planning their rescue. Their Efforts IN
this respect were not in vain for they
successfully carried out to the satlsfac~
ton of everyone concerned their ulsl-
mate object and ireland once again pro-
claimed the valcr of her sons. ,s.
! can assure you that Freemantle !s the
last place on earth that a man would so
to look for work. Consequently each
new arrival is looked upon by the detec4.r
tives as. suspicious character ora
ticket-of leave man. That class OF men
have a mortal dread Of q Fenian,--thelT
skin full Of dirt imagines that ne itsHYa4
devil in human form. 1t was thus nechsaHs
sary for Mr. Collins and MIR. Johnson :Tto-
pass themselves off as Americans Wll
had come to that part Of the sco9lIfggyy
with view of specializing in the mines
OF the neighborhood. This enabled them n
to see and hear al THAT was going ons p!
and at the same time perfect all tnear5
plans for the escape of the six Irish pFls-5
oners. They remained In Freemantfae as
FOR about six months and about that
time had everything ready. I should re-
mark that previous to this time the Fe-r
mans of the United States and Canada
had purchased a. ship in New Bedford.
Mass. named the Calalpha, and stocked
her with provisions for a two years
whaling cruise. AS a matter Of fact she
did cruise for a. season III order to divert
81, r,,,3} . tho English blood hounds In