The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-24
JOHN BOYLE O'RE|lY.
HOW THE FAMOUS POET ESCAPED
FROM A PENAL COLONY.
He Left II in an Open Boat-Became .
Traitor 10 Great Britain to Save
His Native Island and Was Be-
trayed in Turn-Plot to Enlist.

A recent telsgraphic dispatch from
Charles,cwn. Mass. announces the death
OF Mrs. Mary A. OReilly, widow OF John
Boyle OReiliy, poet and patriot This
mortliary information brings before the
mental vision 4 wondrously strong figure;
brings to mind the story of thrilling es-
cape from a penal imprisonment in Aus
tralia. which had its final successful out
let in this City of Bro,heriy Love: brings
10 tongue-tip with fond thoughts, the
lines Of ore Of the grandest poems that
the English language ever gave grace 10.
which bears the title of In Bohemia" of
which John Boyle OReiily was the au-
thor. as the apostle of those who aspired
only TO be enrolled with the names that
are writ in the book Of gold,r says the
Philadelphia Times.
John Boyle OReiIly risked his life and
his homer in 1868 by going from England
To Ireland and sniisting as a trooper in the
Tenth Hussars. with the intention of aid
ing in oyerfhrowiDg the monarchy OF
course. this was treason. He became a
potent figure IN the Prince Of Wales
Own" He was looked upon as a model
warrior. When i5.s"o British soldiers had
been enrolled in the ranks of the revolu-
tionists, through treachcry. the royal au-
thorities Were given the key TO the en-
tire revolutionary scheme; this happened
in September. 1865. It would take news
paper pages 10 tell the story Of the man
ner in which 0Reilly became involved IN
the Fenian plot, but suffice to say, with
in the confines Of our brief narrative that
on Wednesday. June q. 1855, on the eve
Of his twentysecond birthday, OReilly's
trial by court-martiaI began In the mess
room OF the Eighty-fifth regiment at the
Royal barracks. The charge was: "Hay-
ing al Dublin, In January. 1866 come to
the knowledge of an intended mutiny n
her majesty's forces in Ireland and no.
giving information of said intended mutiny
to his commanding officer" OReiliy mad
flye fellow prisoners. He was sentenced
TO death, but on the same day that pro-
posed punishment was committed to life
Imprisonment. and subsequently to twenty
years penal seryitude. After snending
months in the living bells OF English pris-
ons, such as those of Pentonville, Mill
bank and Dartmoor. he was transferred 10
Portland preparatory TO Transportation be-
yond the seas 10 the expatriation of Aus
tralia. he becoming one of the criminal
population Of Fremantle. His proud spirit
could not brook such restraint. The plot
for his release was hatched in this city:
successfully brooded and Matched Az a
result the Police Gazette of the District
of Western Australia, contained In Feb
ruary. 1880. the following announcement:
ABSCONDED.
o-John B. O'Reilly, registered No
ssfS Imperial convict; arrived in the coll
ony per convict ship Hougoumont in 1865.
sentenced to twenty years, 9Th July. 1866.
Description: Healthy appearance: present
age % years; feet ~ inches high, black
hair, brown eyes. oval visage dark COM
plexion, an Irishman. Absconded from
eonrict road party, Bunbury, on the 18th
of February, 1859"
Through the noble work of Americans
o'Reiliy. after almost incredible hardships.
escaped from the penal settlement OF
Whicn ne had become part on a New
Bedford bark, whose captains name was
Clifford, and whose third mate was Henry
c. Hathaway. In order to prevent detac-
ton 1t was found necessary at the last
moment to take aboard one of the worst
characters in the penal colony, Martin
Bowman. or Beaumont. ticket-of-leave
man. who had discovered the plan of es-
cape and had threatened TO reveal IL 10
the police. After escaping numerous dam
gers, two months later, the Gazelle put
into the harbor of Roderique, a small
British island in the Indian ocean, 10 take
aboard supply of fresh water. The SUBJ
sequent happenings are CLEANED from the
life story of O'Reilly. as told by James
jeffrey Roche. O'Reilly's escape had been
telegraphed to Roderique and to other
quarters whera the bark would be Uk,lv
to stop. Just before sunset on the day
OF her arrival at the British island men
toned boat came alongside with the
governor and guard of police on board,
Hathaway was on the ships deck: beside
him stood O'Reilly.
Have you a man on board named John
Boyle O'Reily?' was the officers first
question. Hathaway knew nobody of that
name. but on the officers describing him.
remembered that man answering such
description. but named Brown, had been
on board and died two months before In
the straits of Sunda. Brown" was the
name by which O'Rsilly went on board the
Gazelle. The governor thereupon de-
manded that the crew be mustered for
inspection. and the men were accordingly
drawn up in row. One stowaway was
promptly recognized as fugitive from
justice and put under arrest but the Off.
GERS found nobody answering to the 10
scription of No. SSE. The convict Mar
tin Bowman would have oscar too. but
for his own savage conduct Ever since
his arrival on the ship he had been the
bully OF the forecastle Among the suf-
ferers from his brutality was a Young
English sailor who could not lose SO good
a chance OF getting rid Of and even with.
his tormentor. The officers had passed
Bowman by when this Voung sailcr with
A jerk OF his thumb and a knowing look.
indicated him a suspicious character
He was accordingly subjected TO a closer
examination. recognized put under arrest
and taken to the ga lxway. As ne want
over the side he turned to o'Reillv. and
with a wicked leer. said Goodbye. ship
mate" The action and words were
marked. OReilly well knew what they
rneant-that Bowman had singled hin, out
so that the officers would remember him.
when, after reaching shore. the convis,t
should offer 10 compound for HIS own an
sconding nv giving M the other and more
important fugitive.
As soon as the boat had departed Hath
away and o'Reilly held z council OF war
Capt Clifford was fortunately on shore
II would have been a serious thing for
him Ia risk his ship. and perhaps his fraa-
dom. by protecting fugitive-fe lon frol,
fe-eapture. oReflIy vas desperate. bu,
firm in his determination not IN DO taken
alive He sad oh;airef a revolver and
was prepared 10 sell his life dearly rather
than ae taken hack 70 the nensi settle
rnent and the inevitable horrors az the
ehain-gang. Hathaway VAS ieeYly stirred,
but retained his coolneSs. as the Yankee
sailor hoes in every emergency.
Leave this tatng 70 me- he said ..a1s
] think I can study out some better way
o. settling fl"
by this time u had become dark. The
men were all below except ire anchor
watch. There was Aini 81 locker under
the q hin cou'ranion-way. which was nsea
sometimes ny the steward 20 store dishes.
exc. II was large enough 20 hold a man.
with some squeezing. ard was covered
by one e the stair boards. The Dartu,oor
cells were moro Foosny, bat less camferta-
bic. Hathaway quickly formed his nlan
ard untcidad Il 10 O'Reiliy. II was FOR
the latter 30 walk aft with small grin T.
!. u ~. y htnh hanrsrs.i - he ha-s- sa-.>