The Irish standard., 1901-04-13

Richmond was one Of the strongest
jails in Ireland; but it was entirely
wanting in these facilities for super
vision which the modern prisons with
radiating corridors possess. At the
head Of one of the several stone stairs
which connect the ground floor cell
system with the upper tier ran Il short
cross corridor of six cells. The door
between the corridor and stairhead
was of heavy hammered iron, nearly
an inch thick, and secured by lock
opening from either side. The cell
doors were likewise of wrought iron,
fastened with ponderous swinging bars
and padlocks. The other end of the
corridor was closed by similar door.
In these six cells, thus cut off from
the rest Of the prison, Stephens.
Luby, OI.eary, Kickham and Rossa
We're confined. In the sixth cell,
that between Stephens and Kick
ham. the governor, Mr.. Mar
guess. placed a young lad named
Mcleod. an ordinary prisoner, with
instructions to listen ut night and ring
his cellgong if he heard anything close
by. Lest there might be any tamper-
ing or undue communication, no ward
er or other person was allowed in the
corridor at night. but Il warder and
policeman We're placed outside the
locked door. At the latter no watch
was deemed necessary. Military
guards and sentries, and a detachment
of police, had been plentifully placed
in the prison when first Stephens was
committed; but the Castle raised a
pretty squabble with the prison board
rs to the expense Of these men. and
they We're almost all withdrawn. A
dispute over ten or twelve pounds cost
the government the prize for which
they aftcrward offered thousand, and
would have given five times as much
right readily.
Vain We're all bolts and bars, iron
doors and grated windows, to hold
Stephens in that prison. IN anticipa-
tion of such a possibility as that which
had occurred some of the prison Off
GERS had long previously been secretly
secured as sworn members of the 81.
II. b. One, j. j. Breslin, was hospital
superintendent; another, Byrne, was
night Waterman, whose duty it was to
patrol the whole building, yards, and
| passages, from "lockup' ut night to
unlock each morning. Rreslin had
a pass-key for all interior doors;
Byrne had one for interior and ex-
terror. The moment "the captain" was
brought in, wax impressions, or molds
of these keys We're taken, aud dupli-
Gates were ut once manufactured by
an expert hand among the brotherhood
in the city.
AS long, however, as the sentries and
patrols were around, free access
through the doors was of little advan-
tage. Fortunately for the Fenian
leader, the dispute about expense (al-
ready referred to) drew off the danger.
BY Thursday, the 23d of November,
the coast was clear; and it was decid-
ed that on the following night his libe-
ration must be effected.
Night came. Lookup and final in
spection We're duly completed. The
warders paraded and gave up their
pass-kcys to be locked in the COVER
nors safe. The watches were posted,
and sang out "All's we'll" Stephens
did not go to bed Mt all. He sat up
through the night, aware that some
time between midnight and morning
his delivery would be ut hand. The
elements were propitious. For years
Dublin had not been visited by such
a storm Of wind and rain as howlcd
through the pitchy darkness of that
night The prison clock had chimed
one when Stephens heard stcalthy
football approach. The starhcad door
was unlocked. a friendly tap at his
own door, and soon it swings open.
Daniel Ryrne and John Brcsln are
outside. Softly they descend the stair,
each man now grasping revolver,
for desperate work has been begun.
They gain the yard and reach the
boundary wall at Il spot outside which
confcdcratcs We're to be in waiting.
They fling over the wall few pebbles
the prcarranged signal In answer /:
small sod of grass is thrown to them
from the other side. Then they bring
from the lunatic prisoners day-room,
which is close by, two long tables,
which they lay against the wall. A
rope is thrown over, which Byrne and
5rcslin are to hold while Stephens dc
sccnds by it on the outer side. Hc
mounts the tables he gains the ton
and swings into the arms of his friends
Fellow. Though rain is falling in tor,
rents. and each one is drcnchcd to the
skin. they bound with joy and en-
brace eifusivcly. Stephens is hurried
Off with Il single attendant to the asy.
lum already selected for him in the
city. and Ryrne resumes his duty IA.
troll!
At O'Clock in the morning Mr.. Phil
pots. deputy governor, was eXcitc(lly
called by Byrne. who, faithful and
vigilant officer that he was, reported
that he had found two tables in the
yard close by the boundary wall, and