The Washington times., 1907-04-24
OLD FENIAN RAM
MAY Be SHOWN
AT JAMESTOWN
Admiral Jim Keegan Asks
for Clearance
Papers.
Would Steam Her Down
From New York
Himself.

NEW YORK, April 24-Admiral jim
Keegan. well known along the, water
front as a sturdy and intrepid skipper,
is awaiting a decision Of the Depart
ment of Commerce as to whether the
old Fenian Ram, the first submarine
boat 10 be built, and which at one time
during the Fenian agitation convulsed
England by her appearance on the other
side with a threat TO put the British
navy out Of business, viii be permitted
10 occupy anchorage along with the war
ships Of the navies of the world.
Admiral Jm's craft, which he dug
up in the Connecticut river and brought
to Raritan bay, preparatory to fitting
her out for the exposition, is being look
ed over as a suspicious character by
United States inspectors, who doubt
whether the venerable old submarine
is seaworthy enough 10 take down her
crew and passengers to the jamestown
Exposition as the guests Of Admiral
Jim.
Built in 1867.
In 1867. when the Fenian troubles were
a tHeir height the Fenian Ram was
built and fitted out and sent to the
other side by Irish sympathizers in
America. The United States Govern
ment Secret Service sIeuths were sue
cessfCily euchred, and the first thing
the world knew was when the subma-
rine started for British waters, pre-
Dared to annihilate the British navy" a
series of mishaps prevented any dam
age TO Queen -NtCtoTia's fleet and the
Fenian Ram drifted back 70 the United
States ana found a temporary grave in
the Connecticut river.
When the first news Of the jamestown
Exposition became public. and the mat
ter of having every country IN the world
represented at the exposition with
Warship was announced. Admiral jim
keegan decided that ireland would
have a warshiD ut the Southern expo
sftion also. he found and resurrected
the Fenian Ram in the Connecticut
river, and managed 10 drag the forgot
ten old craft 70 this harbor. Then he
arranged for q crew Of half dozen
of his friends including George Fian-
merry, who is 10 be the first officer; Jim
O'Bricn. who has been commanding the
good ship Manifest for several years.
and James Lynch, who is known 10
every man and boy along the water
front Of Brooklyn ard Manhattan.
O'Brien is To be second IN command
and LF1ch will work the gasOlens en-
CINE which viii send the Fenian Ram
speeding Gown the coast at the rate OF
Z knot yer hour.
Must Be Seaworthy.
The Government officers declare that
they must first be satisfied that the
Fenian Ram is seaWorthy before she
will be permitted TO san from this port.
Then the permission for anchorage room
has to be received from Secretary Net
calf, and if that is not forthcoming,
Admiral Jim declared today that he
would take his vessel down to James
town anyway. and fly the Irish flag out
side the main roads. in defiance Of the
hated emblem on the British Warships
now at anchor or jamestown.
The Fenian Ram looks Ike a minia-
ture double-decked ferry5oat. or like
one boat built right atop OF the other.
In the days of her activity she used
10 sutmerse 70 her upper story, 50 TO
speak, but on the proposed trip to
jamestown, when Admiral Jim Keegan
expects 10 have ABBOTT two dozen guests
aboard. The OLD submarine viii float
gracefully on the waters surface. with
Ter upper story sticking high above the
waves like q fancy superstructure Ad-
miral Jim said today that the green
flag with tie suntuTst in the center, the
same that was flown at the time Of the
Fonian troubles. viii take the place of
The old Irish green with the harp n
the background