Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1908-03-03
SARSFIELD CLUB CELEBRATES EMMETT DAY.
Enthusiastic Gathering City Hall Gave Great Welcome 10 Cap
lain Anthony. Mayor Thoms, Judge Cowen and
Other Guests Of Honor.

was deserving of hem all,
for much of the credit of
last nights successful event
rests on the shoulders of him
who the mayor referred to as the
coming city attorney" In his OPEN
ing remarks the POSTMASTER stated
that the banquet was in way to do
honor to two great men-Robert En-
met and Captain George Anthony. He
spoke in glowing term sof the bravery
Of Emmett, the sacrifice he made by
giving his life for his country while
he was in the prime of manhood. And
what of Anthony? Although Irish
blood was not in his veins he risked
his life for the Irish cause and should
be enrolled on the list of Irish heroes.
Mayor Thoms was the next speak
er. He received one of the most en-
thusiastic ovations that has perhaps
ever been accorded man in this
Icity-that is considering the number
there. He declared that Irishmen of
Waterbury should feel proud in view
of what they have done in this city.
Fifty years ago there were only few
Irish families in Waterbury while at
present the Irish are indeed promin-
ent in the town. The best mayor the
city ever had he said was the son of
an Irishman and declared that e. G.
Kilduff filled the mayoralty chair in
a manner superior to all others who
have occupied it, He referred to the
time when at college he wrote a pa
per on two great patriots, Nathan
Hale and Robert Emmett, and ended
by asking the audience to give an old
fashioned Irish welcome to Captain
Anthony. .
AS the old sailor was introduced he
was given three rousing cheers. Cap
tain Anthony, who is now harDor
master at New Bedford, placed there
by President Cleveland and which
position President Roosevelt has made
a life job. is getting along in years.
but still looks hale and hearty. He is
a small man and his voice last night
was very weak. so much so that those
beyond the speakers table had diff
Guilty in hearing him. Captain An
.thony told of leaving New Bedford on
the 29th of April, 1875, with his
whaling ship. 1t was thought that he
was going on whaling trip, that was
the opinion of all with the exception
of the few who knew his real mis-
sion. They struck the west coast of
Australia on the eth of March.
1876. Then began a battle or
startegy with the custom and the gov
eminent officials. How to get the pris-
oners free and how to get them on
board the whaling smack was no lit
tie task Anthony related briefly the
trials and troubles of the first few
days, of the suspicion with which he
was looked upon, of his constant
worry as to whether the men who
were aiding him in making the res
cue would do their part, the unfav-
orable weather conditions and finally
his arrest by the custom house Of
Gals for landing barrel of pork on
the dock after his vessel had been
cleared. IL was amusing to listen to
him as he related how he argued
with the custom officials and he was
finally excused for the offense when
he had convinced the officials that IL
was all mistake. He told of how
they again thoroughly searched his
vessel before they would allow him
to go free and again of their failure
to discover all the hidden things I'M
der the floor of the hull. Then how
they finally left port pretending to be
on their way, how they sailed along
until they passed bend which shut
out the view from the harbor, how
care had to be taken so as to keep the
ship out of range of the signal sta
ton, how the men at length left the
ship and went into narrow strait
with their row boat, how they en-
camped for night in the beach grass
and how the next morning they were
spied by lag from the lumber camp
nearby, 1.-THE lag suspected they were
trying to rescue Kenneth Brown who
had murdered his wife), how sudden
ly the six prisoners came riding up on
horseback. how clad in their linen
busters they jumped from their steeds
and ran for the boat, the difficulty of
getting out of the strait and the haz-
ardous task of keeping the boat from
capsizing because of the heavy sea.
Then of that Wild night which fol-
lowed. when the men despaired of
ever reaching the ship. how their lib
sail which they had run up was al
most blown away, how the boat al
most filled with water and the bucket
brigade had to get busy. how the men
half of whom were sea sick were
suffering from hunger. and how i'm
possible il seemed to ever reach the
ship. Then the next morning OF their
run with the Georget which endeav-
ored to cut them of from the ship
when the English captain discovered
that something was wrong.
The captain waxed warmly when
he related how the Georget. the Eng
lish vessel. passed early in the morn
ing and was hoodwinked because the
men were lying in the boat. one on
another. But later the Georget de-
cided to cut the boat OF from the ship
as il was convinced that something
was in the works and thought IL best
to keep the rowboat from reaching
the ship. But the Georget lost by a
nose: the rowboat won out and reach
ed the ship in the nick Of time. The
reseuing party and the rescued men
thought everything was now serene.
and that during the night they would
get far enough away to be out Of
danger But the night was as calm