Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-14
DEATH OF CAPTAIN PHELAN
NOTED PARTICIPANT IN IRISH
FENIAN CAMPAIGNS.
Accused of Treason and Stabbed in
O'Donovan Rossa's Office
Twenty-Three Years Ago.

KANSAS CITY, Mo-, September IA
Can't Thomas Pkelan, who was charged
with treason to the cause of Ireland by
ODonovan Rosa, chief of the dynamite
campaign against Great Britain and was
murderously attacked in ROssa's New
York office January 10. 1855. died yester-
day in this city. which had been his home
for twenty-five years.
Capt Phelan was born in Ireland In
1885, but travelled much about the world
and won the reputation of an expert with
the broadsword and the pistol. He served
with distinction in the Union army and
was promoted for gallantry in action.
His activities in the Irish cause first be-
came generally known after he had been
nearly killed by Richard Short in New
York 1t then developed that Capt. Phe-
Ian had gone to England from America In
1883, about the time that ten men were
sent from this country by the leaders OF
the Fenian cause hers for the purpose of
killing Carey, who had turned ln1ormer
against O'Donnell.
Murder of Lord Cavendish.
1t was charged that O'Donnell had MUIR
dered Lord Frederick Cavendish and I'm
der Secretary Burke. and there were laid
to him other political crimes and part OF
the campaign of murder and destruction
which a portion of the Irish leaders sup
ported al that time.
What Phelan really did during that visit
NAV never be known and it did not at
tract public interest until Short attacked
him in New York and inflicted eleven stab
wounds. Phelan shot at Short when the
latter was taken to his side to be fdentl-
fed. but the bullet glanced OFF metal
badge in Shorts pocket. 1t then ap-
reared that Phelan had been quoted a
week previously in the Kansas City Jour-
nal as having given an interview describ-
ing how he had prevented an explosion OF
dynamite upon a British steamship, the
British Queen.
Phelan was reported to have said that
while he was in England in 1888 he
learned that J. F. kearney. an Irish
agitator. plotted to blow up the British
Queen with dynamite. but took no part IN
that plot himself until 1t had failed.
He explained then that the plan was
merely to destroy British vessel as one
of series of outrages in protest against
British rule of ireland. 1t subsequently
appeared that Carey. the informer, was
Queen, but failed to do so. Barrels
marked cement found in the hold OF
the vessel and not claimed. were opened
and Internal machines were discovered
in them.
In telling the story in the Kansas City
paper the name of the Anchor line steam
ship was given. and Phelan was quoted
as saying that kearney had reported his
failure to blow up the vessel after 1t had
locked in Liverpool because the passen-
gers were taken off in a tender and he
was unable to attach the mechanism
which should have caused the explosion.
No dynamite was found on the Queen.
Phelan said he had informed the steam
ship officers to prevent an explosion at
sea and the death Of many innocent per-
sons.
Told of Dynamite Plans.
The story attributed to Phelan gave
many details of Irish plans for dynamite
outrages and aroused violent wrath
among the so-called Irish patriots. then
very active in America.
Capt. Phelan was overwhelmed with
letters Of denunciation and threats and
started at once for New York to explain
his position. He was attacked by Short
IN Rossas office the day after his arrival
He recovered, and the affair lost interest.
He was never again in the public eye
until as champion of Capt. Alfred
Dreyfus he issued a challenge to a duel
20 Maj Esterhazy in 1899. Capt. Alfred
Dreyfus had just been convicted a sec
ond time. The challenge received no at
tention.