The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1913-08-07


commanded the Catalpa expedition
to Australia in 1876 and who died OF
pneumonia in this city after an i'll
ness of a few days, had been in fail
ing health for a number of years.
Two years ago, while boarding a
vessel in his capacity as inspector of
customs, he fell down the hatchway
and was severely injured. His sight
had failed and he had been in poor
physical condition for some time.
To those familiar with Irish his
tory the name of Captain George S.
Anthony, skipper of New Bedford
whaling vessels, recalls at once the
career of John Boyle O'Reilly and the
rescue by the ship Catalpa of six
Irish political prisoners from. the
convict settlement at Fremantle har.-
Dor, southwestern Australia, in 1879
rs, when the escape of John Boyle
O'Reilly, who had left Australia in
an open boat February IS, 1859, was
still fresh in the public mind.
News did not travel fast in those
days Captain Anthony's brilliant
feat in rescuing the men and in carry
ing them off under the guns of
British man-of-war caused a COM
paratively slight amount of excite
ment, except among the Irishmen of
this country who had financed the
expedition. The Yankee skipper who
gave the men freedom at the risk of
his life and dared an international
feud in doing so, went without fur
ther reward until 1903, when he was
presented with a gold watch. A year
later he was given present of s4O0.
In 1875 the Irish-Americans OF
this country started movement for
the rescue of the six Fenian prison
ers who had been sentenced to the
convict settlement at Fremantle har-
Dor. These six men, because of their
activity of supposed activity in
the Fenian movement, had been
transported to Australia aboard
one of the old prison ships. Among
those prominent in perfecting plans
for the rescue of the Fenians were
John W. Goff, now New York judge,
who, like many others, was moved by
the pitiful appeal sent to this country
by the men who had been unable to
accompany John Boyle O'Reilly when
the latter made his escape.
Looking about for a ship, the
agents came across the Catalpa, lying
on the slip at East Boston. She was
purchased and Captain Anthony was,
engaged to take charge of the peril
Gus expedition.
From this point on Captain An
thony afterward told the story of the
expedition as follows: after nearly
a year at sea we reached our destina-
ton, the western coast of Australia.
There had been on the ground at Ere
mantle, sent on ahead of us and play
ing the part of moneyed American
investor, John j. Breslin, who was to
manage the land end of the rescue.
Long before the Catalpa had
reached the end of her years voyage
Breslin had communicated, at great
risk, his plans and arrangements to
the men who were to make their es-
cape. Fast horses and traps we're
hired; revolvers and rifles and long
linen busters to hide the convict
clothes were in the traps, and when
all was ready the dash was made
from the road on which the prisoners
were at work.
EBreslin's final order dropped to
the convicts was: Get ready; we
start tomorrow morning. We have
money, arms and clothes. Let no
mans heart fail him, for this chance
can never come again
The crisis came at 7.45 in the
evening. Three men in prison dress
were seen coming down the Rocking
ham road. They proved to be Mi
chael Harrington, Robert Cranston
and James Wilson. BreslIn shouted
to them to jump into Desmond's
wagon, which was On ahead. Des-
mond wheeled his horses around and
was ready to start when the other
three came in sight. Breslin himself
drove this team toward these and
found they were Martin Hagan, Jas.
Darragh and Thomas Hassett.
Then the daring rescue was on in
earnest. The two traps made quick
dash toward Rockingham. l was
down on the beach, having landed
the night before with my whaleboat
and a crew of splendid men. Down
the beach came the horses on a gal
lop. Breslin was leading and the