The sun., 1919-03-02
DE- VALERA'S ESCAPE
TOLD BY O'CEALLIGH
Elaborate and Clever Plot En-
ployed to Free Sim Feiner
From Prison.
GIRLS USED AS DECOYS
While They Flirted With Sol
4 diers Irish Confcderates
Used a Duplicate Key.
GIRLS USED AS DECOYS
Bv the Associated Press.


PARIS, March 1.-while the news
papers OF the United Kingdom are still
specializing over the mysterious escape
from Lincoln prison in England Of Ed
ward de Valera, the Sim Fein leader,
the manner in which he effected his
break from captivity February has be-
come known here. 1t was related to the
Associated Press by Sean O'Cealligh. the
prominent Sim Feiner. who Is here ask
ing the Peace Conference to recognize
the Provisional Government of the
Irish Republic" having crossed the
Channel on a passport procured by a
subterfuge.
"After the midnight arrest of Edward
de Valera near his home In Greystone."
Mr.. O'Cealligh began, The with twelve
comrades was sent to Lincoln prison. the
other Sim Feiners arrested being dis
tributed in order to avoid concentrating
them at any one Jail. Because of De
Valera's Importance the strictest watch
was maintained upon the prison. No
friend or relative was allowed to see
him or his comrades. They were per-
mitted to write and receive only three
letters each weekly. The most stringent
censorship possible was maintained over
their mail and both outgoing and IN
coming letters had to pass through Lon
don for inspection. It may be seen
therefore, that It was most difficult to
get word with De Valera concerning his
escape.
Many Held without Charges.
Tho feeling in ireland Is intense be-
cause these men, against whom no
charges have been preferred, should be
kept in prison. Included among the
prisoners in the various jails were
thirty-seven members of Parliament
After the general elections were over
the first meeting of the Republican men,
bers Of the Irish Parliament was held on
January Z and another a week later az
which the matter of the prisoners was
discussed. A committee was appointed
to take charge of the question of the re-
lease OF the incarcerated comrades and
the FIRST result of that committees activ-
ity was the escape of De Valera.
THE committee selected a number OF
men for the Job who had been tried by
IRE and who would not be too timid in
case there was gun play. The first task
was to survey the prison and discover
the possibilities of a forceful coup. The
prison lay In an isolated part OF the
city. The rear looked out on a large
open space. Just outside the back gate
was a small patch of ground on which
the prisoners were allowed to exercise
under guard.
Getting Word to the Prisoner.
This place was surrounded by a series
OF barbed wire entanglements. Several
armed wardens watched the prisoners
while they were out, and at sunset a
force of military was thrown about the
prison. Because of this military It was
decided to be unwise to try to rush the
place for fear OF loss OF life and the
probable death of De Valera.
1.-THE next move was to communicate
with De Valera, which was very difficult
However. one Sim Feiner started work
ing on a garden plot. OF which there
were several near the prison. He at
tracted De Valera's attention one day by
singing Sim Fem songs in Gaelic, In
which he told the leader that an at
tempt would be made to rescue him.
The warder's suspicious were moi
aroused, because 1t was not uncommon
for Irish workmen to be about the
prison.
This man appeared again several
days later and again sang a ballad, In
which he told De Valera that the real
exit of the prison was the most feasible
for the attempt and asking De Valera
TO procure an impression Of the key to
the gate.
THE impression OF the key was OBJ
tanned. am not quite sure Of the
method, but l presume it is the same
as the one I myself employed at one
time, which was making n paste OF
bread and soap and then distracting the
warder's attention while the big key
was slapped into the paste for a second
This impression was wrapped in paper
with stone and thrown to the singer
In the garden plot.
Watch Becomes Strfcter.
while this was going on four Sinr
Feners escaped from the Usk Prison II
Wales and this caused the authorities