Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-01
DE VALERA FREED
BY AIDOF FLIRTS'
Pretty 'Co.eds" Fooled
Guards While Sim Feiner
Broke Jail"
TIPPED in GAELIC SONG
Mysterious Escape, With Use
of False Key, Revealed
i'm Paris

Paris. March 1.-while the news
papers of the United Kingdom are still
speculating over the mysterious escape
from Lincoln prison in England of Ed
ward de Valera. the Sim Fein leader
the manner in which it was effected on
February 8 has become known here. It
was related by Sean O'Ceallgh, 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 n passport secured by a subterfugc.
He said:
Because OF De Naleras importance
the strictest watch was maintained upon
the prison. and where he and twelve
comrades were Jailed it was most diff
cult to get word to De Valera concern
ing his escape.
After the general elections the first
meeting of the Republican members of
the Irish Parliament was held January
Z. and another week later, at which
the prisoners were discussed. A COM
mittee was appointed to take charge of
the question of their release. The first
result of that committees activity was
the escape of De Valera.
clipped on In Gaelic Song
The first move was to communicate
with De Valera, which was very diff
ficult. However, one Sim Feiner started
working or a garden plot near the
prison He attracted De Valera's at
tention one day by singing Sim Fein
songs in Gaelic. in which he told the
leader an attempt would be made to
rescue him.
Got Impression OF Key
This man appeared again several
days later and again sang a ballad in
which he told De Valrea the rear exit
! of the prison was most feasible for the
attempt. He asked him TO secure an
| impression of the key to the gate. The
| impression was secured.
THE sentries about the rear Of the
| prison were a grave menace to the plans.
| The committee tried to find girls in the
neighborhood who could be employed to
| influence them. This attempt was given
up however. and finally a telegram was
sent to Dublin for two handsome young
women, both highly cultured university
| graduates, who arrayed themselves as
shopgirls and crossed the channel
"The girls deliberately set out 10 flirt
| with the soldiers and soon came to know
/ most of the guards. De Valera was in.
/ formed by code IN letter that february
! was set for his escape and the pro-
/ cedure to be followed was outlined.
"On the eve OF February four motor
cars. packed with Irishmen, were sent
wandering about the country near Lin
coin to serve as decoys for the police
At 4 O'Clock the prisoners were brought
in from their period of exercise. They
then had 81 three-hour period for wan
dering about the prison before they
were locked up.
"In the dusk, shortly after o'clocl,
the girls appeared and entced the
guards from the rear of the prison as
far as possible. Then two Sim Feiners
quickly cut a path through the barbed
wire.
AT o'clock De Valera. with Nc.
Garry and Millroy (the two Sim Feiners
who escaped with De Valera) sauntered
TO the back gate. Their friends outside
crept up and opened the gate with the
false key while the sentries continued
their Irritation with the girls. An au.
tomobile was waiting and De Valera was
whisked away to London, while the
police chased the decoy motors.
Where is De Valera now? I cannot
tell, but he will be here on time when
he is wanted"