Year: 1876







| The Fesiaa Prisoners in HesteTIi A,aStrdlia
Set Free.


N Y Herald 7th.


1 A rumor which reached the city yes
terday evering, to the effect that all the
/ Fenian prisoners confined in western
Australia had escaped, created consider
able excitement among the Irish portion
/ of the population, and much anxiety was
manifested to learn the details of the
affair


At length, gentleman was found who
/ is cognizant of the whole affair, and who,
though very reticent on the principal
points, was quite willing to communicate
certain facts which would, as he said,
''show Mr.. Disraeli the extent of the
mistake he had made in refusing to grant
an amnesty" The following is his state
ment substantially:


The American public must be aware
that several humble members of the late
Fenian movement, mostly soldiers of the
British army, have been detained in
prison for the last ten years, although
the leaders have been long released.
They were tried by court martial for
mutiny, desertion, and other military
crimes, and all direct mention of Feni-
anism was scrupulOusly omitted from the
indictments, so that the unfortunate men
might fall in for none of the benefits of
an amnesty to political prisoners. They
were not recognized as political prisoners
| at ALL Petitions for their release have
been time and again sent to the British
government. thousands of people have
attended meetings to advocate amnesty,
and every possible effort has been made
to procure their release, but all to no
purpose. Finally, tired of waiting, and
hopeless of any good coming from ayfyeais
to Eneiand's mercy, some of tie IRIS
oners' friends made up their minds to
see what force could do, an8 commenced
to organize for a rescue 1t is now over
four years ago since lady in this city.
who is now dead and who was a devoted
friend of the prisoners, received letter
from one of then, asking that something
might be done for them, and pointing
out the fact that rescue was possible.
The letter was, of course, smuggled out
of the prison. From this point a regular
correspondence was started, and after
careful inquiry it Was found that the
prisoners could all be rescued if money
enough could BE- got to defray necessary
expenses. How to get the money without
exposing the object was the problem to
be solved, and considerable difficulty was
experienced in procuring it. How the
m oney was raised, who subscribed it or
how it was applied, 1 am not prepared to
make public just now, but a time will
come when it can be done, and the facts
will rebound more to the credit of the
Irish revolutionary party than anything
that has occurred for many years. Thou
sands of men know of the fact that an
attempt was to be made, though the de-
tails were known to a very limited num-
ber-possibiy fifteen at the outside. A
great deal had to be risked and many
personal sacrifices had to be made by
individuals, but finally the thing was got
into shape and over twelve months ago
gentleman eminently qualified to carry
out the enterprise started from here for
Australia and commenced operations.
1t was a peculiarly difficult and delicate
task and required a man of unusual
ability and tact to perform it. The
prisoners were often separated from each
other and scattered among gangs of con-
victs through the bush, working at va
rious kinds of employment, and were
liable to be changed at any moment to
another working party or sent to the
chief convict establishment at Fremantle.
1t was very difficult matter to arrange
everything SO that simultaneous dash
might be made by all the prisoners, and
that they might all be safely conducted
so the point of embarkatien. Fortunately
there are no troops in western Australia,
but there is very strong police force,
and every colonist is certain of q large
reward for the capture of any escaped
prisoner. The escape could only be
effected by having a good horse for every
man and supplying him with a respect
able suit of civilian clothes and a good
Ievolver, and as most of the Fenian
prisoners are old cavalry men they could
very well take care of themselves if once
together and well mounted and armed
The great difficulty would be in pro.
curing a ship to take them, and in
making connection with her, but fortune
seems to have favored the prisoners this
time in sending an American shin inst
at the right time, whose captain was
willing to take the passengers on board
That portion of the story, OF course, can
only be told when the escaped men ar.
rive here. About the 9th of April the
cable was broken between Java and Ans.
tralia, and this was taken by those in the
secret as the signal that the work had
been accomplished. This was dcne IN
prevent pursuit till the fugitives were
I beyond the reach of the British autbor;.
ties. Owing to local circumstances. If
must take very long time to discover
where break occurred in the cable near
Australia, and that job was evidently
done thoroughly, for notice that this Is
the first item of news that has come bv
cable from Australia since April 27.
Then no date is mentioned for the occur.