ESCAPE OF FENIAN PRISONERS FROM WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 160, 28 June 1876, Page 4

ESCAPE OF FENIAN PRISONERS FROM WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

The rescue of six Fenian prisoners from Freeman tie, on Easter Monday, "April 17, created the greatest excitement in Western Australia. The plan of escape appears to have been well and to have been carried out with much skill and daring. The following account is taken from the Peith Inquirer of May 17:— ; AMr Collins, described as an aflUble gentlemanly man, with fair complexion, "And with an English accent, arrived at Albany, in November last, per steamer from Melbourne, and came to Freemantle per Georgette, as a first-class passenger. By the same mail a man _named Johnson, who possesses the characteristics of a thorough-going Yankee, arrived as a second-class passenger. Neither of these persons appeared to know each other. Collins stayed at tbe Emerald Isle Hotel, Freemantle, where a stranger rejoicing in the patronymic of Jones was also stopping, but seemed in no way to be connected with Collins. A man named Taylor also appears to be one of the confederate party. Johnson occupied part of his time by working at his trade at Sloane's oarriage - building factory, in this city. Uoce a week, and six or seven times during the fortnight prior to the escape Johnson had hired Mr Summers' waggonette, always paying for it the customary charge. On Good Friday he drove out, returning the same evening, and •n the* following day again drove off never to return. A similar arrangement was made by Collins with Mr Albert, of Freemantle, of whom he hired a carriage and pair. Tbe men -who have escaped are Michael Harrington, James Wilson, Martin Hogan, Thomas Hassett, Thomas Darragb, and Robert Cranston. The two former were working on the morning of their escape (April 17) at the south jetty, _with a party in charge of Warder [Booler. Hogan was painting at ihe comptroller's quarters. Darrab, who was the Protestant chaplain's orderly — and Hassett, were gardening outside the prison, and Cranston, who was employed as messenger, appears to have had free access in and out of the prison. On the morning in question the latter walked leisurely towards tbe south jetty, swinging a doorkey on his finger, and asked the warder to allow Harrington and Wilson to assist him in removing some furniture from the official marine residence, on the Hampton Road. The warder, unsuspectingly allowed the men to go. The Freemantle prison commands a very fine view of the town, and the three men there employed could easily watch tbe movements of Cranston and his two companions, and of the carriages which had preceded them along the HamptonToad; and when all was Bate, at a signal, the painter abandoned his brush, the gardeners dropped their spades, and somewhere between the old Cemetery and the Pig. gery, took carriage and drove off to Rockingham, distant about 14 miles. About 9 o'clock that morning, Mr. W. Bell, a settler at Rockingham, observed a whaleboat, manned by six colored men and a white man of the Yankee type, coming alongside the Jarrah Timber Company's Landing-place. He immediately suspected that something was wrong, and commenced watching. -Presently be saw an outrider, followed by two carriages full of men, six of whom wore the convict dress, dashing along at full speed. They baited, and immediately made for the boat, into which tbey jumped and were pulled out to sea. Bell's suspicions being aroused, he hastened to Fremantle, and gave information to the police of what he bad witnessed. The water-police boat at ionoe gave pursuit, and on the evening of the same day the Georgette was commissioned as a war-vessel by the authorities, and also despatched in pursuit of the fugitives. The instructions given to the commander were to overtake and go alongside the sbip to ' which the whaleboats were supposed to belong ; to ascertain if tbe absconders Were on board, and to demand their Burender. No force was to be used, but the men on board were to be kept under amis as a means of defence. On the following morning, the Georgette sighted a barque under light sail steering south, ln about two hours' time she was alongside, when the vessel turned out to be the Catalpa, of New Bedford, Captain Anthony, a whaler, flying the American flag. This vessel had cleared out from Bunbury on the 28th March. Mr. Stone asked, " Can I board your ship and search ?'' to which the mate coolly replied, " Don't know, got no instructions, but guess you'd better not, anyhow." The Georgette being short of coal, Mr. Stone determined upon returning at once to Fremantle, where she arrived about five o'clock. The Georgette, having been Bupplied with coal, was again despatched by the Government in pursuit, and early next morning she sighted tbe Catalpa bearing S.S.E under sail. On nearing her the steamer fired a gun under the vessel's stern, when she instantly hoisted the American flag, but took no further notice ot the firing. Both, vessels coming within hailing distance, Mr. Superintendent Stone, addressing the captain of the Catalpa, demanded the six of tbe escaped convicts on board his ship. Captain Anthony replied that he had no convicts in his vessel, nor would be allow the police to board her. The superintendent then said, " If you do

not give them up I will fire into you, and sink or disable you." The captain, nothing daunted, retorted, "I don't oare what you do ; I am on the high seas, and that flag (pointing to the stars and stripes) protects me." Afier some further parley, tbe steamer then , returned to Fremantle. During the whole of her cruise after the Catalpa, the men on board were under arms, on ■ the defensive, but Mr. Stone's orders were to threaten as much as he liked, but not to ÜBe any violence." «■