Chapter I: Introduction

One hundred years after the Declaration of Independence, an American whaling captain, George S. Anthony, commemorated the event by enforcing another declaration of independence which set free the Irish political prisoners who were sentenced to a lifetime of servitude in the English penal colony in Australia.

The story of the rescue of these prisoners in 1876 is a brave incident of history which has hitherto been told too briefly. When Captain Anthony, commanding the bark Catalpa, landed the men for whose relief the expedition was planned, at New York, public interest in the romantic voyage was very intense. The boldness of the raid upon the English colony and the remarkable features of the conspiracy, excited universal curiosity concerning the details of the affair.

At that time international complications seemed certain, and there were many reasons why those concerned in the rescue furnished only meagre information of the inception of the plan and its progress during the two years which were spent in bringing it to a successful consummation.

Brief newspaper accounts appeared at the time, and this material has been worked over into magazine sketches. The frequency with which the original newspaper story has been revived during the years which have elapsed suggested that the interest was still alive and led to the writing of the story which follows. The facts were contributed by Captain Anthony, who placed his log-book and personal records at the disposition of the writer, and the present version is authorized by the man who was most prominent in it.

Some of the incidents of history which led up to the Fenian conspiracy in 1867 are compiled from familiar sources. The records of the court-martial are from transcripts of the proceedings made in Dublin expressly for this book, and have never previously been published.

No attempt has been made to embellish the narrative. It has been the effort of the writer to tell it simply, as he knows the gallant commander would best like to have it told.

New Bedford, Mass., 1897.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. Sailing of the Catalpa 1

II. Fenian History 4

III. The Irish Political Prisoners 9

IV. The Court-Martial 16

V. The Court-Martial continued 35

VI. Banishment to Australia 51

VII. O'Reilly's Escape 54

VIII. Other Escapes and Rescues 58

IX. Appeals from Australia 66

X. The Plot 70

XI. The Vessel and the Start 75

XII. Whaling 82

XIII. A Hurried Departure 91

XIV. An Awkward Meeting 96

XV. A Strange Episode 103

XVI. Arrival at Australia 107

XVII. The Land End of the Conspiracy 110

XVIII. Meeting of Anthony and Breslin 116

XIX. Arranging the Details 122

XX. A Critical Situation 127

XXI. Leaving the Ship 132

XXII. The Escape 135

XXIII. In The Open Boat 142

XXIV. An Awful Night 148

XXV. A Race with the Guard-Boat 152

XXVI. Overhauled by the Georgette 157

XXVII. Bound Home 162

XXVIII. A Cordial Reception 167

XXIX. Settlement of the Voyage 183

Appendix 186

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

Portrait of Capt. George S. Anthony _Frontispiece_

Portrait of John Devoy 24

The Jail at Freemantle where the Prisoners were confined 52

The Catalpa Outward Bound 80

Portrait of Samuel P. Smith 94

Portrait of John J. Breslin 112

The Town of Freemantle, Australia 124

The Rescued Prisoners 138

The Race for the Catalpa 154

The Catalpa Homeward Bound 164

Portrait of James Reynolds 184

A Cartoon from the Irish World 202

THE CATALPA EXPEDITION