Just prior to March 1876, 62 Irishmen were transported to Fremantle Western Australia (WA) arrested and sentenced for being active members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood which was founded in 1858. Its American counterpart called the 'Fenian Movement' was named after a legendary band of warriors and had one thing in common, to establish a Free and Independent Irish Republic. The history of Ireland is well known and the persecution of the Catholics by the English Protestants is one that still echo's around the world today. Many Irishmen were forced by hunger and poverty to enlist in the British Army, and in 1867 there was an uprising by the Irish against England and hundreds of The Irish Republican Brotherhood were arrested. Those serving in the British Army were found guilty of treason and sentenced to death. The British Government, however commuted many of these sentences to long terms of gaol and penal servitude.

The last convict transport ship to be sent to WA was the 'Hougoumont' which landed the 62 in Fremantle in 1867. Among them was one John Boyle O'Reilly who in 1869 escaped from a road working party near Bunbury in the Vasse district. After spending some days hiding in coastal sand dunes, O'Reilly was rescued by the American whaler 'Gazelle' and was taken to the United States where he became a reporter for a Boston newspaper and well regarded as a writer, orator and humanitarian.

  By 1871 most of the convicted Fenians had been pardoned except for those who had served in the British military. Of these, 10 were in Fremantle Prison. One of these wrote a letter which was smuggled out of prison and was posted to America, where it came into the hands of John Devoy and John Boyle O'Reilly. This letter sowed the seeds for a rescue mission which took four years to plan and which was funded by Irish families from all over the world.

The whaler Catalpa was purchased for the mission and it sailed from New Bedford in 1875 under Captain George Anthony. Meanwhile, agents John Breslin and Thomas Desmond were given the task of travelling to Fremantle and making contact with the prisoners and preparing for their escape. The six prisoners were Robert Cranston, Thomas Darragh, Michael Harrington, Thomas Hassett, Martin Hogan and James Wilson. The Catalpa arrived in Western Australia in March of 1876. Because the imprisoned men had shown good conduct, six of them were appointed 'trustees' which meant they were free at times come and go from the prison during the day. On the day of the 16th of April 1876 they made their escape, making their way by means of two horse drawn buggies from Fremantle via the 10 Mile Well, now known as 'Wattleup", to a beach just south of the City of Rockingham, adjacent to the entrance to the causeway connecting the Garden Island Naval Base to the mainland. There is a commemorative Cairn situated there!

A whaleboat was waiting to ferry them out to the Catalpa, the whaleboat was pursued by police in the coastal steamer 'Georgette' and had to battle heavy seas. They took 28 hours to make contact with the Catalpa. The 'Georgette' finally caught the Catalpa and fired a shot over her bows and demanded the return of the prisoners. Captain Anthony denied having any prisoners on board and pointing to the Stars and Stripes, said" That's an American Flag. I am on the high seas. My Flag protects me. If you fire on this ship, you fire on the American flag !! "

Captain Anthony claimed he was outside of Territorial Waters at the time. Was this true, or was it as I suspect, an elaborate bluff on his part. After a short while, the 'Georgette' sailed slowly across her stern and then returned to Fremantle.

The escape of the Fenians caused great excitement in Fremantle and Perth, the feeling was one of pleasure, however the authorities were extremely embarrassed by the event and banned the songs that sprung up in the streets and taverns.

A small but very satisfying victory for the Republic. Please visit 'The Fenians' page for more information.