THE PLOT
While the fact that O'Reilly was rescued by a whaleship was the direct
cause of the determination to send a vessel representative of New
Bedford's victorious industry, there were other reasons which commended
the selection.
Men who engaged in this perilous mode of hardy enterprise must
necessarily be persevering and brave. Perhaps the originators of the
enterprise remembered that it was a whaleship bearing the name of
Bedford which was the first vessel to display the flag of the United
States in British waters, and that in 1783, when the countries were at
war.
Barnard's "History of England," a rare book, recites that "the ship
Bedford, Captain Moores, belonging to the Massachusetts, arrived in
the Downs on the 3rd of February, passed Gravesend on the 3rd, and was
reported at the Custom House on the 6th instant. She was not allowed
regular entry until some consultation had taken place between the
commissioners of the customs and the lords of council, on account of
the many acts of parliament in force against the rebels of America.
She is loaded with 487 butts of whale oil, is American built, manned
wholly by American seamen, and wears the rebel colors. This is the
first vessel which has displayed the thirteen rebellious stripes of
America in any British port. The vessel is at Horseledour, a little
below the Tower, and is intended to return immediately to New England."
The New Bedford whaleman has ever been a type of enterprise and daring,
but the commission which these Irish patriots proposed, of challenging
the British navy with a whaleship and snatching a half dozen men from
the jaws of the British lion, was a supreme test of pluck.
When it was decided to fit out a whaleship, O'Reilly directed Devoy
and his friends to consult with Captain Henry C. Hathaway in New
Bedford. At the time of his rescue, Captain Hathaway was the third
mate of the Gazelle, and O'Reilly occupied a stateroom with him. A
strong attachment had grown up between them, which was strengthened
when Hathaway saved O'Reilly from drowning during a fight with an
ugly whale, in which O'Reilly's love of excitement had led him to
participate.
Captain Hathaway was at this time captain of the night police force in
New Bedford. He entered into the plans with interest, and told Devoy
that the commander whom he needed to carry the expedition to success
was Captain George S. Anthony. John T. Richardson, the father-in-law
of Captain Anthony, was a whaling agent, and the proposition was
first broached to him, and he agreed to arrange an interview for the
Clan-na-Gael committee with Anthony.
Captain Anthony was a New Bedford boy, and pledged his life to the
sea at the age of fifteen. He had been a successful whaleman, and his
faithfulness had been demonstrated in a service of ten years in one
ship, of which Jonathan Bourne was the agent.
But the captain had recently married, and had concluded to abandon the
longboat forever. He was given a position at the Morse Twist Drill
Works, where he was employed in February, 1875, when Devoy and his
friends first went to New Bedford.
But a sailor is never long contented ashore, and Anthony was growing
restless. Mr. Bourne was inclined to make light of his resolution to
become a mechanic, and constantly dropped in upon him at the shop with
tempting offers to return to his service, until the foreman suggested
to Mr. Bourne that he should "let Anthony alone." Then Mr. Bourne
slapped the stout sailor on the back and said, "Well, Anthony, I'll
let you alone. But remember and let me know when you are ready to go
whaling again."
Mr. Bourne's experience had taught him something. He had detected the
restlessness of Anthony, who acknowledged that he was out of place in
a machine-shop, and he knew that one day he would come to his office,
prepared to sign shipping papers.
A few days later Anthony met Mr. Richardson and said to him: "I'm
tired of this. Go down and see Mr. Bourne and ask him if he will let me
have a ship."
"Wait a few days; I have something better for you," said Mr.
Richardson. Two days before he had met Devoy and his comrades, and he
was then carrying their secret about with him.
The next morning Mr. Richardson again met the captain: "Come to the
store this evening," said he; "there will be two or three men there
whom I wish you to meet."
At about eight o'clock Anthony presented himself at Richardson's. The
store of the latter was at 18 South Water Street. It was an outfitters'
establishment, with a stock of such clothing as is to be found in the
slop chest of the sailor in the front of the store, while there was an
open space at the rear filled with chairs.
About a big stove sat a number of men, several of whom were strangers
to Anthony. He remembered that he had seen them about Richardson's
place for several days, and had once been on the point of inquiring
who they were. Captain Hathaway was one of the men in the group whom
he knew, and it may be said that Mr. Devoy, Mr. Goff, and Mr. Reynolds
were also present.
"It's just as well to sit in the dark," said one, and the lights were
at once put out, which seemed to Anthony a rather singular proceeding.
Then he was introduced to the men, but their names were unfamiliar
to him at that time. Captain Anthony was less a stranger to the men
whom he met. They had made a study of him for several days before they
decided to intrust him with the secret and the enterprise which was
nearest their hearts, and they had now decided that he would do.
The man who stood in the lamplight for a minute before the flame was
extinguished was of athletic build, with black hair, and eyes which
were so black, bright, and alert that they were the conspicuous feature
of the face. The brilliant color in the captain's cheek indicated
vigorous good health.
Then John Devoy, whom Captain Anthony had carelessly noticed was a
short man with full black whiskers, unfolded the plan of the proposed
rescue of the Fenian prisoners to the astonished captain.