instrumental in releasing me were J. J. Breslin and Daniel Byrne.
Breslin was a man of great expediency, or he never could have
procured the impression of the key which opened my cell, and which
was hung on a nail in the Governor’s safe. He had to distract the
Governor’s attention; steal the key, putting another in its place;
get the impression, and then return the key to its proper place
again. The most singular circumstance connected with my escape was
that while Kickham, who was deaf, occupied the cell on my right,
M‘Leod, a thief, was in the cell on my left. A gong was placed in
his cell communicating with the Governor’s office, in order to allow
of his giving the alarm if necessary; and he could not have helped
hearing me get out, when Breslin and Byrne, at one o’clock in the
morning, stood beside my cell. He did hear me; but that thief, base
as he was, was not base enough to sell me to the British Government.
But then my trouble began. We had only a few minutes to do our work
in. It was pitch dark, and the storm howled furiously. The ladder
provided for my scaling the wall proved too short. Breslin, who was
chief hospital warden, and Byrne, who was night-watchman and ‘lock
up,’ were armed with two revolvers each. They had also provided for
me. Our intention was to fight, if discovered, until killed.
“The short ladder nearly proved fatal. I could not reach the top of
the wall, which was twenty feet high, so Byrne got a table out of
the dining-room and placed the ladder upon it. Even then it was too
short. I had to come down again. Breslin was fairly wild. Another
table was procured, and again I tried. After a dreadful struggle,
I succeeded in getting outside of the wall. It was no joke to jump
twenty feet into the darkness. I had to do it, however, or be caught.
Breslin gave me directions where to go if I did not break my neck in
falling; and he and Byrne returned to their duty. I let go my hold,
and down I went, fortunately falling on soft ground.
“My directions were to follow a gravel walk (for I was in a garden)
until I came to another wall twenty feet high, where I was to throw
a stone over as a signal to eleven men, all armed, who were waiting
outside to receive me.
“I had some difficulty in finding the walk, and could get no stone of
any size in the dark. At last I reached the garden wall, and threw
over a handful of gravel. A rope with a weight attached was thrown
over the wall. I climbed up by its aid, and soon found myself in the
arms of my body-guard. We embraced with joy, and I soon made them
disperse. I went to a house in sight of the jail, and remained there
fourteen days. I afterwards went to a fashionable boarding-house in
the finest part of Dublin and stayed two months. I left Dublin in the
brigantine _Concord_, in company with Flood and Kelly, on the 12th of
March, and landed in Ardrossan on the afternoon of the 15th.”
Poor Stephens now lives in his humble garret in Paris, an exile
broken in fortune, health, and hope, smoking his short black pipe and
brooding over these days that are no more.
XXXIV.
All this time Egan and I had been constantly together. My desire
was, of course, to make a study of the man, and to get to know as
much about him as I possibly could. Everything played into my hands.
Egan was ignorant both of the geography and the language of the
French capital, and he very largely availed himself of the help which
I was enabled to render him, as the result of my supposed French
nationality and knowledge of the city. My position, altogether, was
a very pleasant one at this period. Egan lived in a most extravagant
fashion, and as he would pay for everything and would not allow me to
share in any outlay, I had the best of all things without any strain
on my pocket whatever. He frequented the most expensive cafés, had
the choicest of dishes, would only be content with the best boxes
at places of entertainment, and, in a word, spent his money right
royally. The information should be pleasant reading for the poor
dupes in America and Ireland who subscribed the funds over which he
was then presiding.
We cemented a strong friendship, and I was with him almost at all
times. I made a point of being in his rooms when his letters
arrived, and he was certainly very frank and open in acquainting
me with their contents. As a result, I obtained full and accurate
information as to the position and progress of affairs in Ireland
during my stay. There was not the faintest shadow of a suggestion of
secrecy between us as to our attitude towards Revolutionary matters.
I remember well on one occasion Egan summing up his own position in
these words—which I noted at the time—“I am a Land Leaguer, and
something else when the opportunity presents itself.” He boasted
to me of his having been the backbone of the Fenian organisation
in Dublin for many years, and admitted the fact, with which I was
acquainted, that he was a member of the Supreme Council or executive
body there.
[Illustration: “NUMBER ONE”
P. J. TYNAN]
In our talks on Revolutionary organisations, I found Egan an
enthusiastic advocate of the “active” policy spoken of by Devoy,
and he heartily entered into a discussion with me as to the ways
and means of carrying it out. In this connection reference was made
to Mr. Parnell, and he assured me most emphatically that “Parnell
was all right as a Revolutionist.” In support of this statement he
cited the fact that some twelve months previously Mr. Parnell sought
admission into the ranks of the Irish Revolutionary Brotherhood,
but was refused. “Parnell,” remarked Egan with a wise look, “thought
a good deal of the organisation, but it was not then in a flourishing
condition, and we thought he would think a great deal more of it by
being on the outside rather than in it.”
Our conversations naturally tended in the direction of finance; and
when the topic cropped up, Egan dealt with it in no nervous spirit,
regarding me as quite a worthy recipient of his confidence. About
this time a demand was being made for a public audit of the accounts
of the League. He explained that an audit committee of three members
of the League had already gone over his books, and this was all the
audit that could possibly take place. His reasons for such a strong
statement were very frankly given. A public audit would, he said, be
the very thing Dublin Castle—meaning the Irish Government—would
like to have, but this was out of the question. It was impossible for
him to make public many of the items of his expenditure! I laughed to
myself as he said this, wondering whether the expenses of our many
extravagant trips about Paris came under this head.
But he was dealing with far more dangerous matters. He stated
explicitly, in a very significant way, that the money had been used
for other purposes than those of constitutional agitation. Amongst
these sources of outlay were the expenses of the Dutch officers from
Amsterdam to assist the Boers in their revolt against British control
in South Africa; and coming nearer home, the varied expenditure in
connection with parties attached to the Irish Republican Brotherhood
in Ireland. Altogether our talks on this branch of the subject
enlightened me on many points, and supplied me with sufficient
material to form a fixed belief in my mind that his idea, at least,
was identical with that held in the States—that the open agitation
was but a branch of the movement to obtain the separation of Ireland
from England.
I use the phrase “his idea,” but to be really accurate I should say
“their idea,” for Egan always spoke on behalf of his colleagues—with
one exception, which I can recall—and represented that a complete
harmony of view prevailed. And in everything that happened
subsequently during my stay in England, I found this representation
of his sustained by fact, save the single exception of which I
speak—namely, in the case of Mr. A. M. Sullivan. I had not long
to wait for an opportunity of putting the statement to the test as
far as several of the M.P.’s were concerned; for very shortly after
this conversation, Egan and I travelled to London, and by him I was
introduced into the House of Commons, and to several Irish M.P.’s,
with the significant description “one of our friends from America.”
I well remember that amongst those I first met in this way was Mr.
Parnell himself, from whom I received a very warm greeting. On this
occasion I was accommodated with a seat under the gallery of the
House. This was but one of several visits I paid to the House at
this time, in the course of which I constantly came in contact with
Egan. When alone I generally sent in my card to Mr. Parnell, and
he obtained the necessary admission for me, much to his disgust, I
am sure, when a later day came and I put in an appearance in the
witness-box of Probate Court No. 1, London.
At every point I, of course, made careful notes of what occurred,
and, either verbally or in writing, reported them to my chief,
so that the Government were not really so deplorably ignorant as
the Parnellites then proudly hoped and believed. In fact, not one
occurrence of importance with which Egan became acquainted—and he
really knew everything, and kept nothing back from me—was delayed
by a single post from headquarters at the Home Office in London.
To resume, however. After this first visit to London, Egan and I
returned to Paris by different routes and on arriving there the
same close intercourse prevailed between us. I had not been very
long back, when Egan informed me that Mr. Parnell had written him
expressing a very strong desire to see me before my return to
America. Nothing loth, I promised to call upon the Irish leader when
next in London, and I duly carried out my promise.
XXXV.
Making my way down to the House on the occasion of my next appearance
in London, I obtained admission to the Lobby—admission was then
an easier matter than now—and encountered Mr. J. J. O’Kelly in my
search for Mr. Parnell. The late envoy of the Clan-na-Gael, who,
unfaithful to his trust, had got into Parliament with skirmishing
money instead of attending to the shipping of arms for “active” work,
had a long chat with me over the situation, before the Irish leader
put in an appearance. While we talked in this way, O’Kelly complained
bitterly of the opposition which the open or constitutional
movement known as the Land League was still receiving from the
Irish Republican Brotherhood or secret organisation in Ireland,
and he stoutly advocated coercion on the part of the directors of
the American branch of the conspiracy in order to bring the Irish
malcontents into line.
His remarks, however, were cut short by the appearance of Mr.
Parnell, who, leading the way, conducted us to a corridor outside
the Library of the House, where an interview of over an hour took
place, O’Kelly remaining for a little until the conversation was
well under way. O’Kelly, while he remained, did almost all the
talking. His remarks were a repetition of what he had already said
to me in private. When he left, Mr. Parnell adopted the same line
of complaint, speaking in low tones, as we walked up and down the
corridor, to prevent any one being continually within ear-shot. I
was told detectives were watching us, and that spies held a place
in every corner. As I afterwards learnt, the statement was not
without foundation, for every movement of myself and my companion was
noted, with details as regards time, and duly reported to Government
officials within twenty-four hours.
The whole matter, said Mr. Parnell, following up O’Kelly’s remarks,
rested in our hands in America. We had the money, he said, and if we
stopped the supplies the home organisation would act as desired. He
expressed his belief that Devoy could do more than any one else to
bring about a clear understanding and alliance; and he commissioned
me to use my influence with Devoy, and to arrange for his presence
in Paris at as early a date as possible. So anxious was he to bring
Devoy over that he undertook to pay all his expenses. Still speaking
in this connection, he asked me to at once proceed from New York,
after seeing Devoy, to other prominent members of the organisation,
mentioning particularly the names of Alexander Sullivan and William
J. Hynes, the presence of either of whom, upon this side of the
water, he desired for the purpose of bringing about a thorough
understanding and complete harmony of working. Special reference was
also made to Dr. William Carroll of Philadelphia, and his attitude
towards the open movement. Dr. Carroll, I may here explain, had been
elected Chairman of the Executive Body at the Wilkesbarre Convention
of 1879, but had resigned in 1880 in consequence of his opposition
to the way in which the New Departure was being worked, and the
treatment he received. This was the same Dr. Carroll who had spent
the previous year in Europe, having been specially charged with the
carriage of negotiations between the V.C. and the Russian Government.
After arranging these matters with me, Mr. Parnell entered into
details regarding the position of the Irish Question at this time.
His remarks on this point were a veritable bombshell to me. He
started off by stating that he had long since ceased to believe that
anything but the force of arms would accomplish the final redemption
of Ireland. He saw no reason why, when we were fully prepared,
an open insurrectionary movement could not be brought about. He
went carefully into the question of resources and necessaries. He
stated what the League could furnish in the way of men and money,
and informed me as to the assistance which he looked for from the
American organisation. He spoke of having in the League Treasury at
the end of that year an available sum of £100,000. He discussed with
me the details of the position occupied by the home and American
Revolutionary organisations, and defended the American policy for the
time being. I parted with him with the assurance that I would do all
he wished.
The interview had certainly proved a startling one for me; and as I
proceeded to my seat under the gallery of the House, I pondered over
the manner and method of my late companion, to discover, if I could,
any incident in the course of our hour’s talk which would materially
affect all that he had said. But there was none. The manner of the
League chief had been grave and impassive, as was his wont; he
had been business-like all through; there was no uncertainty, no
indistinctness in his utterance. He had certainly made a plunge, but
it was a plunge taken with all deliberation and premeditation. I went
over all the points in my own mind again, carefully impressed them on
my memory, and took my seat in the house beside General Roberts, with
whom I had an interesting talk in an undertone, and to whom I pointed
out some of the celebrities on both sides. If I remember aright, it
was the occasion of a vote of thanks to General Roberts for his march
on Candahar; and when the vote had been recorded, a large number of
members crowded round to speak to him, whereupon I left.
Reaching the street, I called a hansom at once, and late hour though
it was, I drove direct to Mr. Anderson’s private house in order to
acquaint him with what had happened, while the facts were fresh in
my memory. Carefully I went into every detail, and as carefully Mr.
Anderson followed, taking a note as I went along of the principal
points. The early dawn had crept upon us ere my report was finished,
and concluding at last, I took my departure, to lose no time in
getting that sleep for which I commenced to pine, and which I
considered I had very fairly earned.
XXXVI.
I saw Mr. Parnell once more. This was when I went to say good-bye to
him. I found him in the tea-room of the House of Commons, as cordial
as ever. Indeed, he was particularly agreeable on this occasion,
presenting me with a photograph of himself, on which he wrote,
“Yours very truly, Charles S. Parnell.” This portrait, which is here
reproduced, I kept as an interesting souvenir for a long time, but
had to surrender it at last to the Special Commission, amongst the
records of which it is now duly numbered. Soon after I left London
for Ireland, not, however, before I had seen a good deal of Egan,
and spent several pleasant evenings in his company, at the house
of Mr. A. M. Sullivan, M.P., who now, poor man! is no more. I well
remember Egan’s impressing upon me the necessity for my covering my
revolutionary sentiments whenever Mr. Sullivan was near. It would
never do, I was told, to talk of revolutionary matters, for he was
ultramontane. This advice I followed, noting the fact in my own mind
to Mr. Sullivan’s credit.
Talented, witty, and brilliant, Mr. Sullivan made a magnificent
_raconteur_. Even now I can recall many of his happy efforts which
would well bear reproduction. I shall not, however, yield to the
temptation of bringing them in here, but will content myself with
recalling one pleasant story told about the irrepressible Mr. Biggar.
Mr. Biggar, as I was informed by way of preface, was known as the
great objector and “counter-out,” sometimes, sad to relate, moving
that the House be counted when it was not to the interests of the
party to take any notice of the want of a quorum. Very pious in
disposition, he rarely failed to attend early mass, in spite of late
sittings and consequent fatigue. One morning Mr. Biggar, fatigued
after a very heavy night’s sitting, but still devotionally inclined,
attended mass at St. George’s in Southwark. So tired out was he that
he fell fast asleep in his chair as the service proceeded, and so he
remained until all had been concluded and every one had gone. Upon
being vigorously aroused by the verger, Mr. Biggar started up, rubbed
his eyes, looked at the roof, and fancying himself at the moment in
the House of Commons, with the master instinct strong within him,
loudly exclaimed, “Mr. Speaker, I move that the House be counted.”
[Illustration: (Parnell signature)
_Yours very truly
Char. S. Parnell_]
Thanks to Egan, I travelled to Dublin under happy circumstances.
I was the bearer of letters of introduction to Dr. Kenny, M.P.,
O’Rorke, Egan’s brother-in-law, and to those in charge at the
Land League head-quarters. I anticipated an interesting time, and
I was not disappointed. Dr. Kenny, though his memory is now very
deficient—shall I say?—proved the most entertaining of men, and I
had both lunch and dinner at his hospitable board in Gardiner Street.
It was in his company I paid my visit to Kilmainham Prison, and
through his kind introduction that I made the acquaintance of John
Dillon, P. J. Sheridan, M. J. Boyton, and the others I met on the
occasion. My visit and its incidents afforded a very good insight
into how matters were conducted, and proved to me how very easy
it was to carry on communication with the outside world—at least
when you were an Irish political prisoner. To my surprise there was
no attempt made by the warder to hear the conversation I had with
Boyton. On the contrary, this interesting official most obligingly
took himself off.
This meeting with Boyton was full of interest to me. He was the man,
it will be remembered, who had been named by Devoy as carrying out
the arrangements for the “active” policy of Ireland, and who was
best known as the brother of Captain Boyton the swimmer. From him
in the secrecy of conversation, undisturbed by the presence of a
warder or fellow-prisoner, I learnt that the Land League had placed
the Fenian or National cause in a far stronger position than ever in
Ireland. Could the Clan-na-Gael only see the national spirit which
had been developed all over Ireland, they would never oppose it,
he believed. In counties where the Revolutionary organisation had
been dead for years, continued he, there was now material for work,
and men ready to go as far as any one. All these men wanted was
organisation and leaders. He besought my assistance in proving his
claim to be a naturalised American citizen, which, if established,
would mean his release. I left him with no doubt in my mind as to his
being a thorough-paced Revolutionist. When I got outside the prison,
I received from Dr. Kenny a letter which Boyton had intrusted to him
after leaving, containing a couple of his photos. Boyton, need I
state, was a paid Land League organiser like Sheridan, the director
of the Invincibles. My meeting with Sheridan was, by the way, almost
a momentary affair, and that with Dillon in the presence of a warder.
After a very interesting time in Dublin, I left by North Wall boat,
being “seen off,” as the phrase is, by Egan’s business partner and
brother-in-law, O’Rorke, and Andrew Kettle, both Leaguers remaining
on the bridge of the boat talking to me till we left. The detailed
report of all I had seen and heard was duly submitted to Mr.
Anderson. I was commended for my success, said good-bye to everybody,
and once more took ship for home, in order to get back in time for
the Convention of the Clan-na-Gael, which was to take place very
soon. Of course there was another matter which prompted my speedy
return, and that was the work I had undertaken to do on behalf of
Mr. Parnell. I had to see Devoy and the others, to report the Irish
leader’s views to them, and having acquitted myself of all I had to
do as a Revolutionary envoy, to find out as much as possible of the
result, in order that I might utilise the information in my capacity
as an agent of the Secret Service.
XXXVII.
I reached New York somewhere in the month of June 1881. Devoy was not
there when I arrived, and so I had to telegraph to him at New Haven,
Conn., in order to arrange an interview. My telegram was followed by
a written report of all that had happened; and as Devoy was detained
at New Haven, a lengthy correspondence took place between us. Though
at first reluctant to go to Europe, he eventually undertook to do
so. His consent, however, was conditional on his colleagues agreeing
to the undertaking, and with them he promised to confer immediately
on his return. Later on he telegraphed me to lay his correspondence
before Sullivan and Hynes, when I discussed the matter with them.
The following is one of the letters I had from Devoy in connection
with this matter. It is, unfortunately, the only one I retained in my
possession, the others having been forwarded with my despatches at
this period, as they were of a far more important character.
“41 ORANGE STREET, NEWHAVEN,
“OFFICE OF MR. REYNOLDS,
“_June 24, 1881_.