The Catalpa Expedition

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...