Organizations  -- Clan na Gael  Part 2  "The Catalpa Expedition" One of the most exciting rescues in history was hatched by Clan na Gael and John Devoy. John Boyle O'Reilly was a Fenian who was arrested and sentenced to the penal colony in Western Australia.  While on board the prison ship, O'Reilly published "The Wild Geese," a newspaper detailing life on board.  He managed to escape with the aid of a whaling captain named Henry Hathaway of New Bedford, Massachusetts.  O'Reilly sent a letter to John Devoy in New York City, explaining prison life.  He called himself, "a voice from the tomb."  O'Reilly sailed into Boston, where he became the editor of the "Boston Pilot" newspaper.  He attended a national Clan na Gael meeting and met with Devoy.  Devoy urged him to speak of the conditions of the Fenians prisoners in Australia.   Both Devoy and Clan na Gael were spurred into action.  A committee was founded to formulate an escape plan for Fenian prisoners in Australia.  Devoy went on a four-year fundraiser.  Funds poured into Clan na Gael from around the country, from people of all walks of life and income levels.  They raised $25,000.  Devoy and O'Reilly traveled to New Bedford to find Captain Hathaway, hoping he would captain the rescue ship.  Hathaway, a Quaker, had retired from the sea, but recommended his son-in-law, Captain George Anthony.  Devoy purchased a 200 ton whaling ship, the Catalpa, for $5600 and outfitted her with a crew of Portuguese and African sailors.  In April 1875, the Catalpa sailed out of New York Harbor.  Only Captain Anthony knew her mission:  Freemantle Prison in Western Australia, to free six Fenian prisoners. Meanwhile, Devoy planted agents in Western Australia to alert the prisoners of the rescue.  He had Irish Republican Brotherhood members in New Zealand cut all telegraph cables, effectively cutting off Australia's communications.  The Catalpa reached her destination in March 1876 and dropped anchor a few miles off the coast.   Devoy's agents managed to free the six prisoners and escorted them to a nearby beach.  There, they were met by Captain Anthony himself, and a boat.  They sailed for 28 hours on storm-tossed seas before reaching the Catalpa.  But all was not well. The British gunboat, Georgette, came upon the Catalpa and took chase.  She overtook the whaling ship, and fired a shot across her bow.  The Catalpa stopped and Anthony ordered the US flag raised.  The following exchange took place: Georgette:  "You have convicts aboard.  We demand they be turned back." Anthony:  "There are none aboard this ship but free men, and that flag makes it so.  Fire on the Catalpa and you have declared war on the United States of America.  I am under sail for the high seas." The Georgette retreated, and the Catalpa sailed for home.  It took two weeks before the telegraph cables in New Zealand were repaired.  The story then went worldwide. The Catalpa sailed into New York Harbor on August 19, 1876, to much fanfare.  Tammany Hall hosted a reception for the escapees and there was a parade in lower Manhattan. The six Fenian prisoners whom the Catalpa freed were James Donagh, Martin Hogan, Michael Harrington, Thomas Hasset, Robert Cranston and James Wilson. The Catalpa Expedition was a success in other ways.  It showed the power of the Irish-American population and Clan na Gael.  Mostly, it was a 'shot in the arm' to the Irish cause.  This would be the feather in the cap of John Devoy, and would earn him international respect. Suggested Reading: Peter Stevens.  "The Voyage of the Catalpa: A Perilous Journey and Six Rebel's Flight to Freedom."  2002. NEXT: Dynamite Saturday