The police boat did not attempt to board the vessel, but made its way back to Freemantle to report.  There the Georgette had been fully coaled and provisioned, and had taken aboard, in addition to the pensioners and police, a twelve-pounder field-piece.  At 11 o’clock the same night (Tuesday) she steamed out once more.  At daylight on the following morning she came up with the Catalpa again, and fired a round shot across her bows.  After some parleying, Captain Anthony being prompted by Breslin, the Georgette hailed that if the Catalpa did not heave to, the masts would be blown out of her.

“Tell them,” said Breslin to the captain, “that’s the American flag; you are on the high seas; and if he fires on the ship, he fires on the American flag.”

Preparations were made to give the armed party on the Georgette a warm reception should they attempt to board the whaler.  But the pursuers had a wholesome fear of coming into conflict with a vessel sailing under the Stars and Stripes, and, after some further parleying, left the Catalpa to pursue her homeward voyage unmolested.

I was fortunate enough to get the account of both expeditions—­for there were two—­for the rescue of the military Fenians in each case direct from the man having the command.

I have already given John Breslin’s account, which, it will, perhaps, be remembered I published at the time as a number of my penny “Irish Library.”

I had the pleasure of hearing John Walsh, who had charge of the expedition from this country, relating the part he and his friend bore in assisting the Irish-American rescuers.  He told the story at a very select gathering in Liverpool, at which I was present.  On the 13th of January, he said, two men, of whom he was one, left this country with money and clothing to carry out the rescue.  They landed on the 28th of February at King George’s Sound, whence a sailing vessel took them to Freemantle.

They soon got into communication with the two men who had come from America, and had been on the spot since November, 1875—­John Breslin and J. Desmond, the latter of whom worked as a coach-builder at Perth.  Walsh and his friend offered their co-operation to the men from America in any capacity, and arrangements were made accordingly.  They lent the Americans arms, and they cut the telegraph wires from Perth to King George’s Sound, where a man-of-war was stationed.

It will be seen from Breslin’s account that this was why the man-of-war was not available to deal with the Catalpa; for when the telegraphic communication was restored, it was found that the gunboat Conflict had left on a cruise.

Walsh and his friend were on the ground on the morning when the prisoners started to escape, and if a fight took place, they were to fight and fly with their friends.  If there was no fight, they were to remain behind.  If the Catalpa failed, they were to fly to the bush, with the exception of some who were to remain behind to succour those in the bush.