Arrest of the Fenian Leader

The Canadian Raids in ’98, the Castle authorities were beforehand. In September 1865, O’Leary, Luby, O’Donovan Rossa and several other prominent Fenians were arrested. The office of The Irish People was raided, and the paper wai suppressed. James Stephens eluded capture till November. He wa« lodged, when at last seized, in Richmond Prison (Dublin), but, by the aid of some of the warders who were themselves sworn members of the Brotherhood, he escaped and got safely out of the country. The other* were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment.

The Fenian organisation was less dependent than most of its pre¬decessors in Ireland had been on a small group of leaders. The loss of those who lay in prison was little felt, especially as Stephens, who, though perhaps inferior in sincerity and in courage to most of his companions, surpassed them all in organising power, had regained his freedom.In May, 1866, an attempt was planned to cross the frontier of the United States and attack the British power in Canada.

The Washington authorities, after remaining for years conveniently deaf and blind to preparations which had been going on, suddenly roused themselves, seized the arms stored at the depots, imprisoned several of the Fenian leaders, and ordered the St. Lawrence to be strictly guarded. Two bodies of Irishmen did succeed, however, in reaching Canadian territory Col. John O’Neill, with some 1,400 men crossed to the village of Fort Erie, and defeated a troop of ” The Queen’s Own Volunteers.” He was, however, obliged soon afterwards to surrender. A body from the State of Vermont had still less success. The Canadian troops drove them back across the frontier. Nothing further of importance was attempted in America.