Celebrating The Catalpa Escape 150th
6 Irish Political Prisoners. 60,000km. Freedom.
Australia’s most daring maritime prison break

Save the Date!

The Catalpa Story

In April 1875, the whaling ship Catalpa slipped out of port in New Bedford, Massachusetts, but this was no ordinary whaling expedition. 

Purchased with donations from Irish people in the USA and elsewhere, her purpose was to rescue six Irish political prisoners, Fenians, from Western Australia’s Fremantle Prison. 

In November 1875, A wealthy American investor, John Breslin, posing as Mr. James Collins, arrived in Fremantle and took a room at the Emerald Isle Hotel, (now the Orient Hotel). He was flamboyant and endeared himself to both the authorities and the business community in the Colony. 

His accomplice, Thomas Desmond (Tom Johnson), found work as a wheelwright in Perth. Notes were passed to the Fenians by ex-prisoner, Will Foley, telling them to be on their best behavior and prepare for an escape. 

Each day, Mr. Collins strolled down High Street to the telegraph office (site of the present Buffalo Club) looking for news of the Catalpa. 

In late March, after nearly 12 months at sea, the Catalpa finally arrived in Bunbury. Breslin (Mr. Collins) took a carriage from Fremantle and met with Captain Anthony to exchange plans for the rescue.  

Bad weather delayed the Catalpa, and the escape date was set for Easter Monday (Perth Regatta Day), when the governor and others would not be in Fremantle. 

The prisoners worked on maintenance tasks around Fremantle, so on a given signal, they downed tools and assembled at a rendezvous point, where Breslin and Desmond waited with horses and traps. 

With the prisoners hidden away, they galloped to Rockingham where Captain Anthoney and his crew waited on the beach with a whaleboat, to row them to the Catalpa. Two fellow conspirators cut the telegraph wires, so no message about the escape could reach the authorities. 

The crew rowed the overcrowded whaleboat for hours, but there was no sign of the Catalpa. Then a bigger danger threatened. A storm came up and they were forced to bail water as their mast cracked and crashed down on them. 

As morning dawned, they spotted the Catalpa, but Captain Anthony observed another danger. The government steam ship Georgette was heading for it. He told everyone to lay low in the whaleboat as the steamer passed very close but failed to see them. 

As Georgette reached the Catalpa, Captain Stone of the water police demanded to go on board, but first mate Smith refused. Georgette’s Captain announced they were running low on coal and needed to return to Fremantle. 

After Georgette departed, the exhausted whaleboat crew rowed hard for the Catalpa and scrambled aboard. But the ship was becalmed. All night they sat there. Next morning Georgette reappeared. The Fenians hid below deck and armed themselves. They were ready to fight for their lives. 

Georgette shot a cannon ball over the bow of the Catalpa and demanded the surrender of the Fenians. Captain Anthony ordered the Stars and Stripes to be raised. “Fire on us and you are firing on the United States of America. We are in international waters.” 

On board Georgette the guns fell silent. Then the wind picked up. Captain Anthony swung the ship across the path of the Georgette and the Catalpa set sail for home.

The Fenians were free! 

Celebrating the Catalpa Escape

Please join us to celebrate the anniversary of this amazing event. 

  • Community groups in Fremantle (Fenians Fremantle and Freedom; in Bunbury (South-west Irish Community) and in Rockingham (Catalpa Adventure Festival) are planning events to engage local people in this story. They need your support! 
  • Mr. James Ryan, the great-grandson of Catalpa Captain George Anthony, will visit WA for the occasion and take part in festivities. 
  • A Theatrical Play written by Theatre180 –   Catalpa: Flight to Freedom will be performed in various locations
  • WA Maritime Museum will hold a Free Family Day on Sunday 29 March.
  • Fremantle Fenians will hold a History in the Pub Day on Saturday 28 March where you can share a pint and a story in various locations around Fremantle 
  • Irish Music events will take place in Fremantle, Bunbury and Rockingham.
  • Guided walks in Fremantle and Bunbury remembering the Fenians.
  • Display at Fremantle Prison.
  • Catalpa Dash Bicycle Ride from Fremantle Prison to Rockingham. 
  • History Symposium at Freo Buffalo Club – a collaboration between FFF, UWA and UND.
  • Irish Ceili Dance and Community Celebration. 
  • Long Table Dinner.

Support Opportunities: 

  • Overall Media Partners
  • Event hosting /sponsorship 
  • Social Media Sponsorship 
  • Fund an Event Management or Admin position 
  • Marketing, promotion and badging materials 
  • Event security 
  • Host a performer
  • Host a visiting descendant family 

Contact: info@fenainsfestival.com.au