A STORY of bould Fenian man being rescued from punitive conditions in an Australian prison, 1876 by the good ship Catalpa is the stuff of new book. Newmarket man Vincent McDonnell, writer in residence at St Nessan’s School, Moylish, has based his children’s story. The Catalpa Adventure, on this Easter Monday breakout organised by the Fenian brotherhood in America.
“All were members of the British Army, including Limerick man Martin Hogan who was from Barrington Street,” says Vincent.
“They served all over the Empire, were very proud to be soldiers and behaved with great discipline. Of course, they wanted to serve in an Irish army instead of the British one. They became Fenians and were accused of treason against the crown. The penalty was hanging”.
However an amnesty saw this sentence commuted to deportation by Prince George, Commander in Chief, and the Irish man were booted to Freemantle Prison in New Bedford.
“Conditions there were harsh for convicts and especially so for these men, considered traitors to the Commonwealth”.
Ultimately, a letter written by one of them, James Wilson, to Clann na nGael in the States saw the Catalpa on a rescue mission.
Publisher Collins Press made a bold move itself in engaging the students of St Enda’s Community College to illustrate the Escape to Freedom bid by the imprisoned six.
St Enda’s role in this “thrilling true story of heroism, advenutre and triumph” (Collins Press) began when the school chose another book by the Collins’ book, Michael Smith’s The Iceman, for its One Book One Town project. Home School Liaison officer Dympna Cremin had got in touch with the Cork publisher about the literary/ literacy scheme.
“One Book One Town is an international project to encourage reading,” explains Gilian Hennessy of Collins Press. “St Enda’s Community College picked Michael Smith’s book for children on the Antarctic explorer Tom Crean and bought a couple of hundred editions”.
Ultimately, the students were offered a chance to illustrate The Catalpa Adventure – Escape to Freedom and worked with a full copy of the text pre-press.
“We chose 15 illustrations for the book and obviously, are very happy with it,” commented the publisher. “The art teacher Andreina Scott suggested different themes and the children came up with great ideas.”
Suitable for ages 10 upwards, this high seas rollicking adventure is selling locally.
