THECruise of the Catalpa.

A POEM.

BY JOHN J. BRESLIN,

Chief of the Rescuers of the Fenian Prisoners from Freemantle, Australia.

BOSTON: PRESS OF ROCKWELL & CHURCHILL, 39 Arch Street. 1876.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1876, by DANIEL M. LYNCH, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

[Pg 5]

[Written on board the “Catalpa.”]

A DESCRIPTIVE POEMOF THERescue of the Fenian Prisoners FROMFREEMANTLE, AUSTRALIA.

[Pg 10]

Rolling Home.

[The following is one of his latest literary efforts,—which was often sung by the ship’s company,—a song entitled “Rolling Home,” which eminently proves that he is possessed of as much poetic fire and genius, as he is of tact and ability to carry out great political undertakings.]

[Pg 12]

The Cruise of the Catalpa.

A Song written on the Homeward Voyage, and dedicated to the Crew.

[Pg 17]

The Sunburst and Tricolor.

[Written previous to sailing for Australia, and dedicated to the “U.I.B.”]

Footnotes:

[1] Comptroller-General.

[2] Nickname of the prison chaplain.

[3] Prison slang, meaning slipping away.

[4] Slang for police.

[5] Major Finnerty, commanding the military in Freemantle; bugle being slang for nose, and the major’s fuddled up to the orthodox rosy red.

[6] W. F. C. Robinson, Governor of West Australia, who was so eager to capture us that he personally assisted to put the cannon and ammunition on board.

[7] Colonel Harvest, commander of the forces in West Australia.

[8] American sailors called Ursa Major the Dipper.

[9] Meeting the Gulf-weed out at sea encouraged Columbus and his sailors to continue on their course, it being considered an indication of land.

Transcriber's Notes:

Typographical errors have been silently corrected.