THE VOICE FROM THE TOMB

JAMES WILSON STILL INSPIRES US

I have mentioned before the fact that Pawtucket holds a Fenian Grave. It is, in fact, the centenary of the burial of Fenian James McNally Wilson in the cemetery at old Saint Mary's in Pawtucket.

I recall that my old and dear friend Al Mc Aloon told me how he  was a student at Saint Mary's School on the day of the burial. Their teacher a nun  took them to the window to see the burial "of a great patriot".

That day made an enormous impression on Al.  James Wilson  had been captured and jailed in Australia. From there he sent a letter to O'Reilly, a poet and writer  who escaped and went to Boston.

Here is an account of the letter that Wilson sent to O'Reilly.

 In 1869, O'Reilly escaped on the whaling ship Gazelle in Bunbury with assistance of the local Catholic priest, Father Patrick McCabe, and settled in Boston. Soon after his arrival, O'Reilly found work with The Pilot newspaper and eventually became editor. In 1871, another Fenian, John Devoy, was granted amnesty in England on condition that he settle outside Ireland. He sailed to New York City and became a newspaperman for the New York Herald. He joined the Clan na Gael, an organization that supported armed insurrection in Ireland.^[3]

In 1869, pardons had been issued to many of the imprisoned Fenians. Another round of pardons were issued in 1871, after which only a small group of "military" Fenians remained in Western Australia's penal system. In 1874, Devoy received a smuggled letter from imprisoned Fenian James Wilson, who was among those the British had not released.

Captain George Anthony, circa 1897

Dear Friend, remember this is a voice from the tomb. For is not this a living tomb? In the tomb it is only a man’s body that is good for worms, but in the living tomb the canker worm of care enters the very soul. Think that we have been nearly nine years in this living tomb since our first arrest and that it is impossible for mind or body to withstand the continual strain that is upon them. One or the other must give way. It is in this sad strait that I now, in the name of my comrades and myself, ask you to aid us in the manner pointed out… We ask you to aid us with your tongue and pen, with your brain and intellect, with your ability and influence, and God will bless your efforts, and we will repay you with all the gratitude of our natures… our faith in you is unbound. We think if you forsake us, then we are friendless indeed.

James Wilson

That letter had a profound effect and  the ship The Catalpa was purchased and Captain Anthony captained it to rescue the remaining Fenian prisoners.