The daring Catalpa Rescue of six Fenians from Freemantle Gaol in Western Australia, on 17 April 1876 will be marked at the inaugural Irish Maritime Awards in New York next week.
A 200-ton three-masted American whaling ship, the Catalpa was captained by Quaker George Smith Anthony who set sail on his perilous mission from New Bedford, MA in April 1875.
Fittingly, the audacious escape will be commemorated at the awards on Thursday 16 April by the presentation of the 'Spirit of Catalpa' award to New Bedford mayor Jon Mitchell.
The award will take the form of a replica of the American flag flown on the ship which set sail from New Bedford, Massachusetts on its daring mission. Famously, Captain Anthony refused to stop when challenged by the British screw steamer Georgette — pointing to the Catalpa's American flag and warning that any attempt to board would be viewed as an act of war. MARITIME MENTOR: Captain Thomas Murphy of SUNY Maritime College in the Bronx
Final honorees to be announced for the Awards are Captain Thomas Murphy, USN (Rtd.) who is Chief of Staff and Executive Director for Legislative and Government Affairs at SUNY Maritime College, Megan Elizabeth Daly, Chief Commerce Officer at Port of Albany, NY and Bill Wall, Submarine Cable Project Director at LS Cable Systems America of Fort Lee NJ.
The Irish Echo's Maritime Awards are being held in association with Red Hook Terminals and Atlantic Salt.
A full list of honorees is on our website.
