After remaining in concealment several months Stephens got away from Ireland.  The craft in which he escaped was one of a fleet of fishing hookers which sailed from Howth and Kinsale when engaged in their regular work.  The owner, who was delighted to have a hand in such an enterprise, was a warm-hearted and patriotic Irishman, Patrick De Lacy Garton, for whom I acted as conducting agent, when he was returned by the votes of his fellow-countrymen to the Liverpool Town Council, where he sat as a Home Ruler.

I met several times, during 1866 and later, one of the most remarkable men connected with the organisation.  He was known as “Beecher,” and was a man of singular astuteness, as he required to be, particularly at the time when, unknown to his colleagues, Corydon was giving information to the police.  If at any time Beecher had fallen into their hands, they might have made a splendid haul, which would have paralysed the movement on this side of the Atlantic, for he was the “Paymaster.”  Captain Michael O’Rorke—­otherwise “Beecher”—­was a well-balanced combination of sagacity, cautiousness and daring, as you could not fail to see, if brought into contact with him a few times.  Stephens had the most abounding confidence in him, and it was well deserved.  A native of Roscommon, he emigrated to America when a boy of thirteen.  When the Civil War broke out he joined the Federal Army, and served with much distinction.  He was a member of the Fenian Brotherhood, and was greatly pleased to be called upon for active service in Ireland, and, sailing from New York, he reached Dublin on the 27th of July, 1865, when he reported himself to the C.O.I.R.  He was entrusted with the payment of the American officers then in Ireland and Great Britain, which duty, I need scarcely say, involved his keeping in constant touch with them.  In this way I, from time to time, came in contact with him in Liverpool, and was much impressed with the perfect way in which he carried out his arduous duties.  Before Stephens left for America, in March, 1866, he directed Captain O’Rorke to send all the officers not arrested, and then in Ireland, over to England.  This was a proper measure of prudence, as the Irish Americans would be less objects of suspicion, and less liable to arrest here than in Ireland.  He had fifty officers, and sometimes more, to provide for as Paymaster, or, as the informers and detectives had it, the “Fenian Paymaster.”  He had to visit in this way at various times all parts of the British organisation, sometimes paying his men personally, and at other times by letter, forwarded through trusted Irishmen in various places who had not laid themselves open to suspicion.  But he had to run his head into the lion’s mouth occasionally, too, for it was part of his duty to visit Dublin at least once a month.  As a matter of precaution, there were but few who knew of any address where he might be found.  At a time when Corydon had started to give information, but before “Beecher” actually knew of it, the informer gave an address of his where he thought the “Paymaster” was to be found to the Liverpool police.  Major Greig, the chief constable, and a strong body of his men, surrounded the house, but the bird had flown.  After that, he was more cautious than ever, only letting his whereabouts be known when it was absolutely necessary.