Indianapolis- a historical and statistical sketch, 1870,WR Holloway

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SOLLOWAT'S INDIANAPOLIS.
tion, who are between the ages of eighteen and fifty year?, and who are free from
bodily infirmities calculated to abbreviate life.
The vitality and prosperity of the society are shown by the fact that its membership,
at the end of five months from the date of organization, numbered one
hundred and fifty. It was recently incorporated under the laws of the State.
THE FENIAN BROTHERHOOD.
The Indianapolis Circle of the Eenian Brotherhood was organized in the year
1859, by the Rev. Edward 0' Flaherty. The first officers were: R. S. Sproule,
Centre; J. &. Keatinge, Secretary; Dr. Lynch, Treasurer.
Up to the time of the breaking out of the rebellion, the workings of the order
were in a quiet, preparatory sort of way, and but little was known or heard of it,
in a public sense, compared with its subsequent notoriety. About this time Mr.
John Simpson became Centre of the Indianapolis Circle.
The split of the order into the O'Mahoney and Roberts factions took place late
in 1865. A majority of the Indianapolis Circle voted that President Roberts was
the true chief of the Brotherhood; on which the minority withdrew and organized
a Circle in the O'Mahoney interest. Thomas Nash was chosen Centre of the latter
body, which died out after an existence of about one year.
On the 19th of March, 1966, President Roberts visited this city, and his recep-
tion at the old Tabernacle building, in the court house square, was one of the largest
mass meetings ever held in Indianapolis. At this meeting a large sum of money
was subscribed. After this all was quiet in Fenian Circles here till the latter part
of May of the same year, when orders were received to March to Canada. In
three days about one hundred and thirty men were armed, equipped, and sent to
the rendezvous at Buffalo, N. Y., under command of Captain James Haggerty.
The engagements near Fort Erie followed, in which the Indianapolis contin-
gent bore a prominent part. After the fiasco in which this raid resulted, Fenian-
ism, in this city, fell into decay; and late in 1866 it oeased to exist as an organiza-
tion, la the spring of 1867 it was reconstructed, and recovered much of its lost
strength.
On the 3d of June, 1868, a State Convention of the Brotherhood was held here,
when the State was divided into the Northern and Southern Districts, and . F.
Hart, of this city, was appointed Centre of the latter district. For a while the
Circle here prospered anew; but internal dissensions breaking out again, resulted
in its dissolution.
The Indianapolis Circle has not sinee had an existence as an organization.
Out of its disorganized material grew the present military company called the
Emmet Guards; and in 1870 was organized the St. Patricks Temperance Benevolent
Society, now numbering about one hundred and fifty members, and much more
effectual in reclaiming the subjects of intemperance from their moral degradation,
than was the Fenian Circle iu recovering the lost independence of Ireland.
Of the i-esuscitation of the Fenian organization in this city there is now next
to no prospect. The experiences of the past have taught many the impracticability
of achieving the independence of Ireland by unlawful forays into Canada; while
the mismanagement of the affairs of the order, and misuse of its resources, have
produced, a general distrust and. lukewarmness among its former members.