The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-09-10 00:00:00

THE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER,

misery that he should not want to receive any letters
from England. Now that England was getting more
and more distant, he felt as if he would have given
the whole world for one line at the ports they touched
at. Other men got letters; the captain found budgets
waiting for him, and the men had missives from
their wives and sweethearts, and by his own act he
had cut himself off from news.
I will write when we arrive,' he said. 'I must
hear of her somehow, or I shall go mad.'
At last their destination was reached, and the great
Chinese port gained, and the new life began in
earnest. The Asphodel was to remain about a month;
there were repairs to be done, and a fresh cargo to be
gathered, and all sorts of matters to be attenced to
that might be done in three weeks if great expedition
were used, but it would be more likely a month
before she would be ready for the return voyage.
The captain and Cuthbert Ingram had struck up
a sincere friendship during the outward voyage, and
the young man felt as if he should lose a friend when
the Asphodel sailed away again.
I shall find you quite settled here when I come
back again,' Captain Blake said, when the month was
at an end, and they were to start the next day. You
will be tired by that time, maybe, and want to go back
again. _ _

What had brought him? What had hied out
there to send him home? Was it for her he was
returning? Ah, no; she dared not think that,
and-'

'You are going off in a dream again,' Norah said.
'Won't you read Cuthbert's letter? It is not private.'
'May I?' _

_
'May you? Have I not just said you may? Are
you afraid of it? It won't bite you. There's mamma
calling. I will leave you to find out what 'it means;
I can't. Except that he is coming, lam all in the
dark.'

Helen sat with the paper in her hand, when Norah
had run back to the house, wondering whether she
were a wake or asleep, angry with herself for the
emotion that she could not hide, and thankful that
there was no one there to see the tears that would
come in spite of herself.
Cuthbert's letter—the first scrap of writing of hits
that she had seen. She might press it to her lips and
lay her cheek against it and no one be the wiser. If
he cou!d only have seen her, would not he have been
more passionately in love than ever—more anxious
to get home? When she had mastered herself a little
she read it and understood. She had the clue that
they lacked; and again her tears came thick and fast
—joyful tears : for was not happiness coming to her
with every knot of the Asphodel's progress?
My dear aunt,' the letter ran, you will be
surprised to hear from me at all, I dare say, after
what I said when I left you. I meant it then, every
word of it. But things have changed since. lam
coming home! I can fancy your wonderment and
perplexity at my announcement; but I will explain
all when I arrive, which will be almost as soon as my
letter. I have heard—that is, things have hap.
penrd that I could not foresee, and I am no longer
desirous of becoming an exile. I have made it all
right here, and Captain Blake is going to give me a
berth now in the Asphodel. In a week or so after
you get this letter you may look for me, and I will
explain everything. You won't blame me, I think,
when you know all. Love to the girl, and kind re-
membrances to "Helen "'—scratched out, and a blot
carefalty arranged on the top of it, but legible for all
that, and 'Miss Ramsay 'inserted with great care and
skill, if she is still with you and has not forgotten
me. Excuse this scrawl—l am writing somewhat
under difficulties, with all my belongings in the course
of packing and, believe me, you affectionate
nephew.'
I don't think there's madness in our family,' Mrs.
Churchill said, when they were all together in the
evening, • or I should decidedly say that my sister's
son had gone out of his mind. What does the boy
mean by throwing up everything like this, and of-
fending his uncle as he will. I shall have to stand
between him and the terrible wrath, I feel sure.'
Cuthbert can fight his own battles, I fancy,'
Norah said, rummaging in a basket of newspapers as
she sppke. 'We have never looked for any other
news since we got his letter, and all the papers came
by the same post. How funny it seems to have our
English news three days old, and some of this is
older.'
She threw the papers on the table as she spoke,.
selecting one for herself, and getting into a certain
low chair she always affected, and which the othero
declared to be the most comfortable seat in the house
It certainly was MOM curious than luxurious, being
formed out of twisted branches cunningly put
together, and cushioned and varnished.
'Now lam happy,' she said. There's news enough
to satisfy everybody; there's all sorts of mischief
going on in Ireland, and everybody, more or less,
seems to be killing their wives; and the season of
gigantic eggs and sea-serpents has set in, and—
Mamma !' _ .

'No, I don't want to go back to England.
'I think you will. Here's a paper, the very latest,
came by mail this morning, and quick time it's been,
too! Look at the date. Sit down and look at it, I
can't let it go out of the ship till I have had time to
read it myself.
Cuth'iort Ingram was deep in the paper almost
before his friend had done speaking, his yearning for
English news and English gossip was intense, and he
would have been ashamed to own them to anyone.
He seized the sheet that seemed to bring with it a
breath of home, and began devouring it with all his
might.
• H'm,' the captain said to himself; 'don't want
to go back to England, don't he? He's as homesick
as a Swiss peasant. He won't stay here long! What
on earth's the matter, Mr. Ingram? Has the little
island sunk into the sea, or what r
Don't ask me! Don't keep me !' said the young
man starting up. 'Let m 4 get ashore! lam going
back with you! Don't sail till the last minute; keep
a berth for me.'

He's gone mad,' said Captain Blake to himself, as
he watched his passenger scramble over the ship's
side into a boat, Going back, is he? He'll have to
be qu'ck about it. What has happened to him?
Something in the paper? May be his uncle's dead, or
Frampton, and he's come into money. Nothing else
could m-tke a man go off like that. How will he
manage, I wonder?'
He turned the paper over and over, but could make
nothing of Cuthbert's sudden exodus. "Dissolution
of Parliament," he said to himself ; 'that wouldn't
take him home. "State of Ireland"—lreland is
always in a state; he has nothing to do with that.
"Brutal Wife Murder "—ah, there's plenty of them,
and the women bring half of them on themselves.
"Our Relations with France," "Mysterious Affair in
Surrey," "Brutal Murder "—where have I seen some
of these names before? He can't have anything to do
with that? We were on the high seas on the 29th
August. Well, well! Perhaps I shall get at some-
thing if he does go back with me, but I don't suppose
he will.' _ _

Captain Blake reckoned without his host. Cuthbert
Ingram, whatever his motive might be, managed to
make his arrangements and came on board the next
day, very pale and preoccupied, but with all his
belongings, and settled himself in his berth for the
homeward voyage. He had spent nearly all his uncle's
last gift, which had been a bank note for a con-
siderable amount., in freeing himself.from his various
liahiiitiPs and engagements on shore, and he was
ag tated and excited to a degree, but silent at present
as to his reasons for his proceedings.
'I have set my life upon a cast,' he replied, when
Captain Blake essayed to question him. 'lf it fails
me, I think the world will be over for me, and I shall
wish that the Asphodel had gone down with me before
she sighted England.
The Asphodel does not mean to do any such thing,'
the captain said with a laugh; 'she is a well-con-
ducted ship, and will do her duty as a ship ought;
sill will land you in England in quicker time than she
has ever done the voyage before, and that is saying
something.'
It did not take the good captain very long to
discover which was the paragraph in the newspaper
which was sending his passenger home again. Be
watched and found out what it was that Cuthbort
read so constantly, and came to a pretty accurate
conclusion in the matter.
- • -

The word came in a gasp that-was almost a shriek,
and they saw that she was deadly pale and trembling
all over.

What is it, my dear?' asked Mrs. Churchill, look.
hag up in surprise. 'What have you come across?"
Norah did:not answer; her head was bowed down
on the paper, and she was weeping hysterically.
'Give me the paper,' her mother said. 'Don't look
so frightened, Madge. Whatever is the matter with
her?'

It can't be true—it c‘n't be true,' Norah sobbed,
as her mother took the paper from her hand. It's
Cuthbert, mamma—the ship—the Asphodel.'
What about her?'

'She's burat, and they are all drowned?' and Norah
relinquished her hold on the newspaper and buried her
face in her hands.

'ls that the lady?' he asked, somewhat abruptly,
one day after dinner, when they were alone together,
and the paper, worn and ragged now with much
reading, was in Cuthbert's hand. He put his finger
on Helen Ramsay's name, as he spoke, and looked at
his passenger with a smile.
4 What lady r
'The lady. Of course I knew there was one from
the minute you started; besides, your uncle to'd me
something of his own suspicions. Is this what is
sending you back?'
Yes. If it is false, and she is still tied, I think I
shall lie down and die.'
`No, you won't; you are too much of a man to do
that You will shake hands with the gentleman, and
he honestly glad that he isn't dead. What makes you
think till thing isn't true? It is no penny-a-liner's
paragraph, evidently.'
It was the story of Frank Hatherleigh's murder
that had come like a thunder-clap into Cuthbert
Ingram's life, and made him give up his chances in
China and come home again. He had posted a letter
to his aunt, telling her he was returning; he would
break the news to his uncle later. The mail would
rea:th England some time before the Asphodel, so he
should not take them by surprise. He passed his
days in dreaming of a future he hardly dare fashion
out for himself, and his nights in broken dreams of
Helen and her freedom, how she was bearing the
awful sho 4c—for, whether she really loved Frank
Hatherleigh or not, his death must have been an
awful shock to a sensitive nature. How would she
receive him—his darling? Would she be angry with
him, or would she understand that he could not re-
main out there knowing that she was free? Ah !
he could wait now, even as Jacob waited for Rachel,
.knowing that there was no one to came between
them. He was poor and she was rich—at least, she
had a fortune; but he would overcome that, he
would work, his uncle would help him, and —,
Fire 1'

The word rang through the ship with a sound like a
trumpet-cail, and woke him from his reverie to face
et,a, h in its most awful shape—raging fire on one
side, and an angry sea on the other.

CIThPTFR XXVI.
HOW THE NEWS CAME HOME.
We know death bore thee down, brother,
In his most angry mood,
Commanding in alliance fierce
The fire to meet the flood:—ANON.

'NEWS, Helen, news !'and Norah Churchill ran down
the slope of the hill where their house stood to the
beach, where Helen Ramsay was sitting watching the
dash of billows, and thinking, 4s she very often did.
It was rest and peace to her to watch the restless sea—
perhaps too much rest, for it gave her time to thihk
and drehm over all that had been and all that might
have been.

How often her thoughts strayed to Cuthbert Ingram
in these idl,3 hours only she herself knew. She had to
fight. hard to keep from repining that matters had not
heen set, led between her and Frank before it was too
late, and before Cuthbert had gone away. She knew
that he loved her. She knew that he knew that she
loved him—the look in his eyes as he bent over her
hand in that moment of parting had toldher that, and
she blushed rosy red at the thought, even in her
loneliness. She was thinking of him now as she sat
there, and wondering where he was and what he was
doing—whether he was forgetting her, or longing for
ihe sight of her as she was longing to see him.
There was no harm in it now; she might long and
think as much as she liked, she was betraying no
trust, doing wrong to no one. If poor Frank were
Wive he would be nothing to her now. She was free,
and the man who had her heart in his keeping was
far away. It was a crooked tangle—the world was a
contrary place, and sometimes the decrees of the all-
powerful Providence that shapes our ends' were hard
to understand. What had Frank done that he should
be so terribly cut off? What had she done that her
young life should be shadowed and made sad by such
a atastrophe ? Truly, Helen was getting morbid, and
it was time something happened to wake her up a
little. That was what Mrs. Churchill was always
saying to her. She was too sad for a young girl; but
the shadow was on them all, and would be till the
terrie le story of Frank Hatherleigh's murder was more
a thing of the past.
What are you thinking of?' Norah demanded, as
Rho came to Helen's side. 'You look as if you were
miles aw4y.'
So I was, I think. I was going across the sea
in those steps yonder, and wondering where they
are going to. What is your news, dear; anything
good?'
Gold ! The very best. Listen, Helen. Someone
is coming back.'
'And who is someone?'
Helen's heart beat rapidly as she asked the question.
What had happened? Was the tale of Frank's death
some wild dream, and was he coming back? She
la,iul‘ed at her own folly
a-hed across her mind. She knew how impossible
it was, as soon as the thought had
e
Who is it?' she asked again, and Norah answered
with a smile.
' Cousin Cuthbert. You remember him, Helen?'
Coming back!' It was all that Helen could gasp
out in her amazement, and she turned her head away
that Norah might not see the light in her eyes and the
fuih on her cheek.

Yes, d, at. . i t t glorious? We are all so fond
of Cuthbert.'

• But why? I understood he was gone for all his
life or something like it
So did we. But he has altered his mind. I
suppose he finds that horrid Chinese place too dread-
ful ; I am sure I shculd. Anyway, be is coming
home in the sime ship he went out in—the Asphodel.
He will be h(re almost as soon as the letter, he thinks.
Mamma is going to write and tell him to come straight
here A letter will meet him at Fern Bank. Isn't it
delightful? Cuthbert is just what we want to wake
us up a little.'
lieleniode whst answer eheqould. Cenling home!

Mrs. Churchill read the dreadful story—it was all
too trus—read it with her daughters clinging to her
weeping, and Helen Ramsay sitting before her as if
she were turned to stone. Where was the happiness
now? Where were the bright dreams of an hour
ago? Gone down into the deep water with the ill-
fated crew of the Asphodel. The story was awful
and true. A boat-load of miserable creatures had
been picked up just in time to save their lives, and
they t )Id how the ship had been burned to the water's
edge, and no one but themselves had been saved.
They had well-nigh eaten each other before they were
found, and it was hard work to bring them
back frotn the border land between death and life, on
which their feet were set. They were the only
survivors, they were sure of that. The fire had broken
out amongst some inflammable stores, and had gained
such ground before it was discovered as to do away
with all hope of saving the ship fram the very first.
The day was stormy, and it was a miracle that the
boat which survived did not share the fate of the
others and capsize as soon as it touched thy water.
The narrative of the rescued persons, one of whom
was a lady, was harrowing in the extreme. Every-
one had beh wed with the utmost calmness and forti-
tude, and the presence of mind of the captain and
crew had been beyond all praise. .They had gone to
their account as only brave men can, leaving a memory
of self-sacrifice behind them that would last while
the story of the Asphodel was remembered, and it was
one of the terrible catastrophes that are recollected to
all time.

Cuthbert Ingram's name was amongst the lost—a
fact which puzzled his uncle and Mr. Frampton not a
little. It was a mistake, they thought; it had been
left in the passengers' list from the outward voyage;
there was nothing to bring him home. They had
heard of his safe arrival, and his satisfaction with his
prospects in the future. It was nonsense the report
of his death; but it would be as well to telegraph to
the firm he had gone to and find out.
Alas! the news came back that Cuthbert had Sailed
without doubt in the ill-fated ship ; something of im-
portance had called him back to England. He was
gone, and they would never know what it was that
had caused him to alter his plans and return in that
odd fashion. Everybody read of the burnt ship, and
Mr. Jarvis ruminating over it, in his chambers in the
Ternp'e, wondering a little at the name of Cuthbert
Ingram, of whom he had heard, was not very much
surprised at receiving a message from Mrs. Churchill,
telling him that his ward was very ill.
I hope it is nothing really serious,' that 'lady
wrote: 'but I thought it right that you should know.
Helen had a bad fainting fit the night,' we read the
dreadful news about my nephew, and she has never
been:herself since. The doctor says it is low fever;
but ',he, does not rouse out of it as we wohld wish, and
should be better satisfied if you saw her. I have my
own idea about things; but as she has not taken me
into her confidence, I don't like to press her for it.'
So have I my own ideas,' the lawyer said to him-
self. 'I think I have had them ever since the day
she came back from school. Poor child, her love
affairs don't seem to turn out well. And so that fine
young fellow is gone, and poor Frank, and my
adopted daughter is wearing the willow for both of
them, as it were. I'll take a run over to Biarritz, and
bring her away, if she would like to come; though I
think she is more likely to get well with Mrs Churchill
than if I took her to Dieppe.'
He sighed a little weary sigh, and rubbed his hands
through his hair, an action very common with him
when he was perplexed or tired, and he was both
just now. The shock of the affair at Hillford had
made an old man of him, he declared, and the worry
of it remained. If Frank Hatherleigh's body had been
found and buried, and the mystery at an end, he
would have felt differently. But the knowledge that
there was still something to be discovered kept him
upon the rack. The sight of Ragged Jack, too, had
perple. ed him much. He had been sure of the boy's
identity, and had taken the trouble to go to the police
and have him searched for. It was all no use, and
he was assured that he must have been mistaken ; no
suchilboy was known to the force in London.
Certainly, no such boy was known; for the Jack
that Mr. Jarvis had seen that afternoon was totally
different from Barney Grubb's ragged ally. He was
sharp and precocious enough for a whole legion of
st re et Arabs, but he was wary and quiet—a boy with a
purpose, and brains enough to stick to it. He had a
master, who served him well, and whom he loved and
respected, and in this quiet service he was infinitely
better off than snaring birds in the farmer's fields, or
even at the ferry with Barney Grubb. He would like to
have gone back and seen his old friend ; but it was one of
the conditions of his new employ that he should keep
alo )f from all his old connections—nothing wonderful, if
the person he served wanted an honest lad, and one
without disagreeable associations.
t Jack hn
aeStone
e aetrs
E wast e
You shall go back, after awhile, Jack,' Mr. Stone
sad.
aepnadntameaethtaofe time
new master.
o.a
offered o f h
iamll tah e
homedis-
u hisod
rdh,
with u m on condition that he kept his place of resi-
dence a secret, and obeyed him in everything. Mr.
etone was s nnewhat of an invalid, and seldom went
out, and Jack wds bidden to answer no questions
about him, but mind his own affairs, and talk to no
one in the street. It was wonderful how a wild, un-
tamable creature as the lad had been in the old Hill-
ford days could accommodate himself to such to'aly
different circumstances; but he managed it very well,
and was marvellously disoreet.
After his recognition by Mr. Jarvis in the street,
Mr. Stone decided to move from where he was, and
the alteration in his abode was managed so that so one
knew how the pair disappeared. They paid their rent,
as they always did, to the day, and they owed nothing;
so that they were free to go as they chose, and they
took up their quarters in a different part of London.
• I shill set about that business, soon, Jack,' Mr.
Stone said, when they were settled in their new
hink
You need be well and strong to be er match for
the devil,' was Jack's curious reply. Don't you try
quarters. I'm well enough now, I t .
it yet, sir. It means watching of nights and sleep-
ing with your eyes open, and never stopping think-
ing. Wait a bit. It will come right the sooner fos
it. If you was to break down, it would all come to

'I believe you are right, Jack. I shall want all my THE PROCLAIMED MEETING OF THE
strength. One thing I have quite determined on.'
NATIONAL LEAGUE;
'What's that, sir?'
T 'Suppose I say it's no business of yours, my boy. he Nationalist demonstration near Ennis was held
However, you have earned the right to know all lam on Sunday, not on the exact spotat first decided upon,
going to do. Your head is as clear as most men's. but on the opposite side of Ennis. A large force of
I shall go to the gentleman that saw you the other milicary and police, under Colonel Turner, divisional
day.' magistrate, and including a troop of the 3rd Hussars,
'Lord, sir, that would be walking straight into the a dozen files of the Leinster Regiment, and 150 police,
lion's mouth! It would be all up, then. had been assembled to prevent the holding of the
'Lions are merciful beasts, sometimes, Jack. I Ballycoree meeting, and these directed their atten-
have thought and thought till I can think no more; tion largely to watching Ballycoree itself. Mr.
and I have come to the conclusion that it would be Dillon, Mr. O'Brien, Mr. Philip Stanhope, and
the best thing for me to do. Basides, I must—l must other members popular among the Nationalists,
raise some money from somewhere. We are at the however, drove out towards Clare Castle, fol-
end of our tether, Jack, and I am not able to work lowed by numbers of people from all parts of
yet to get any.' the country, who had collected in Ennis. They
'And does he lend money, sir r halted about a quarter of a mile from their
'Many lawyers do in a quiet way. I daresay he will hotel, and speeches were delivered by Mr. Stan-
be able to put me in the way of getting some, hope, who repeated his assurances of sympathy
when he understands matters; anyway, I shall try with Le efforts of the people to sustain freedom of
him.' speech in Ireland, and by Mr. Dillon and Mr.
. 'You don't want me to come, too, do you, sir r O'Brien. The soldiers and the police arrived during
'Well, no, I think not.' the meeting, and Colonel Turner said he must ask
'l'm glad of that,' the boy replied. 'He could get the people to disperse. Mr. Stanhope protested, say.
things out of me that he couldn't out of you. He can ing it was an interference with a legal meeting, but
turn a persoz round his finger, can that gentleman, Mr. Cox declared that the objects of the meeting had
and I can't tell lies to him. Whew! It makes me hot been attained, and the cavalcade returned to Ennis.
1

to think of him.'
Mr. Jarvis, writing off a hasty note to Mrs.
Churchill, to say that he would be at Biarritz as
soon as he could come, was interrupted by his clerk,
with the announcement that a gentleman wished to
see him.
Not now,' he said, 'I cannot see anyone this after-
noon.'
The gentleman says his business is urgent, sir; he
will not see any one but you.'
Did he give his name?'
Yes, sir; Mr. Stone.'
Tell him I'm engaged. Ask him to give his
message to you. I have more to do now than I can
well get through before I must be away;' and Mr.
Jarvis looked at his watch impatiently, anathema-
tising Mr. Stone from the bottom of his heart.
That gentleman sat in the outer office waiting
patiently the while. He was an elderly man of
delicate appearance, with a bushy beard and
moustache and grey hair, looking as if :it bad been
bleached by illness rather than age. His hands were
thin and white, and there was a recently healed scar
on the back of one of them, over which he kept his
glove carefully. He seemed a little nervous, as if he
were not used to lawyers' , offices, and his eyes
wandered restlessly round the room with a queer
kind of nervousness in them that suggested weak
health or great irresolution of character.
'I think Mr. Jarvis will see me,' he said quietly
when the clerk came out a second time with a refusal.
Will you be good enough to give him this? When he
has Seen it you will bring me a different answer, I
think.'
The clerk went back again with a small parcel in
his hand, and came back in about a minute, scanning
Mr. &um attentively.
Mr. Jarvis will see you, sir,' he said. Walk this
way U you please.'
(To be continued.)

Brief speeches were afterwards made by Mr. O'Brien
and Mr. Stanhope, in the square, near O'Connell's
monument, and the soldiers and police coming up
again the streets were cleared, bat without any dis-
turbance or protest from the people, who were, in
fact, advised by the members of Parliament and
priests to leave quietly. Colonel Turner and his
subordinates acted with the utmost forbearance, and
there was no attempt to use arbitrary measure 3
towards the crowd. In the evening the streets were
paraded by bands, but no incident of note occurred.
Sunday was a day of great excitement in Ennis.
From early morning it was apparent that if the
Nationalists persisted in their threats to hold the
meeting at Ballycoree very serious consequences to
them would ensue. To prevent the demonstration
taking place, the authorities had taken the most
complete steps. On Saturday night 150 police, under
County Inspector heard, arrived, and on. Sunday
morning a special train from Limerick brought a
troop of the 3rd Hussars, under Major Paton, and 30
men of the Leinster Regiment, from Clare Castle,
under the command of Major Clary. The entire force
was under the supreme command of Colonel Turner,
while the following resident magistrates were in attend-
ance : Mr. Kilkelly, Mr. Welch, and Mr. Townsend.
Mr. William O'Brien, M.P., and Mr. Leamy reached
Ennis at an early hour, and entered into a consulta-
tion at Carmordy's Hotel, after which they went to
ten o'clock mass. Owing to the heavy rain that fell
at intervals from daybreak, very few country people
reached the town until about noon. The contingents
from Kilrush, Miltown Malbay, Limerick, and sur-
rounding districts marched into the town headed by
bands. The authorities did not interfere with the
band playing. About 10 o'clock Colonel Turner pro-
ceeded to Ballycoree and surrounded with Hussars
the platform from which it was intended the speakers
should address the meeting. Returning to town
Colonel Turner at once took up his quarters at the
Clare Club, which had been placed at his disposal. In
the square adjoining were placed the constabulary and
infantry and a portion of the cavalry. Excitement
ran high when the procession started at half-pas' one
—as ever % one imagined for Ballycoree. Mr. O'Brien,
M.P., Mr. Dillon, M.P. Mr. Leamy, Mr. Cox, M.P.,
and the Lord Mayor of Dublin, drove in a waggon-
nette, and immediately after them came Mr. Stanhope,
M.P., Mr. Craig, and two English ladies, who are
relatives of Mr. Stanhope. About 20 Roman Catholic
priests were present. The shortest route to Ballycoree
lies to the west of the town. The procession moved
in the opposite direction, passed the O'Connell monu-
ment, and up by the Clare-road. Across the streets
were banners, containing the following sentences:
"Hurrah for the fearless O'Brien, who all dangers has
defied,' 'Long live the Grand Old Man,' Success to
John Dillon; long may he reign to support the Plan
of Campaign," Hurrah for the women of Bodyke, for
they made a gallant fight,' 'Let victory crown the
works of brave Michael Devitt." The windows in the
houses were thronged with people, who seemed to re-
gard discretion the better part of valour, for they
merely cheered, and did not join the crowd, which
numbered now about 6000 persons. When it had
gone about a quarter of a mile from Ennis the vehicle
on which the Nationalist M.P.'s were seated came to
a belt at a part of the road immediately opposite the
Roman Catholic College, and Mr. Cox, M.P., called
out " In of the road, boys." The people obeyed the
order, and clambered over a high coped stone wall into ,
a field. Mr. O'Brien then said, "Now, then, a chair-
man—as quick as you can." There were cries of
Where is Father Welsh ?" The rev, gentleman was
found and was installed as chairman in the waggon-
nette. He was loudly cheered, and said he had some
resolutions to propose, and he would ask every man
and woman in Clare to put them in practice. He read
the first resolution, which strongly condemned the
Government for having proclaimed their meeting, and
characterising its action as an illegal attempt to sup-
press freedom of speech. (Cheers.) The other reso-
lutions they would take as read. They would answer
in the newspapers, and be circulated amongst tens of
thousands. The Hon. Philip Stanhope, M.P., would
next address them. (Cheers.)
Mr. Stanhope, M.P., said he came to them as a
brother citizen from England, the people of which
country claimed in the past what the Irish were now
claiming—the right of free meeting and public gather-
ing in order to express their wishes and desires. Their
meeting at Ballycoree was a perfectly lawful and legal
meeting. There were millions of British hearts across
the Channel thinking of them that day and praying
for them, and hoping that that great meeting would be
the sTrnhol, as he hoped it would be, of that pacific
union which would bind Englishmen and Irishmen
for ever together. (Cheers.) He had only to tell
them that that meeting, proclaimed though it had
been, was a noble protest in favour of the right of free
speech in Ireland. (Cheers.) On Tuesday next he
would have the honour of speaking to some thousands
of his countrymen in the midlands of England, and
he woulo tell them that the union had been nearly
brought. about, and that the two peoples would clasp
hands in the cause of humanity and ensure eternal
peace. (Cheers.)
Mr. John Dillon, M.P., who was received with loud
cheers, said he was proud—more than he could tell
them—to see them there that day in their thousands,
assembled from every part of that great country. The
intelligent Government under which they lived seemed
to think that the people of Clare would be afraid to
go into Ennis, because every dead wall in the county
of Clare was decorated with a paper proclamation
announcing that that was an illegal meeting. The
Chief Secretary said that every law-abiding citizen
would. of course, remain away from the meeting.
kle was proud to say that the people of Clare had
come to show that they were not to be intimated.
(Cries of " Never.") In spite of the proclamation
they should hold their meeting in Ennis that day.
(A Voice: "We have done it, Mr. Dillon.") They
had assembled in Ennis in the teeth of the Go-
vernment, and he ventured to say that there was
at the present time before him as fine a body of
men as had ever stood in :the town of Ennis. If
the meeting were illegal in the mind of the Govern-
ment he invited them to put all those people in prison.
They were prepared to take the consequence o their
words. He did not know whether the Goverment
would hear them. In any case he did not care. He
felt grateful, not fox his own sake, but for the sake of
the people of Ireland scattered at the four corners of
the earth, that the young men of Clare had not played
the part of cowards. There was not a corner of the
earth, from far-off Australia to the Rocky Mountains,
but where Irishmen would have hung their heads for
shame if they had not come to 'Ennis and taken up
their stand in (1, fiance to the proclamation, and shown
the Government that the old spirit was not dead in
them. (Cheers.) What did they hold this meeting
for? Two purposes—to protest against the Coercion
Act of the Government, and to bring public opinion
to bear on the rack-renting and evicting landlords of
Clare, and to show them that, in spite of the Coercion
Act, they would make them pay for it if they carried
on their evictions. What was the result of the move-
ment started last autumn and carried on through the
winter? Every landlord who unjustly evicted his tenants
was now Rick, sore, and sorry. They had enabled the
people of Ireland by this policy to punish and make
scarecrows of evicting landlords. They might ask
this question with reason—lf in the past history of
Ireland every landlord who had evicted his tenants
unjustly met with the same fate that Captain O'Cal-
laghan, of Bodyke, met with, would the population
of this country be thinned down as it was to-day?
They knew perfectly well thai it would not; they
knew much of the cruel history of the past, when the
landlord and the bailiff could make them cut each
other's throats, and could make bad blood amongst
them. They had put down, and they should con-
tinue to put downs land grabbing, in spite of all the
appeals of the Gosernment. When the Clare land-
lords were met in council they would consider the case
of O'Callagban's tenants, and ask had he made any-
thing out of it. He (Mr. Dillon) did not think he
had, and he did not think he would. He said that
so long as lands were unlet, and untilled, and nn
profitable, they would find the remainder of the
Clare landlords more easily dealt with. They would
hold more meetings ii: Clare than this one to-day
(Cheers.) What was the answer given to him the
other day in the House of Commons when he asked
why was the Ennis meeting proclaimed? He was
told that it was because it was in Claro. All he could
sar was that he made it a present to them as the
gretitest compliment he could pay them. It seemed
now that the Coercion Act could not keep down the
men of Clare. The Government must- proclaim all
the meetings besides; but they would hold meetings
and put down land grabbing in Clare. No evicted
farm would be taken in Clare as long as be was at
liberty. (Cheers.) They would, at the meetings
which they would hold, preach the gospel of deliver-
ance for the poor man and for the oppressed. He
would conclude by pointing out to them one great
element of hope in their meeting here to-day. They
had an emissary from their friends across the water.
They were no longer without friends across the water.
(Cheers.) For the first time in the history of
the oppression of the people of Ireland they had
gallant Englishmen to stand by them who
were not ashamed nor afraid to attend this meeting,
although all law-abiding citizens were warned to re-
main away. (Hoar, hear.) They were all just as
law-abiding as Mr. Balfour. Yet there were friends
in their midst who represented that majority of

zngiana taxing part in this inept meeting
to that proclamation. Although to-day their meeting
place, Ballycoree, was in the possession of the con-
stabulary, the hour was close at hand, and very close,
when they would be masters in Ireland—(cheers)—
and when that day came they would mete out justice
to all alike. They would not do injury for injury.
Mr. Balfoar said that if he (Mr. Dillon) were the
Home Secretary for Ireland he would enforce the
law. Well, he hoped he would enforce the
law, but he would first enforce it against ruffianly
magistrates and policemen, and he would then tackle
evicting landlords. In conclusion—( A Voice: "Here
they are, coming")—
This announcement caused the greatest excitement,
which was heightened by the troops of the 3rd Hussars
dashing up the road with Colonel Turnerat their head.
They passed through a lane way made in the crowd and
formed in square about fifty yards beyond where Mr.
Dillon was speaking. Colonel Turner bestrode one of
the conet%bulary horses, which was made very restive
by the hooting and shouting of the people. Several
stones were flung at the mounted police guard, and a
policeman was struck on the head but not injured.
Colonel Turner, having witnessed this occurrence,
threatened to fire on the people if there was a repeti-
tion of the stone throwing. Mr. Dillon, not noticing
the arrival of the Govornment authorities, continued his
observations, which, however, were perfectly inaudible
to those around. Arnii a perfect storm of yells and
groans Colonel Turner, attended by Husears and
mounted police, rode up to the side of the waggonnette
opposite to that on which Mr. Dillon was standing,
and was immediately interrogated by a Mr.
Dennehy, who said, "This is a perfectly lawful and
legal meeting," whereupon Colonel Turner answered,
"I must tell you that this is simply by pro-
clamation an illegal meeting, and it is my duty to
warn you to disperse from here." Mr. Dennehy,
repeated that the meeting was a perfectly legal one.
Colonel Turner begged that gentleman's pardon, but
they should all disperse. A man who had been listen-
ing to the dialogue chimed in with "This is not Bally-
coree." Several others then remonstrated with
Colonel Turner, who replied to them, "I am only
a public servant, and my duty is to stop this meet-
ing." At this stage of the proceedings Mr. O'Brien
rose in the waggonnette and addressed the crowd.
Colonel Turner: " I cannot allow this. Will you
ask Mr. O'Brien to speak to me or Mr. Cox?" Colonel
Turner, having whispered something to Mr. Cox,
added, in a determined manner, "I warn you to
disperse, and disperse within five minutes." The
gallant colonel then retired to where the armed
force was stationed. At the end of five minutes
orders were given to the county inspect& to disperse
the crowd. The Lord Mayor confined his speech to
one sentence, and the procession marched away
towards town.

Mr. William O'Brien, M.P., in the course of his
address, said: I am told that we are warned that
this is an illegal assembly, and that we are bound
by the terms of the proclamation to disperse. I
would like to know the meeting that was ever held
that was not, in the opinion of the Government,
illegal; that was not, in the opinion of men like Mr.
Balfour, an illegal assembly. It has been illegal to
hold any meeting in Ireland for many a year. Well,
then, in Ireland we shall act according to our own
opinions. (Loud cheers.) In olden times, not only
was it not illegal to assemble in public meeting, but
to send children to school, and that would be the
custom in Ireland in the future as it had been in the
past if it were permitted. All the years of our lives,
and all the years for seven centuries, we bare been
accustomed to it, and that is what makes us hate
Dublin Castle rule, and that is what would make us
shed our hearts' blood in the endeavour to win our
country's rights. If we bad weapons in our hands to
meet the minions of Dublin Castle, wo would meet
them as they ought to be met. (Cheers.) If it
would be any satisfaction to Mr. Balfour or his re-
presentatives to know that I would not have attended
here to-day only that this proclamation was issued,
that information may be imparted to him and them.
When the Hon. Mr. Stanhope and other gentleman
had come all the way from London to assert the right
of freedom of speech in Ireland, the right of every
Irishman to come there and take his place, it was a
good omen of the future, and if every town in Ireland
did as Ennis to-day he could promise them that the
day was coming when the forces would be employed
in other purposes. Their children would relate for
many a year what had occurred that day, and the
incidents that took place would be the herald of peace
and happiness and freedom to their native and long-
suffering land. (Cheers.)
Mr. Dillon, dismounting from the waggonnette as
the police dispersed the crowd, and standing with
folded arms, seemed as if he wished to ascertain
whether the authorities desired to molest him per-
sonally In case he refused to leave the thoroughfare.
District Inspector Heard, however, permitted Mr.
Dillon to remain where he was, and in the meantime
Mr. O'Brien at the request of Mr. Dillon had driven
on towards town, the police following in their wake.
At a distance of about 200 yards, near the O'Connell
monument, a halt was made, and the Lord Mayor
continued the speech which be refrained from making
when Colonel Turner made a move to disperse the
people. Colonel Turner gave direction to the county
inspector to order the Lord Mayor to move on,
which he quickly did. The people, who anti-
cipated a baton charge by the police, rushed
down the town and took shelter in various houses.
When the members of Parliament and their friends
arrived at the hotel, Mr. O'Brien came to one of the
windows and said: "I ask you to go home; we have
won, and enough is as good as a feast." The majority
of the people, however, lingered around the hotel, hut
they were eventually dispersed by a very heavy down-
pour of rain. The armed force of military and police
then left for their barracks. It may be mentioned
that the soldiers had their ambulance waggons witli
them and the Army Hospital Staff Corps.
Late on Sunday evening Messrs. O'Brien and Dillon
and a few others drove to Ballycoree, but no attempt
at a meeting was made. The town on Sunday night
presented its normal aspect of quietude.
Shortly after the conclusion of the meeting one of
the local bands paraded se7eral times through the
market square, followed by a large crowd, some mem-
bers' of which threw stones at a body of police in
charge of Mr. Kilkelly, R.M. The police charged the
crcwd with their batons, and in the melee some per-
sons were injured. Colonel Turner arrived on the
scene soon afterwards, and, at the request of Father
Little, withdrew. The majority of the people returned
to their homes, and no disturbance occurred after-
wards.