The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1861-08-16
The Iron Duke and the Irish Soldier.
Bearing Of the Duke Of Wellington when
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The Iron Duke and the Irish Soldier.
Bearing Of the Duke Of Wellington when
Mobbed for roting for Catholic Enamel
patton.
| remember a wooden. n.legged soldier,
whom once saw defended the Duke Of
Wellington in a mob. But must tell
you the story. In the spring of 1927
was spending an extra vacation in London,
and thus | witnessed the mobbing of this
great man. suppose you have thought
that the lrou Duke had only succ esses, s,and
laudations, and honors in this world. No.
so. lie had not Leon the Iron Duke if he
had not been hardened by moral conflict.
as we'll As by warlike combat. At tie
time was in London, the Duke had given
his voice for Catholic emancipation; cou,
sequently he had made himself obnoxious
to the bigotted rahble. Sectarian preach
ers preached day and night against him,
from pulpit stand and stump, about trea-
son, Popery and the like, undl TIC poor,
ignorant masses imagined that they NUS,
be bitted and bridled BY "a Pope and priest
hood, and to the death, if Catholics were
treated like human beings Wellington
had thrown his great influence in the scale
for emancipation, consequently the mob
determined to revenge what they consid-
cred their wrongs on him. The animus Of
mob is more frequently mistake than
a weakness. One morning in February [
noticed threatening crowds near Pail Mall
gate. not far from the statue of Achilles.
The statue was cast from cannons taken in
the Iron Dukes various battles, and was
dedicated "To Arthur, Duke Of Yelling
ton, by the Woman of England" l de-
terminoo to watch the Duke, and see what
was going to be done. Punctual to the
moment, he descended the steps of Apsley
House. bis residence. HIS appearance was
imposing. He Was at the head Of the
Cabinet, Premier of England, and he was
par excellence the first man in England.
1t was drizzling morning. lie wore
blue frock coat, buttoned up to the chin,
military stock, and brown pan,aloons.
His falcan eye surveyed the groups about
the Park gate with sort of pleasing con-
tempt. The mob was either awed by his
appearance and prestige. or they had not
yet screwed their courage to the insulting
point. The Duke passed on horseback,
attended by bis faithful valet. Nobody
molested him till he reached his of1ice.
There the mob hissed him, but when he
turned round and faced them, the Kissing
ceased. lie then quietly entered the Of
flee. AS knew the hour he would leave
Downing street to return to the Park. I
was there in good season. The neighbor>
hood Of the Horse Guards probably de-
tered good many of the excited fanat-
les from gathering about the office, but
numbers were gathered. The Duke, who
was punctuality itself, came out at the ap-
pointed moment, and mounted his horse
amid greans and hisse,. After he passed
the Horse Guards, the noise increased 10
shouts. When be passed the Charine
Cross, and entered Pail Mall, the mob be-.
gan to throw missiles and dirt. Near Pail
Mall Gate there was whirlpool of human
beings eddying round in strange, wild.
and yet in sort of symmetrical confusion.
feared they would have murdered him
there. AS he approached the gate, good
deal spattered with mud and dirt the mob.
as if compelled by some hi CHER power than
that Of earth, made lane for him to pass.
For moment he was very near them. For
that moment they seemed awed, and ap-
peared to relent. But when he entered
the gate, their violence arose to fury. lie
d:smounted with difficulty, placed his back
against the rails of he statue of Achilles,
and calmly faced his furious assailants |
shall never forget that moment Thoughts
and feelings took mastery of my nature
then, that have swayed me ever since Not
one word did he utter. There was no
shrinking-not even cloud Of apprehen-
sion on that glorious face. Oh, how in
finlte'y small and contemplate his assail-
ants looked! How great is man How
little are men. E
There was a ull in the storm Of shou.s.
and missiles and dirt, and an old Irish
man, with wooden leg, hustled his way
to the side Of the Duke. This man sold
apples and oranges by Hyde Park gate,
his basket had been upset by the mob.
When he had reached the Iron Duke he
stood by his side, and unbound his wooden
leg, and made speech that Immediately
subdued the monsters. He begaa mana
"My curse on you for cowardIy scoun-
drels If ye have pluck core aud fight
me. lie. there be Two Of rs aGyainst You
all. Begorra, come ana XIII ds'fB0.h.
This is your fair piay!y l1isJisavolIr s1n-
elish Justice, ,housapds against one.
Think Of Waterloo. But for HIN and uz,
Boney would have beaten We. I've got
ny wooden leg for fighting for ye, ye VII
lins-and ye are goin' to pay him by mut.
derin' him, We bloody scouDdrels! Come
on, but come one at time, not like cow
ards and rufians as We are, altogether"
The speech was mighty success. The
mob was ashamed and calmed, and began
to sneak away. We. ington gave smile
OF recognition to the man who had saved
his life, and ever afterward be amply pro>
vided for him, as he did for many others,
out of his own private fortune, in his own
quiet, noiseless way.
MINISTER TO RoaE.-Iu speaking of
the appointment OF Gov Randall as Minis
| tor IN Roma Tho D.oso 81 NJ.