The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-09-21
Saving OF the Duke of wellington when
Mobbed for Voting for CathoIic Eman-

Saving OF the Duke of wellington when
Mobbed for Voting for CathOlic Eman-
Cipaiion.
remember wooden legged soldier,
whom l once saw defend 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 l witnessed the mobbing Of this
great MIN. Isuppose you have thought
tnat the Iron Duke had only successes,
and laudations, and honors in this world
Not so. He had not been the Iron Duke,
If he had not been hardened by moral
conflict, as we'll as by warlike combat At
the time | was in London, the Duke had
given his voice for Catholic Emancipation :;
subsequently he had made himself OBJ
noxious to the bigoted rabble. Sectarian
preachers preached against him, day and
night, from pulpit, stand and stump, about
treason, Popery and the like, until the
poor ignorant masses imag ined that they
must be bitted and bridled by Pope and
priesthood, and to the death, if Catholics
were treated like human beings We'll
lington had thrown his great influence in
, the scale OF emancipation, consequently
the mob determined to revenge what they
considered their wrongs on him The
animus of mob is more frequently a mis-
take than q wickedness. One morning in
February, l noticed threatening crowds
near the Pail Mall gate, not far from the
statute of Achillis This statute was cast
from cannons taken in the Iron Duke s
various battles, and was dedicated TO
Arthur, Duke of Wei Igton, by the Wo-
men of Eualand determi led to watch
the Duke, and see what was going to be
done Punctual to the moment. he de
scended the steps OF Asplcy House his
residence. HIS appearance was imposing
He was at the head OF the Cabinet, Pre-
micr Of England, and he WAS par excel
lence the first II al in England
1t was drizzly morning He wore a
blue frocll coat, buttoned up To the chin.
a military stock, and brown pantaloous.
His falcon eye surveyed the excited groups
about Park gate, with a sort OF pleasant
contempt. The mob were either awed by
his appearance and prestige, or they had
not yet screwed their courage to the III
suit.ng point. The Duke passed on horse
back, attended by his faithful valet No.
body molested him till he reached his
office. There the mob h.ssed hlm. but
when he turned rouud and faced them.
the kissing ceased. lie then quietly en-
tered ms office. As kuew the hour he
would leave Downing street to return to
the Park, was there IN due season. The
neigh borhoOd Of the Hose Guards rroba-
bly, deferred q good many Of the eAcited
fanatics from gathering around his office
but numUets were gathered. Tie Duke
who was punctuallty Itself, came out at
the appointed moment, and mounted Lis
horse amid groanS aud his.es. After he
passed the Horse Guards the noise in
creased 10 shouts When he passed the
CbaTlng Cross, and entered Iail Mil, the
MOB bean 10 throw missiles aaQ Dirt
Near Pail Mall gate, there was a VIII RI
pool Of human heings. eI3yiay round IN
etlGUge, Wild, ana Vet in Il sort OF sym
n.ei-Ical confusion. / feared they would
murder him there. A he approached
the .a.e. 4 good deal S,,attered with mad
and dirt, the mob. as II compelled by some
i2ner power than that 0! earth, made q
IAue .Or n.m 10 pass. For 4 moment lie
was very near them. For that moment
they seemed awei, aud app, ared 70 relent
But when he had entered the gate, their
violence rose 10 fury. He l!smounted
with difficulty, placed hi back against the
rails OF the statue Of Achi.Iis, and cI!mlv
faced his furious aS-ailauts | shall yer
forget that moment Thoughts and feel
that have swayei me ever since. Not ono
word did he utter. There was no shrink
iur-not even a cloud of apprehension
upon that gloriOu, face OH, low Infinite
ly small aid coatemEt.b.e his assaI.ants
looked How great Is man How little
are men,
There was lul! in the storm Of shouts,
and missiles and Girt, and an old Irishman,
with d wooden leg, hustled his way to the
side of the Duke. This man sold apples
and oranges hy Hyde Park gate, ana his
basket had been upset by the mob When
lie had reached the Iron Duke he stood
10y his side and unbound his wooden leg
aud made a speech that Immediately sub
dued the monsters. He began:
My curse on you for cowarcilv scoun-
drels II We have pluck come and ii iglitIn
Let there be two OF us against you all
Begorra, come and kilt both of Us This
is your fair play This is English justice
thousands against one, Think OF Water
loo. But for MIN an uz, Boney would
have beaten We. I've got my wooden leg
for h.htiuS Tor ye. ye Williams and We are
going to pay him by murderi.. linn, We
bloody scoundrels! Come on but come
one al time, not like towards and rut-
kans as ye are altogcther-
The speech was a mighty success. The
mob was ashamed and becalmed and be-
gan to sneak away. Wellington gave
smile of recognition to the man who had
saved his life, and ever atterward he amply
provided for him, as he did for inauy
Others, out OF his own private fortune, IL
his own quiet, noiseless way.