The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1867-05-17

The Cork Ireland1 Her1H gives the fol-
lowing Interesting sketch of tho life of
PETER 0kowLtY, prominent Fenian, who
! was killed by the British sconstabulary in
one of the recent skirmishes in that coun-
try; s
Is" Although the recent Fenian outbreak.
which burst forth on Shrove Tuesday night
has virtually collapsed, there are some Incl.
dents in connection with the movement. as
1t took place In this district, which. on pe-
rusal, may be found interesting. These
haye been conveyed to us with such de-
gree OF circumstantiality as leaves little
doubt that our authority in the matter is a
reliable one, and, therefore, can the more
readily reproduce them, being pretty conf
dent OF their accuracy These incidents,
we should promise, chiefly relate to the ca
reer of Peter O'Neill Crowley, who was
shot IN the recent ARRAY between the mill
tary and the Fenians, at Kilcooney wool
Crowley was born on the 23d of May. 1882,
at Ballymycoda, in this county. lie came
into the world amid the contention which
had been generated by the 1.-THE agitation
Ills father was respectable farmer, living
IN the locality, and his mother was the niece
ct Father Peter o Neill, who was logged
IN the city Of Cork in the year 1898, and
afterwards sentenced to transportation for
his alleged completely in the rebellion of
that year. While yet young, Peter Crow
ley's father died, and his grand uncle. the
priest, who had been liberated from Jail
after five year S Incarceration, took the bow
under his care, and at the time of his death
directed that due attention should be paid
to educating him in the most modern
branches OF education. Young Crowley
had been called after his grand uncle, a nd
the latter seemed very much attached to his
nephew. On Father O'NeiIrs death, he
inherited, under his will, all that the priest
was worth In the world, including his res
ldence The management of the property
was taken up.by Peter Crowley's eldest sis
ter, who, some years her brothers. senior,
endeaVored to carry out faithfully the be-
quests OF the deceased gentleman. Time
rolled on, and Peter, attaining his maiority,
worked with great energy at the farm which
mad been left to him, ald, by industry and
perseverance,, soon converted 1t into valu-
able property. He was always a. man of
exceedingly temperate habits, never having
drunk drop OF spirltuous liquor since he
was ten years of age, and when his day of
toll was ended he applied himself to study.
and deeply Impressed by the dreadful pun
ishment to which his grand uncle had been
subjected, he was imbued with feelings of
the deepest hostility towards the English
government. He, himself, was blessed
with good landlord, and his home was en-.
dowed with all the comforts which are CAL
culated to make man happy in this world
But his mind festered under the iafuence
| OF his political convictions His heart was
| always generous to those who were in want,
and he could never enjoy happiness while
he saw penury and misery around him, and
his fellow men fed" he used to saw.
worse than the dogs of those occupying
high station" Peter Crowley's grand.
| father was, likewise mixed up in the move
| ment OF SO, and for two years he was
proclaimed outlaw; in short, he was de-
scended from rebels, yet, We understand, it
was within short period before the rising
that he Joined the Fenian ranks. Once a
Fenlan, he threw himself heart and soul
into the movement-fosteriDg it's designs
and extending its rami6cations. From what
we can learn, he was most worthy and ex-
cellent IN his family relations, the best of
brothers, and, rather than to cause those
with whom he lived any uneasiness was ac-
customed to steal out at night, unobserved.
with view of forwarding the cause which
was so dear to his heart, and in the morn
ing would return to his work, apparently
unfatlgued by the loss of his nights rest
Much might be said of the private virtues
OF poor Crowley, but sufficient has been
already written on that point. He was
plous and practical Catholic and enioved
the esteem and confidence Of all who knew
him.
1t will scarcely be credited, but peyerthe-
less We are assured, that Peter Crowley was
In Cork the Thursday prior to the affray.
and that, disguised as carman, he was en-.
abied to avoid detection. We are also told
that the men had ample means of escape
to France, or other places, but indulging in
the vain hope that help would come sooner
or later, they had determined to adhere to
the last to the cause which they had en-
braced, and which they were confident
would succeed. How far those expecta-
tons were realized, is already known to the
public. As an instance of the veneration
with which these outlaws were regarded by
the people, we may quote the following in.
cident. A party of them were proceeding
along, through the fields. They were ac-
coSted by u young country girl, who, on
learning their mission, handed them pres
ent OF pound of tea and a stone of sugar
The thing is, perhaps, insignificant in it.
self, but when linked with the story Of the
two young girls-of whom the actor in the
former, was one-clasping poor Crowley to
their breasts whilst he lay on his death
couch, they show the extent of sympathy
which is evinced to the movement by the
peasant classes The exact circumstances
under which Crowley was in the wood, may
not be without interest By pre-arranye-
ment, friend of his, who was in full pos
session of his whereabouts all through, was
to have met him at Kilcooney wood on
Sunday, March 3lst, or the following day,
tor the purpose. of supplying him with some
essentials. Scouts anxiously watched, lest
their visitor should by possibility pass un-
seen. 1t is supposed that they were OBJ
served, and that information was in the
meantime conveyed to the authorities Al
though they had been informed that the
military would attack them, it appears that
Crowley was unprepared for so sudden
visit. The troops, however soon appeared
There is some controversy with respect to
to the party who fred first 1t is said that
the dying rebel asserted that his party acted
on the defensive, and did not discharge