The Shasta courier., 1867-11-09
MlsadYentures of a Statue.

The services of King William in securing
the predominence of the Protestant religion
in Ireland were acknowledged by the cree
ton of an equestrian statue of his in Collepe
Green, Dublin. This work of art. composed
of iron with n coating Of lead, and solemnlv
inaugurated in l70l, has lived a very contro.
versal life ever since-never, it may he said
out of hot water. Rather oddly, while look
ed on with intense hatred by Catholics, even
the Protestant lads of the college did not like
lt-for why, it turned its tail upon the
University
80 ever since that solemn affair in I70I.
this unfortunate semblance of the hook nosed
Nassau has been subjected to incessant NAL.
treatment and indignity. all magisterial de-
nunclation notwithstanding. Some of tho
outrages committed upon it were of nature
rather to te imagined than described. On
the 9th day of June, l70l. it was found TO
have been felonlously robbed of it's regal
sword and marital baton. The CORPORATION
offered reward of hundred pounds for
the discovery of the culprit or culprits and
three students of the Trinity College were
consequently accused, tried and condemned
to suffer SIX months imprisonment, to paw n
flne OF one hundred pounds each, and to be
carried to College Green, there to stand
before the statue for half an hour. with this
inscription on each of their breasts :. stand
here for detacing the statue of our glorious
deliverer, the late King William"
On account of their loss of prospects bv
expulsion from the college, and the loss of
health by incarceration in noisome dun.
geon, this part of the sentence was remitted.
and the fine reduced to five shllings. But
neither severity or lenity in the authorities
seemed to afford the statue any protection
just four years after the students affair.
the baton was again taken away, and though
another reward Of one hundred pounds was
offered, the evil doers were not discovered.
Twice a year, on the anniversaries of the
battle of the Boyne and birthday of King
William, the statue was cleaned, white.
washed, and decorated with a scarlet cloak.
orange sash and other appurtenances, while
bunch Of green ribbons aud shamrock was
symbolically placed beneath the horses up.
lifted foot. Garands of orange lilies and
streamers Of orange ribbons bedecked the
honored horse, while drums and trumpets
and volleys of musketry made the weikin
ring In honor Of the royal hero. Moreover.
every person who Glanced to pass that way.
and did not take off his hat, was knocked
down and mercilessly kicked for presuming
not to bow in the presence of so noble a
prince. As natural consequence of these
proceedings, during the other three hundred
and sixty three days of the year the then
undressed and unprotected statue was so
literally besmeared with filth by the anti.
Orange party as to be Il disgrace to any civ.
ilized city.
To chronicle all the mishaps of this statue
would require n volume. Many must be-
passed over, but one that occurred in the
eventtul year l19S is worthy of notice. A
well known eccentric character, named
Watty Cox, for many years editor of The
Irish Magazine, having been originally a
gunsmith, was expert in the use of tools, and
being much annoyed by the helpless statue,
he tried, one dark night, 10 f.e off the mon.
archs head. But the inner frame of iron
foiled, rs the Dublin wits said, the literary
iler's foul attempt
In 1905, the 4th of November falling upon
Sunday, the usual riotous demonstration
round the statue was postponed till tho fol-
lowing day. On Saturday night, however.
the watchman was accosted by man, SEEM
ingly painter, who said that he had been
sent by the city authorities to decorate tho
statue for the approaching festivities on
Monday. adding that the apprehended vio-
lence Of the dsaffected portion of the popula.
tion rendered it advisable to have the work
done by night. Unsuspecting watchman
assisted the painter in mounting the statue,
and the latter applied his brush most assid-
uously for some time. Then descending.
he cody requested the watchman to keep an
eye to his painting utensils, while he went to
some masters for some more colors necces.
sary to complete the work. The night, how.
ever, passed awav without the return Of the
painter, and at daybr en- Sunday morning
the statue was found to be completely cover.
ed with an unctuos black pigment, composed
of grease and tar, most difficult to remove
while the bucket that had contained the mix
ture was suspended by a halter round the
insulted monarch 8 neck. This aet caused
the greatest excitement among the Orange
societies but most fortunately for himself
and friends, the adventurous artist was never
discovered.
The annual custem of decorating the stat
ue, so provocati,e of religious and political
rancor and fertile source of innumerable
riots. not unattended with loss Of life, was
put down by the enlightened judgement of
the authorities, combined with the strong
arm of the law, in 1922 and the miserable
monument suffered rather less rough usage
until its crowning catastrophe happened in
1886. One midnight, in the April of that
year, the statue blew up with terrible
eXplOsloni smashing anu e&ungulSning the
lamps for a considerable distance. The body
was blown in one direction, the broken legs
in another, and the wretched horse. that had
suffered so many previous injuries, was shat.
tered to pieces. An offered reward of f200
failed to discover the perpetrator of this
deed.
The statue was repaired and placed in its
old position. Like an old warrior who had
seen long service and suffered many wounds
it gradually acquired certain degree Of
even from its enemies. The late
Daniel O'Connell, during his year of mayor.
ality, caused it to be bronzsd and ever since
it has been something of an ornament to the
city.
WHEN the Menken, with her an naf,lreZ
reputation, first appeared in London. a fast
unnn. F.. III; sh.,,,.. IaG. L. /,