The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1873-04-08
DEATH OF ANIRIsa sMUGGLER
BY JAMES ANTHONY FRoUDE.


the following graphic description, ty
Mr. Froude, of the death of famous
Irish smuggler of the 18th century:
1t was strange wild place, close to
the sea, amidst rocks and bogs and ut
ter desolatlon. Near it STOOD the wreck
of a roohess church, and the yet older
ruin of some Danish pirates nest. Tie
shadowy form of the brigantine was
visible through the gray sheet Of ia IL
ing rain, at anchor in the harbor, and
from the rocks in the entrance came the
moaning of the Atlantic swell Morty
looking for no visitors on such night,
had neglected to post sentinels. The
house was surrounded, and the wolf was
trapped The dogs inside were the
first to take alarm A violent barking
was heard, and then suddenly the door
was'thrown open. Morty appeared in
his shirt, fired blunderbuss at the men
who were nearest him and retired A
volley of small arms followed from the
windows and Sits in the wall One SOL
dler was killed and three Others woun-
Ided The strictest orders had heen Civ
en- to make Morty if possible alive, and
the fire was not at first returned. The
house was evidently full of men; eigh-
teen of them holted, one after the other,
in the hopes Of drawing off the troops
into pursuit. Each, however, was caught
and examined, and, when found not to
be the man whom the party came in
search of, was let go. At last there
were bat five left in the house Morty
saw his time was come. He did not
choose to be taken, aud determined to
die like man. He sent out his wife
and child, who were with him, with
request that their lives might be saved
The officer in command received them
kindly, and gave them such protection
a. he could Morty himself refused to
surrender; it was determined to set fire
to the thatch, and wild-6re was thrust
under the caves The straw was soaked
with the wet, and long refused to catch.
At last it blazed up; the flames seized
the dry rafters; the ronf fell in; ard,
amidst the burning ruins, Morty and his
four remaining companions were seen
standing at bay, blunderbuss in hand.
He was evidently desperate, and to save
life it was necessary to shoot him. The
soldiers fred; Morty fell with ball
through his heart. Two of his COM
rades fell at his side; the other two were
taken; the same two, 1t so happened,
who had been Morty's companions at
the murder of Puxley One of them,
Little John Sullivan he was called, was
perhaps Morty's kinsman; the name Of
the other was Daniel Connell The bar
ony of Iveragl and Darlynane Abbey;
where the Connells, or O'Connelis, of
later celebrity had already established
themselves, was but seven niles distant
across the wafer; and it is thus possible,
and even probable. that Daniel Connell,
who had assisted at Puxley's murder,
and escaped the outlets at Cleinlerry.
was / scion of. the same family which,
IN the next generation, produced the
Liberator
The weather making it impossible to
carry Off the brigantine, she was sunk,
when daylight came, at her anchorage
The fire was extihguished the ruins Of
the house were searched; and Morty's
account-books (he was punctual as Dirk
Hatteraick himself in his money trans
actions) his bills, notes, and papers
were found uninjured. Among them
were found letters FROM many persons
OF consequence in the coautry, showing
that they were accomplices in the assas-
sination of the revenue officers TwefE
ty ankers OF brandy and some chests of
tea had teen destroyed by the fire.
MoIty' $ body was carried to Cork
His head moul,'ered upon spike over
the gate Of the south jail The rest of
him was buried in the Battery. The
prisoners ca1 be traced to the Jail there
is no mention that either. cf hem were
hanged, but Of their further fate the re-
cords are silent
So ended one of the last heroes of
Irish imagination. ON whose character
the historian, who considers that he and
such as he were the natural. outgrowth
of the legislation to which it was
thought wise and just to submit his
country, will not comment uncharitably.
He had qualities. which, had Ireland
been nobiy governed. might perhaps
have reconciled him to its rulers. and
opened for him an honorable and illus
trious career. AT worst he might have
continued to serve with his sword a
Catholic sovereign, and might have
carved his way with it to rank and dis
tinction. He was tempted home by the
opportunities of anarchy and the hopes
of revenge. In his own adventurous
way he levied war to the last against the
men and The system Under which Ireland
was oppressed When he. fell he fell
with courage which made his crimes
forgotten. and the ghost of hs name
still hovers about the wild shores of the
Kenmare river, of which lie was SO long
the terror and the pride.