The New York herald., 1879-03-29
ST. PATRICKS DAY in DUBLIN.
Demonstration at an EX-
COnvict'S Funeral.
DANIEL REDDlNs PRISON LIFE
New York Fenian Organizers Dis
cussed in Dublin.
M R. B U T's MES S,

DUBLIN, March II. 1879.
Yesterday. the Of the national festival of st.
Patrick. was signalized by OF those melancholy
occurrences with which the streets of Dublin have
been made too familiar during the last eleven years
political demonstration in the guise of funeral.
The object of the display Daniel Reddin. con-
vict who had served out the full period of his SEN
tence of five years penal servitude. and whose case
presented special circumstances which invited the
compassionate sympathy of all humane people
Reddin was oneof the determined band who aided
in September. 1867 in the celebrated rescue at Man
chester of the Fenian organizers. For his share in
that Transaction he tried by special commits
sion and sentanced to penal servitude. The usual
British practice in the of men sentenced to
penal servitude is to grant release at date
short Of the legal expiration Of the sentence Thus
men sentenced, say for bad homicide first class
forgery to twenty years. are let ont at the end Of
fifteen years; the ten year at the end of seven
years. and proportionately for shorter terms.
These remissions always take place u matter of
course. unless the convict behaves very badly in
prison. But this usage entirely sot aside in the
case of the Irish political prisoners.
A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.
So Daniel Reddin had to serve out to the full his
allotted time; nor was this for him the worst. He
wassonly twenty five years old when he entered the
jaers seemed to have believed he was sham
ming. Bad food bad lodging. cold and hard
work beyond his powers finally reduced him to
the state Of paraytic cripple. But the gen.
uineness of his ailment was tested by
electricity, hot irons. piercings-wth sharp instru-
ments, and the prison authorities would not tper-
haps in sincere stupidity believe that their system
had thoroughly shattered a strong mans frame and
consigned him to the living death Of paralysis.
When, however, Reddin came out Of prison many
men who were thoroughly opposed to Feniansm
shocked to hear his story OF the truth OF which
no unprejudiced person could doubt. Foremost
among those who in the matter
such strong representations in the House Of Com
mons that the government was forced to institute
official inquiry. But the demand of the Irish MEM
bers that some Independent medical man should be
commissioned to examine Reddin, and report upon
the true state of his health and the causes which
helped to bring 1t about, was obstinately refused
Then the Irish members withdrew from the case
An ofhcial report was brought up exonerating the
prison officials from all blame. but admitting that
Reddin was parslysed. Mr.. Parnell made an
posure of this sham report. but the government re-
fused to make any compensation to Reddin.
DYING BY INCHES.
The unfortunate victim Of the ijailers lived for
years-dyng by inches. He could not move himself
ofdoors iocomotion he was dependent on the assist
ance of others. He had q rough chair for indoor
use. and still more simple cart for taking him from
place to place. He could do work, and forced
to depend for' the bare necessaries OF life upon
the benevolence of tho humane Thus he
suffered in every. way-in his paralyzed
frame in the fever Of his spirit condemned to mac
ton and in the humiliation Of the honest pride
%nh n hsye hs
at the age Of thrty-seven years. The report that
there was to be buried man who had passed some
prison for the sole crime of loving Ire
land "not wisely but too welr' was quite
The day was bitterly incloment-cold with incessant
rsn-snd. notwithstanding. the funeral was great
and impressive popular demonstration Poor Reddn
accompanied from the starting point by q
large muster Of friends. whose numbers were
along the route. little outside Dublin,
near Bulls Bridge. . halt was made. Several
crowd was marshailed The trades associations sent
representative detachments. There we're fifteen
bands. all in uniform. At intervals there marched
bodies of men, estimated at about eight hundred, all
bearing pike handles synbolical Of their devotion to
Irish freedom. The number who actually walked in
But this would give idea of the sympathy felt for
the deceased The whole line OF route was thronged
by spectators. The interment was in Gasnevn
Cemetery alongside the grave of Sergeant MacCarthy
YORK fkNIAN MovKMENrs.
Moving about among the crowds heard many al
lusions 70 what is now supposed to be going on IN
nationalist circles in New York and eswhere in
America. am bond to say heard little sympathy
expressed for any movement which may be set on
foot from that quarter. On the contrary, there
seemed to be q very considerable distrust
Of the professional MANAGERS; And more than
than he cared to tell. limited that very
dark and unsatisfactory manipulations Of tho cash
box had taken place. even at the hands OF persons
most loud in their professions Of unselfish patriot
ISM Whether ii is that the hard times have hit the
Irish working classes less sorely than elsewhere
from some other reason 1t is certain that they
never less disposed listen to the fatal suggestions
OF ..orpanizers or ''centres of any kind than they
are at present But Irish disanection toward Eng
land IL as much alive as ever.
CONDITION OF MR. BUTT
The following paragraph from the London World
may interest your readers -"Now that Mr.. Butt Is
out OF immediate danger 1t will not alarm his
friends learn that during at least three weeks the
honorable and learned gentenan unconscious.
except Ia moments OF derium, which were not In
frequent. When the paper reported slight improve
ment,' the meaning of the phrase was merely that
Mr.. Butt WAS occasionally conscious for few mo
ments and ablo to recognize the members of
his family. In of his fits of dolirium
the Irish leader delivered very fervid speech
TO an imaginary House of Commons; and am told
that the in the sick room, which just then
full Of friends, exceedingly effective. His
malady was mental well as bronchial; and though
danger is gone for the present, the naturally fine
constitution has been wrecked in the tough struggle
with King Death. Isaac will never be himself again.
though his mind may regain all its brilliant sub
tloty and his tongue all its persuasive eloquencc
and from what hear from those who know him
we'll. am afraid the Senate House Will know him 10