Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-03-05
MRS. PARNELL.
Some Facts AbOut the Agitator's Moth.
er Not Before Made Puhllc...What She
Did in Fenian Times.

Some Facts ADOrt The AgitatOr'S Moth.
er Not Before Made Puhlc...What She
Did in Fenian Times.
Owing to the change in date of pub.
lication, the above letter of our esteem
ed correspondent did not arrive in time
for our last issue.
VIeKsEURG, Miss, Feb, 1880.
Editor Irish H'ord-I recently read in
the New Orleans Times an extract of
report taken from the New York Star,
ofan interview with Mrs. Parnell 1t
at once struck me that | should write
you few lines about this lady, whose
goodness Of heart has never been sur
passed by any one whom | ever heard
OF, not even excepting the good march
ioness of Queensbury. | have hereto
fore refrained from making public her
many kind acts for fear she would not
ike it, but now that her son has so
prominently come up in behalf of the
suffering people ofIreland, and that she
herself and her whole family are as
earnest in the good work as himself, /
feel there is no longer cause for silence.
Mrs. Parnell's name has always sent Il
thrill Of emotion througl my heart, and
it is with the utmost gratitude on my
part to her that write this letter.
Well do / remember March, 1866
when in Arbour Hill prison i'll Dublin,
in loathsome solitary cell i'll that loath-
some prison, where | was dragged in
chains from Mountjoy prison on false
and infamous charge trumped up by
sperjurers and crown authorities against
me.
Mrs. Parnel went to the office of the
u. 5. consul ant there learned part of
my history, and my surprise was great
indeed when | received visit from her
at the prison bars, asking me If there
was anything she could do for me, and
telling me what she felt for all those
who had served the cause of the Union
in the late war of the rebellion.
She got permission to send me books
and other necessaries that kept me in
health and spirits during many a lonely
month in that and other prisons to
which was subsequently removed.
She looked kindly after my wife, and
never let her want for anything during
my Imprisonment, She was equally
kind to my compatriots, and she never
for moment forgot to minister to the
wants of the lrish-Americans then in
Dublin prisons, under the suspension of
the habeas corpus act. And when the
British government thought fit to re-
lease those whom they could not con-
y yict, on condition that we should return
to America, many who had not money
I to pay their passage, and would have to
remain in prison in consequence, Mrs.
\ Parnell (who was the ministering angel
+ came forward with her money and fur
nished many Of us with a passage tick
ct to the United States, and also cloth
ing to some who were far away from
home and friends.
She did more than all this. When we
were back agaiR III our native land IN
1867, when the rising-if | may SO call
twas imminent, she prepared herself
with the garb of Sister of Charity, and
also with lint, bandages and cordials, to
minister to our wounded, and was con-
tinually praying for the success of our
ustand holy cause. But alas, our ,Cdr
had not yet come, and we were forced
to return, sorrowfully, to the land of our
adopton-to wait another day for our
1opportunity, which | trust Is coming.
4 Is there any wonder that the son of
such woman could be any other than
Il what he is?
4 could write you a long history Of
Mrs. Parnell's many good acts which
ineyer came to light; and if all Irish Ma
i tionalsts knew her as well as do, they
\ would. more than revere her very name.
Hoping she will pardon the liberty ]
have taken to write this slight state
ment Of her kindness to me and mine
and trusting that this will meet the eye
of many OF my compatriots whom she
was so good to, as above alluded, and
hoping, Mr.. Editor, YOU will do me the
favor Of publishing this, / have the
honor to be, rs ever, your sincere friend,
and sincere friend to the cause of
Irish nationality.
JAMES MURPHY.
Late Capt in Goth Mass. Infantry.