Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-12-22
WHY BOYCOr WAS ,RsvCoT.
- .4.s TED.s
H0oted Out Of Erin-ucthodA OF TN G
LcA2uefs.
Dublin Ger. New Yosk Herald.l

Il u
Hcoted Out Of Erin-Mcthodso OF the
Lcasuers.
tsu dublin Ger. New Yosk Herald
H. one Of the most ex, raordinary accidents In
the history Of ireland has been the "Boycot
ting OF Lord Erne'S agent at Tough Mass
/ small British army marched from the railroad
station az GiafemorrtS 10 Baliinroba and Tough
I Mask, guarding small band OF Ulster iaborers
| who had volunteered 10 get I'm this man Boy
weird march that stormy night, when tue
! country people from all the surrounding
: district assembled along the road and
uttered dark threats against the invading
Orangemen. said country people. though II
| should be added that only women and children
old and young, IN obedience TO the word OF
! command, given by the powerful organization
known as the Land League carefully Kept out
! OF the way, treating the expedition with silent
! contempt. The Land League was guided by
men who were wise enough to know that a
conflict with the large military force sent out
to protect the relief expedition could only end
in Dloo0shed and, perhaps, disaster, though
am informed that 40 600 armed Irshmer could
have been collected at Ballinrebe az a day
notice; and they gave orders. transmitted
quickly to all parts OF Mayo, that the eXpedi-
ton should not be disturbed or attacked. And
so the lStermen arrived safely at Iough Mask
and went then to work amid rain and snow
and storm. and in three weeks succeeded In
getting in Boycotts crops, saving few hun
dred pounds worth OF farm products at a cost
TO the country estimated at from 5000 TO
ElO,ooo on Friday last, the relief work being
competed, the FISHERMEN were escorted from
Tough Mask TO Ballinrobe, and ON SATURDAY
morning from Ballinrobe TO ClaremorrIS, where
they took the train for the north.
ESCAPE OF BOYCOTT AND FAMILY.
On the same day Saturday BoycoJI and his
family were removed hidden In an ambulance
wagon, from Tough Mask. Claremori1s, guarded
by Il company OF husSars On Slnd ~ al I'll {
MI Boycott, with his family took the mail train
Tor London leaving Ireland forever Danished
from beautiful home by an impoverished AMI
wletched band or pea SAINTS {laborerS}, who HAD
been driven to desperation and TO Boycott
tlDg" because OF his petty tyranny exercised
IN manner that would have done no diScrp1Ir
10 the hardesthearted slave driver that ever
heid the whip over the serfS placed Under his
charge. lt must be remembered that Boycott
was driven out OF Ireland not becausp or any
crlmescommitted by him against the tenets OF
the Land League. Lord Erne, for whom Boycott
was the agent, Is not hard landlord and his
tenants did not band together TO punish the
agent because OF the EarlS misdemeanor
Pressed down by poverty and wretcnedne5S
they were apparently the most abject OF human
creatures, living on without hope and without
future: For years they bore IN patience the
inaignttfeS put upon them by this BETTY tyrant
ana they would have borne these antiquities
much longer had not some or the leaders OF the
Land League taught them that they were hu-
man beings and how TO take revenge for the
indigDities that had been put upon them. It IS
not many years ago since Mr. Boycott nrst Went
to Tough Mask. hoping as he said a feH DAYS
ago, to end there, with his family, his life in
peace, ana as he might have done had he nuU
abused his position and his Trusts.
SKETCH OF BOYCoTT'S LIFE.
Permit me first TO give you Sketch OF this
''Boycotted" mans life. The son or a ProteS-
tant clergyman he was first sent TO school at
Blackheath, near Woolwtch. and when thirteen
years of age he was transferred to boarding
school at shooters Hill, close by. Having COM
pleled his early college studies he wes sent 10
N00lWlch l..
sa1d he eVinced aptitude for the study or war
fare and military matters. After year and
nan ne vas ga5etted TO the Soth regiment, then
at preston, and about the year 1919 ne was sta
toned at Belfast. He remained only three or
four years In the Military service: then he sold
out his commission In order 70 get married. H.
determined TO become farmer. First OF all he
Leased farm from Mr.. COngreye. OF Waite ford
situated half way between Clonm2l aud Carrick-
on-Suir; but finding that ne knew too little about
farming he looked about fer another place In
which TO carry on the BUSHES SIS OF a grazier. In
the winter or the Cr1mean war he IO0G a farm
of i 600 acres On the island or Achiil. Under the
trustees or the Achill Mission. The land was
very poor, and he had upon IL some six or eight
hundred head OF sheep aud couple OF hundred
head of cattle. Ii was charged against him
that while here he ltd all in his power to assist
the mission in their religious prosecutions.
Then the former agent TeSIgnfng, Boycott ap-
piled for the agency or Lord Erne'S Lough Mask
estate. This appointment he received, bur for
the first three years he continued TO farm on
the island. crossing over to the mainland when
ever occasion required. During this tine he is
said TO have got along admirably with the ten
ants; indeed, his troubles seem to have only
commenced when he removed 10 his residence
On the mainland. Away rrom them on the
Island he had no occasion to practice that Sys-
tenn OF petty tyranny which since made MIN an
OFFSET OF hatred all the country round.
HUNTER AND STEEPL.CHASER.
After settling at Tough Mask he became
known as lover of sport fearless hunter
and steeplechase rider winning many pr.zes.
u q m ri oh rlrp
vinctal course. He showed indomitable pluck
In the saddle, and While lacking the grace and
hniSh that distinguishes the practised amateur
bis bolGneSS and resolution never forsook him.
he held, it should be added. high reputation
upon the turf, his integrity in running horses
never being doubted, while he was never
behind in settling with the ringmen whenever
he lost money on his ventures. There are
many stories told OF his bold riding. Once he
rode a steepechase with Clay pipe IN his
mouth, and coming to grief at one of the
holding his pipe tenaciouSly between his
teeth. EVenwhen he became marked man and
"Boycotted," he travelled to .Claremorris en-
route to great race meeting with an armed es-
cort OF constabulary. A hail fellow well met ="
at such meetings he was generally dubbed
captain, though the title does not belong to
him. At home, however, on his farm, acting as
agent to Lord Erne, he displayed none of the
qualitieSwhich had made him popular at the race
course or the country side meetings. A small man,
Sessed OF an iron will, quite out OF compari-
son with his physical strength, he resorted to a
method OF enforcing obedience that angered the
peasantry placed under his care
PETTY TYRANNY.
If one OF his farm laborerS Wearied after a
days work. took short cut across the fields to
his miserable hut. which he called his home
Captain" Boycott would fine him a small sum
OF money. II PEASANTS hen was found tres
passing On the captains field another fine
would be Imposed. II peasant left one of his
implements In the wrong place, a fine ranging
from two to six pence would be imposed. la
fact, he fined them for all and everything, and
at the end OF the week the POOR herd would
ind that instead of receiving, his miserable dole
OF eight or nine shiilingS he would get only
from five TO seven, the rest being contlScated by
the captain" for fines. 1t was misera Bile
life that he led his peasant workmen bullying
and cursing them from morning till night
marching round his farm gun In hand and his
hard face, his gray beard and his handy legs.
terror to those around him. He treated the
peasants worse than II they had been slaves.
THE DAY OF RETRIBUTIoN.
But finally TetributiOn came. The Land
Leaguers visited the country, they taught the
miserable serfS the great lesson that they were
human beings, and told them to Join together
and TO refuse 10 labor Oh the farm Imagine, il
you can, the depth OF misery to which these
Irish peasants had been driven and the deSpe-
ration which they felt before they gained
courage enough to carry out their resolution OF
Boy cotting' The offender. Peasants who had
to live Oh the miserable pittance Of few shil-
a a hot Oh no