The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-08-26
JERRY o'DONOvAN.
A caustie Criticism OF the " skirmishing Fund
+ Man.
Boston Corr. Detroit Free Pres,

Boston Corr Detroit Free Press.
A few days ago this peaceable city was
thrown into some CONSERVATION by cable
report from Liverpool to the effect that The
British authorities had discovered lot Of in-
fernal machines concealed In some barrels
Of cement, In. the cargo of the Cunard
steamer Malta, from Boston. Almost stimuli
taneously came another report that the
steamer Bavarian had landed an invoice Of
the same character. The steamship man
ayers here denied the truth Of both stories,
but subsequent investigation seemed to prove
that there was no mistake about IL. Some
body had shipped half score dynamite
machines, with clock-work "fixins," con-
signed TO somebody who, for prudent rea-
SONS, declined to claim the property. Sns-
p,cion 1t once rested on Mr.. O'Donovan
Rosa, Of New York, who occupies the re-
sponsible position of distributing agent for
the so-called "skirmishing fund" of the
Fenian Brotherhood. Rosa denied any
connection with the internal machines, and
stoutly averred that the whole business was
an English plot to cast obloquy on the Irish
revolutionists. The fact that Mr.. Rosa had
recently boasted Of being . party to the de-
struction Of the British war vessel Doterel,
which blew up mys.eriously In the Straits OF
Magellan, few months ago, rather threw a
doubt on the sincerity Of his declarations In
this case. The Land Lesguers here indig-
nsntly repudiate any knowledge of the af.
fair, and believe they are innocent of the
slightest completely In 1t. Mr.. O'Donovan
Rosa, or, rs his baptisnal sponsors called
him, Jeremiah O'Donovan, Is . good deal of
an ass, In his personal and professional ca
pacty. The sufiix Rosa Is only nom de
plume borrowed In the time Of his counec-
tion with the revolutionist press In Ireland a
dozen years ago. After the collapse of Feni-
snism he came TO this country and began
war on the British lion ut long range. So
far his overt acts Of war have consisted oi
levying contributions on the hired girls and
hard-working laborers among his countiy-
men and women 10 aid the skirmishing
fund. He does all his skirmishing on paper,
using the natural ammunition Of man who
can shoot of his mouth faster than Cat.
tling gun. He Is quite capable Of the willful
idiocy Of putting lot Of explosive material
on board 8 passenger steamer, and the addi.
tional imbecility Of sending his bili-heads
with 1t, rs Is alleged in the present case.
That lie has done so, however, Is by NO
means proven. If he did, lie has nJ sympa-
thy from the more level-headed of his coun.
trymen, who express universal disgust with
him and his utterances; and there will be
no tears shed If his actions should lead him
onto the quiet side Of British or native
"bastile." A pretty good evidence of bis
character is shown IN his denunciation oi
John Breslin, another conspirator, who hap.
pened TO possess . good deal of hard com.
mon sense combined with fertile invention
and cool courage. 1t was Breslin who went
out to Australia few years ago, and liber'
ated eleven political convicts, carrying them
off In broad daylight from one Of the strong
est prisons In that country and delivering
them safely on American soil. Such mer
have no sympathy with the murderou,
schemes Of the desperadoes who plan whole
sale slaughter, abusing the generosity Of tht
country that has given them shelter. In
short, Mr.. O'Donovan Rosa is, or pretends
to be, what the happy slangology Of the
period denominates crank" aud II hi
and Mr.. Guiteau were to be tied together
by the tails and thrown over clothes-lin.
to fight 1t out, the world would look on with
out . tear. -........- .s