Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1882-09-21
Helena, Montana, Thursday, September 21, 1882.
O'CONNELL'S DUEL WITH DIES.
TERRE.
Fought Because the LiberatOr Had
Called the Corporation of Dublin
a "Beggarly'' One.


Called the Corporation of Dublin
a "Beggarly' One.
[Sunday Tablet
One of the most noted incidents in tn
life of OConnell was his duel with DIES
terre, in the winter of 1915. D'esterre wa
member of the Guild of Merchants O
Dublin, and had an unsavOry reputation
The ostensible cause Of the duel was the use
of the following vigorous language by OCon
nell at meeting held in Chapel street. Dub
lin, in January, 1915: II am convinced tina
the Catholic cause has suffered by neglect O.
discussion. Had the petition been last yeal
the subject of debate we should not now SCI
the beggarly corporation of Dublin antici
pating our efforts by petition of an oppo
site tendency The Duke of Sussex in the
Lords and and Mr.. Whitbread in the Com
mons appear to me persons unworthy to be
entrusted with our petition"
The words used by OConnell were scarce
ly sufficient even in those days for an affair
of honor; very much stronger language was
used with impunity by public men to each
other, and condoned by public opinion; but
Mr.. D'Esterre had method in his rudeness.' ,
F'e was a crack shot, and he hoped that by
provoking OConnell to duel and removing
the most formidable opponent of the gov
ernment he would be rewarded by place and
pension.
Although O'Connel was prominently a
man of peace, with him as with all high
spirited men there was limit to human pa
tience. D'Esterre did his pitiful best to
make OConnell the aggressor He was to
be seen in the streets of Dublin day after
day with whip in his hand in the most de-
monstrative manner, and the rumor went
abroad that he intended to horsewhip O'Con-
nell. But the future Liberator remained
imperturbable under all this silly provoca-
ton. At length, finding that he could not
provoke quarrel, D'Esterre sent chal-
lenge, calling on OConnell to account for his
use Of the appellation 'beggarly" in connec-
tion with the Dublin Corporation.
OConnell in his reply, while neither ad-
mitting or disclaiming the expression in
question, boldly declared that, from the ca
luminous manner in which the religion and
character of the Catholics of Ireland are held
IN that body, no terms attributed to me, how
ever reproachtul, can exceed the contemptu-
GUS feelings / entertain for that body in it's
corporate capacity"
Some days of suspense followed, during
which many exciting rumors were circulated,
as, for instance, that D'Esterre was advised
by his friends to 60 to the Four Courts to of
fer Mr.. O'Connell personal violence, but the
parties did not come in contact.
One afternoon, on the quays, Mr.. Richard
OGorman encountered Mr. D'Esterre and re-
monstrated with him on the unusual sort of
conduct he had been pursuing.
"You conceive" said he, ''that you received
an offense from Mr.. OConnell: if so. your
course is to demand satisfaction This, I
understand, you have not as yet done; but
if you are now resolved to do it, I undertake,
on forfeiture of having riddle made of my
body, to have Mr.. O'Connell on his ground
in half an hour"
No challenge followed. The excitement
was momentarily increasing. At length Sir
.. Stanley waited on O'Connell at his house
IN Marion square and hostile meeting was
the place selected being Lord Pom
'onbys demesne, some thirteen miles from
Dublin, and the time o'clock in the after
noon.
OConnell was On the spot punctually, at
ended by his second, Major Mcnamara, his
brother James and some friends. Major Nc
Namara was assiduous in his directions to
lis principal. The Liberator could stand it
10 longer.
"My dear fellow, I have one request to
make of you," he said, addressing his second
With impressive solemnity; "let me beg of
vou not to say another word to me till the
luel is over" i
The terrible drama was about to open.
The friends of both parties retired, and the
prepared to fire. They leveled,
nd before the lapse of a second both shots
we're heard. D'Esterre fred first and miss |
d. OConnell's shot followed instantaneous
y and took effect in the groin of his antago-
list, about an inch below the hip. He fell
aortally wounded and lived only few days
fterward. ...-.. s-..
OConnell was at first apprehensive of le-
al proceedings, but he received an early and
olite assurance from Sir Edward Stanley |
hat no such thing was contemplated. ~.
When the intelligence was brought to
archbishop Murray he exclaimed God be
raised; Ireland is safew