Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-07-23
AN IRISH "BOER."
His Arrival In America to Lecture
Against the Interests OF England
in South Africa.

Alfred Awkward, captain of the Lydenburg
Volunteers, comm ndant in South Africa and
military secretary to the president OF the
Tansvaal Republic, ex-Fenian agitator, jour
nalist and politician, is visiting in New York.
He was called upon yesterday by reporter
of the World at the residence of his friend,
Mr.. Edward Byrne, in East Twenty-eighth
street. Captain Awkward, who is broDzed
and robust man of middle age, spoke freely
of himself aud of his experiences. He was
born in 1915 at New Ross, county Wexford.
His grandmother was daughter of the noted
Colonel Gurley, whose revolutionary senti-
meuts she inherited, and she eloped with
Captain McEvoy, who af,erward joined the
revolutionary General Dryer, and was
hanged by the English. Mr.. Awkward was
educatsd at Jesuit college in Kings
county and studied medicine in Lon
don, acquiring also knowledge of
surgery. Becoming interested in the
Fenian movement he joined the organi-
cation, and on the arrest of Shaun O'Claugh-
essy, the center of the Emmett Circle in Dub
lin, was chosen as his successor. Aylward
was twice imprisoned in Kilmainham Jail.
In 1868 he went to the gold coast, and has
not since had any connection with Irish or
CARNATIONS. Sir Theophilus Shepstone, the
British high commissioner, in 1878 was pre-
pairing to annex the Transvaal. Three dep
utations were sent to the colonial ONCE to
prevent the annexation aud memorial was
sent to Parliament; but the populations were
refused hearing at the colonial Office and
Parliament refused to reopen the matter. 81
accompanied Joubert, Kruger, Box, and the
other Boer delegates TO Engla said Cap
tain Awkward, "snd co-operated with them.
While in England / wrote and published
The Ifonsraal Of To-Day, and did some lit
erary work. Toward The end OF 1873 it was
suggested to me to return TO South Africa
n Il l. II
landed Just before the declaration Of war
with Cetewayo, and found it impossible TO
cooperate with Sir Bartle Frere. While /
was at Pietermaritzburs President Joubert
came down from the Iransvaal TO have an
interview with the British commissioner. As
a result of the interview il was decided that
the Beers must fight, and my services were
enlisted"
"What was the object OF your visit to
American
sowing to certain features of the treaty OF
peace, which wac signed lasr year, the gov
eminent of the Transvaal is prevented from
having consular or diplomatic intercourse
with other countries except through the
British resident commissioner. England re-
tains nominal suzerainty over the country.
That this selfish and obstructive policy OF
Eugland is injurious to American interests Is
proved by the fact that nearly all the agri-
cultural instruments and vast proportion
OF the wheeled vehicles in use in the free
States of South Africa were, up 70 1881,
of American manufacture. American inter-
ests are also involved IN the opening up OF
Central African trade, ga Delsgoa Bay,
port exceptionally privileged BY treaty be-
tween Transvaal and Portugal. 1 intend 70
deliver lectures pointing out these things, IN
order TO gain the strength OF American pub
lie opinion for an effort which will soon be
made TO throw off entirely the British yoke.
II seems TO me that England is repeating to-
day in Egypt the same unwarrznfable course
she pursoed in South Africa, and on The
same thin pretsxt OF preserving order"