The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-10-11
SHAMUS O'BRIEN.


Samuel Lover wrote poem which hi
called ''Shamum Obrien." It became
famous, and even now is so great a IA
vorite with the masses that hardly q
patriotic commemoration of Irish events
takes place without some body being
down on the programme to recite the
trying adventures of O'Brien, seldom is
there mixed class of entertainment Of
fered at theater that the versifed
Shamus does not appear as regularly as
the thrilling circumstances of 'Sheri
dams Ride" are retold by the crack elo-
cutionist of the company. Yet, strange
to say, there was Shamus O'Brien; at
least no one ever came so near the moose
as he is represented by Lover to have
done. Had he been so near the hempen
cord as all that, they would have swung
him off whether or no. Men in the 1898
period never mounted the gallows and
descended from it alive, unless it might
be in some rare case OF survival after
hanging. The writer has taken pains to
trace back through the vanished ages
the story on which "Shamus OBrien"
was founded, and has at length hunted
up the events ON which Lover proba.
bly, based his beautiful and touching
poem. Here they are, very much con-
densed. from trial which took place in
the memorable and, to the American, de-
testable reign of George III.
Larry Cronan was stout, hardy Irish
boy, who, although he was but twenty
five years of aga was already husband
and the father of five blooming babes,
for they were little more, when Larry
got into that trouble which came so near
ending all his trouble in this world. He
was in good condition of life, was what
they called q fve-pound free holder, and
paid his rent punctually. He loved his
neighbor, and seldom missed q mass, a
fair or wake, and was altogether one OF
the best behaved and most thriving boys
in all Ireland. But,in an unlucky hour,
he was arrested and indicted at the Sum-
, mer Assizes of his native county "for
that he, on a certain night and at q Ger
tain place, feloniously and burglariouslv
search of arms" &C., and stood capitally
indicted under the Peterborough act. A
writer of the day says: II was present
at his trial. and still retain a vivid recol-
lection of the fortitude and address with
which he made his stand against the law
and yet there we're objects around him
quite sufficient to unnerve the boldest
heart-a wife, . sister, and an aged
mother. for such found to be the three
females who chung TO the side-bars of the
dock and awaited in silent agony the
issue of his fate. But the prisoner, I'M.
dismayed, appeared almost unconscious
Of their presence. Every faculty of his
soul vas on the alert to prove to his
friends and the country at large that he
was not Q man to be hanged without 9
struggle. He had used the precaution
10 come down that morning in his best
attire, for he knew that with An Irish
Jury the next best thing to . general
good character 10 . respectable suit Of
clothes.
''Jt struck me that this new silk hand
herchief almost betokened innocence, fol
whocould have gone to the unnecessary
expense if he spprehended that its place
was SO soon to be supplied by the ropei
His countenance bore No marks of hii
previous imprisonment. He was ~ fresh
and healthy and his eyes - bright - il
be had been all tho time out on bail.
sWhen his case Was called on, instead
Of shrinking under the general buzz thai
his appearance excited, or turning pale
st the plurality Of crime Of which he Va,
srrAigned. he manfully looked danger in
Ne face. and put in action every resources
within his reach 10 avert it, having dis
patched . messenger 10 bring O'Connell
hon the other court, and bsckoned X
his attorney 70 approach the dock side
and keep within Whispering distances
while the jury were swearing and mani
tested no ordinary powers OF
physiognomy in putting BY every juror
ihsl had anything Of dad. dull, hang
dog look. He had svsu the sagacity
though against The opinios Of his attor
ny, 10 Strike 81 ons ooantyy esntlsmAE
hon his own baroay whs owed him I
ha1nnes Of 60.