The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1883-05-08
o'DoNovAN ROSA.
Incidents and Observations on the Life and
Work of the Dynamite King

Work OF the Dynamite King.
1t is just quarter of II century since
O'Donnovan Rosa became a public char
acter. He was then about rs, strongly built,
overlooking with life and Astounding in irolic.
In those days he kepta shop in Skibbereen,
selling everything in the way of food and
clothing required by his neighbors. His
neighbors meant everybody-peasaHts and
townspeoole-for miles round; and Rosa,
being universally popular, was thriving man.
His proper name was jeremiah O'Donovan;
but as there was quite tribe of O'DonovanS
in that quarter, and a score at least of ferries,
our shop keeper got an additional distinctive
appelation, taken from his birth place
Rosscarberry.
Rosa wis an early convert to Fen;anism-
or, as it was called by the initiated this side
of the Atlantic, the I(rish) Republican,
B(rotherhood) having been sworn in so far
back as 1858. lie was already a man of
mark, not undeservedly; for, beginning life
at 10 poor, lriendless lad, his strong quail
Ties d business aptitude had made him COM
paratively rich. He attracted the attention
of the chief Fenian, Stephens, and was made
Captain OF his district. Working energetcal
he gathered a regiment of several hundred
men at Skibbereen. Rosa contrived to at
tract the attention of the Government. The
whole flair was very curious, and on many
accounts merits calculation. Suffice 1t TO say
now that Rosa and number Of his asso-
ciates were arrested tried and convicted But
it was the interest OF everybody concerned to
make as light of the affair as possible, so that
the prisoners, after many months of inn
prisonment, were released in 1859, on condi
ton OF coming up for judgment when called
upon, They were now all marked men so
most of them took themselves off-some to
America, some to England, and one or two to
Dublin. Among the last was Rosa, who
came out of prison to find his business
ruined.
The notorious journal the Irish People was
established toward the close of 1863, and
Rosa became the nominal proprietor.
Shortly aiterward Rosa started for America
on Fenian business. After a short stay on
this side of the water he returned to Ireland
toward the end Of July, 1865, in company
with Messrs. p. w. Dunno and p. J. Meehan.
These two gentlemen were deputed by
O'Mahony TO do certain business with
Stephens as to the rising, fixed to take place
on the ensuing anniversary of Emmetts exc
cution In stepping ashore Meehan lost
some important papers in way that has
never been fully explained. These papers
were picked up and placed in the hands OF the
authorities. The leading conspirators were
greatly dismayed and hardly to be restrained
by Stephens and Rosa 1.-THE latter being a
merciful man in those days. from Furnishing
Meehan severely.
The Government took no action until with
in few days of the date fixed for insurrec-
ton. Then, however, it flung it, net over the
Fenian leaders, and caught nearly every one
of them OF any consequence at single sweep.
On the night OF the 18th OF September the
Office OF the Irish People was taken possession
of by the police, and half an hour later Rosa
himself who, like most Of The other leaders,
had been expecting it was arrested.
On the 10th of November, Stephens was
caught and placed in the next cell to Rosa in
Richmond Brdewell An excellent Fenian,
one rank BJrne, late Secretary Of the En-
glsh Land League, an ex-soldier of the Papal
Brigade, was one Of the warders, and by his
aid Stephens escaped.
At the trial that followed. Rosa rendered
himself conspicuous above his fellows by au-
daciy and energy. In return he got the
heaviest sentence of any-penal servitude for
life. While in prison he was elected by an
Irish constituency member of the English Par
lament but as a convicted ielon he could not
take his seat.
When released in 1871 he was an altered
liahs lAS was nv anu
rollicking. He had lost his geniality and fun.
He seemed to have lost altogether his rough
but hearty kindness. At the same time he
preserved all his intelligence, irmness and
energy. The people regarded him as a Fee
man martyr, and he had the repute of being
the most honest and trustworthy of all the
chiefs. 1t was natural, therefore, that he
should gather to himself strong party of the
American Fenians; and as natural that the
said party should exceed all the others in
steady ferocity of purpose, imbibing as
they do the intense hatred engendered by suf-
fering in what they assert to be the righteous
cause of Ireland.
However popular Rosa may be here one
thing is quite clear, his popularity in Ireland
is thing of the past. lrishmen, as rule,
are generous and human even in their hatred,
and the dynamite policy finds few supporters
in Ireland. They think very rightly that his
action is unwise, and is in reality injuring the
cause OF Erin, not only in the eyes of England
but in that Of the civilized world. They re-
gard his action as a sNrt of cowardice. They
say come here and work with us, do not talk
so much in safety and preach in such way
as to Illustrate the aims Of the Parnel party,
which are indeed good for Ireland, inasmuch
as the pacific policy of Mr.. Parnell is the only
way in which Ireland can obtain recti6ca-
ton or amelioration of her real grievances.
HINTS on DRESS.
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