Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-02-04
The Dynnniter's History.
o DONOVAN RoSSAs LIFE IN IRELAND AND THE USrTEl
STATES

STA1kS
From the New York sun
Jeremiah 0'Donovan. the son OF an humble
weaver. was born In 1880 in the town OF RoSscar-
oery, Cork. Ireland; hence the name OF Rosa by
which he is now known. Having lost his father In
MS sixteenth year he left the village school and be-
came member OF his uncle'S family. contributing
10 the support OF his younger brothers and sisters
IN lSo2 all the members Of the ODonoyan family
emlgrated TO the United States save jeremiah, who.
having reached Cork. determined at the last mo-
Ihent 10 remain at home in the hope or being able
some day, as he tells us, TO strike a blow for Ire
lands Freedom. He soon married and settled in bust
ness In 1896 Rossa then living in Skibbereen
cred few congelal spirits about him and decided
on organizing society. The society was oStensibly
a literary association for mutual instruction AMI
DEBATE. IL was called the Phoenix National AMI
Literary Society, the name being suggested by
Rosa, as typifyng their intention OF rising from
the ashes OF political hucksteriDg that then COW
eTeu the lanu 1here was no oath. pledge alone
being eXacted. IL met with much antagonism from
the clergy and from the political agttatnrs whom
held a,ori fgo ~ie the farmers ana peasantr
who had been in exile in Paris infused new lae
into 1t and soon Rossas literary" society had the
Whole district or country In blaze IL progressed
SO rapidly in numbers and spirit that an Irf H.
American officer who had served In the civil war
was sent TO give them Instruction The govern
ment made descent on the society, and December
s, 1858, Rosa and eleven others were thrown into
jail The government Offered 10 lberate them on
condition that they would plead guilty or leave the
country. This offer Rosa reiectei. After eight
months imprisonment he was released, the gov
eminent being unable to convict him.
In 1852 Rosa came TO New York I'm connection
with Irish revolutionary affairs but was soon after
recalled to Ireland by the death OF his Wife,
The Fenian organization, that had grown out OF
strength. The Irish People newspaper, the org IN
OF the Brotherhood, was established, OF which
Rosa was one OF the proprietorS The paper was
seized by the government ana all the persons con-
nected with IL Logged in prison. Rosa was
brought 10 trial on December 9, 1868 He would
not plead, but was found guilty and sentenced 20
penal SerSltu1e for lie. lie nut I'm pOrfla
prison, and from the day he entered constantly
at war with bis jatlerS. He was treated with great
brutality and was punished for not having his
task done at the appointed time. All this was
proven by the report or Lord Deyon's Commission
OF inquiry into the treatment OF the Irish political
prisoners, and IL caused such feeling or shame
that the government was forced to give Rosa and
his associates their freedom.
Rosa came to New York again in 1870, having
Deen FORBIDDEN TO set foot In the British doninions
for the term OF twenty years He had permission
to go to see his child in Ireland on his way thher
but he was not allowed TO land at Queenstown. His
wife and child were there to see him. Rosa and his
associates were received in New York by the coec-
Tor OF the port-Thomas Murphy-who rendered
them the freedom OF the city. John Mitchell, Rich
ard OGorman and other representative Irish Amer-
leans assisted In the reception. Tom Murphy per-
Suaded Rosa 10 take a position against Tammany
nan IN politics, set him up against Bill Tweed got
him nomination and gave him 81 600 Rossa got
200 votes against TYeedS IL eco This Killed Rosa
In local politics He subsequently opened a hotel on
chatham square, which he conducted for some
years. In 1876 he organized the diminishing fund
In conjunction with Ford Ninety thouS5n dollars
were collected lie Was induced to pass over these
IuhdS TO committee or board az trustees, and the
money was never since accounted for. Having
tailed TO recover the diminishing fund from the
trustees, RoSSa started the publication OF the
Chtted btShntGf and opened new Wnd On his
own account Tor the purpose oil prosecuting a
scientific" wax against England. He claims to
Know al about the dynamite explosions OF the
past couple OF years. hints that they are his work
ana proclailnS his intention OF keeping John Bull
on lhe tenter-hoohs Of excitement as long as he