The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-07
The True Story of O'Donovan Rosa.


jeremiah O'Donovan Rosa Jerry, as he was
familiarly called, was born in the little town of
Ross, forty miles west of the city, and in the
County of Cork Ireland Some time prior to
1858 he moved to, and engaged in business in
Skibberreen, twelve miles west of his native
place, Ross. There being so many ODonovans in
Skibberreen, it became necessary to adopt some
means to distinguish one from the other. and
Jerry ODonovan added Rosa to his name
Rosa is the Celtic for Ross his native place, and
not for red, as printed in the journal Neither
would there be any reason for such an interpre-
tation, as O'Donovan is inclined to be dark
In 1858 O'Donovan, and eleven others in
Skilberreen, were arrested for being members of
the Phoenix Society. A few of the other gentle
mems names that can remember are Thomas
Shea, Mortimer Monaghan, Dan Nc
Cart and Downing. This latter gen
tleman served the Union in the
war of the late rebellion and won colonels
commission; the last heard from him he was in
the regular army. with the rank of Major. ODono-
van and most of his companions were kept in
prison in the city Of Cork for two years, instead
OF three months, as published in to days Jour
nal Father Leader was accused of furnishing
the information that caused the above arrests
but this has been d. I'd, and one named Burke
probably was the -eal informer. McCarty
Downing, a prominent attorney at that time,
and since member of Parliament interested
himself in their behalf and procured the release
of OQonovan and his companions.
During O'Donovans Imprisonment his first
wife died. O'Donovan's children by his first wife
were four in number, and. as far as the writer
knows, the only children he has, although he mas
been married three times The maiden name of
his first wife was Mamie Hagar. He married
again in the winter of 1862 a lady named Ellen
Buckley. and distant relative to the writer of
this notice. This lady died of smallpox while
ODonovan was in the United States; think in
1853. Fenian convention held in Chicago
ILL.,, called O'Donovan to this country
at that time On his return to Ireland he
assumed control of the irish People newspaper,
which newspaper he was instrumental in estab
fishing prior to his arrest. in 1883 the writer
being solicited to contribute something for its
establishment. 1t was during the time that
ODonovan was conducting the Irish People
that he met and married his present wife; her
name was Irwin, lady of some literary ability.
who has ACQUIRED some fame poetess, and
who entertained the public with readings and
recitations in this country in 1868 and 1862 and
/ think appeared once in indianapolis. This was
while ODonovan was languishing in prison to
which his utterances in the columns of the
Irish People consigned him for life.
That ODonovan has been treated harshly by
the British government one who has any
knowledge of the circumstances will deny, and
if his life would release Ireland from English
rule, no one who knows anything of the charac
teristics of ODonovan would doubt for mo-
ment that he would shrink from the sacrifice
If O'Donovan is engaged in the dynamite plots
attributed to him he has. undoubtedly become jim
sane upon the question of Irish politics. as no
sane Irishman doubts for a moment that such a
mode of warfare be productive of anything
more than the justly deserved censure Of all
humane and liberty loving people.
Opinions are always subjects for argument, and
consequently cannot be accepted as conclusive
evidence. The opinion of the writer is that the
dynamite plotters are known to the English au-
thorties, who are fearful lest Parnell and his
supporters may succeed in obtaining from them
what Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain predicted was not
SO far off, namely, Irish Parliament. This
would, of course, cause a change in the Offices in
Ireland and as there are q good many officials
who would lose their places the recent disgrace
full conduct of the Dubic Castle incumbents
would 60 far to prove that they were not above
dynamite conspiracies as to bring odium upon
Parnell and the movement OF which he is the
acknowledged leader ToHoRLoUGH.
(SREENRIEI.D Ind Feb B