News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-10-04
THE COLLEEN BAWN.
| The Story of the Beautiful Girl on
Which a Novel is Based.

"The ColIegians," the original of
: Boucicault's "Colleen Bawn," was
founded on fact Ely O'Connor was
the daughter of ropemaker, who lived
IN Garryowen, then, as now, suburb of
the city of Limerick, Ireland. Seaman,
gentleman of fortune, lived on his es-
tate near Gin, in the county Kerry, ad-
Joining Limerick. On one of his fire.
Iuent visits to the city he saw the
ropemakers beautiful daughter and was
smltten by her charms. It was a case
OF love at sight sudden and decisive.
He sought an introduction to her, and
cultivated the acquaintance assiduously.
Her simple armour was of the ''wild,
sweet briary fence" sort, sweet, yet
thorny; so that while he was attracted,
any rude advances were repulsed.
Finding her firm, he entrapped her
into private marriage, enjoining the
utmost secrecy. Not long after this Sc
cret marriage Seaman won the affections
of lady of fortune in the county Linn
erlck, Miss Chute, of Castle Chute, q nd
IL day was appointed for their marriage.
As that day approached how to get rid
of his lawful wife, Ely OConnor, was q
problem that wor him. He finally
had her conveyed~|a, cottage in the
mountains, and afterward to q place near
|flin, where he induced his hunch-back
servant, Danny Mann, or Sullivan, to
take her out boating on the river Shan
non and drown her. Danny's first at
tempt was n failure. He returned to
shore, and said to his unrelenting master:
''When looked at her innocent face [
hadn't the heart to do it," 4 second at
tempt was made, Seaman himself ac-
eompanying them in the boat. This
line she was thrown into the water, one
hand grasping the boat rail, the fingers
of which were promptly chopped off by
Il Ratchet in the hands of Danny Mann.
Thus her struggle for life ended.
Before many days elapsed her body
was washed ashore ON the opposite bank
Of the river, near Kilrush, in the county
Clare. 1t was identified. Seaman was
arrested, tried, and convicted. Though
IL man of large influence with the
Dublin Castle authorities, bitter de-
nunciation of the crime by the late
Daniel O'Connell lhade them unwilling
to interfere in granting a repreve. On
the day of execution horse could not
be procured for love or money from any
of the citizens to convey him from the
execution. When all hope of procuring
one had vanished two turf carts belong
ing to tenants on his estate were seen
approaching on the street.
The horses were Immediately taken
from the carts and harnessed to
carriage Scanlan got in, and was
driven to the foot of the bridge leading
to Gallows Green, when the horsss sud
denly stopped, and neither, whips.
spurs, kicks, nor the bayonet thrusts of
the soldiers could induce them to go
step further. Seaman got out, amid
the excavations and hootings of the null
tjtude, who thought the action of the
dumb animals manifestation of the alb
horrence of heaven at the crime. He
walked to the place of execution be-
tween files of soldiers, and was hanged.
Danny Mann, or Sullivan, was appre-
hended, tried, and convicted at the fol-
lowing Assizes for the city and county
of Limerick, when he made full con
fession of the facts, as related, and of
the guilt of Seaman, who protested his
innocence of the crime, even on the
saqffOld