Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1889-08-29
SIR BOYLE ROCHE.
Stories Told OF the High Priest of Iris
Bulls.

StOI1cS Olu VI tuc ii IleSt vi lIISu
Bulls.
Mr.. C. j. Hamilton, Howth, County Dub
lin, writing to the Spectator, gives the fol-
lowing concerning Sir Boyle Roche, the
high priest of Irish bulls"
He was of the ancient family of the De
La Russes, of FermOy, was member for
Tralee from ITS, and was created baIo-
net in 1882. He commenced one of his
speeches in the Irish House Of Commons as
follows: "Mr. Speaker, it is the duty of
every trve lover of bis country to give his
last guinea to save the remainder Of his
fortunes" And another be8an: 'Sir, single
misfOrtunes never come alone, and the
greatest of all national calamaties is gen.
orally followed by one much greater" A
letter of his is still preserved, supposed to
have been written during the rebellion OF
'98, though it is doubtful if he ever put so
many bulls" together on paper. 1t is as
follows:
Dear Sir: Having now little peace
and quiet, 1 sit down to inform you of the
hustle and confusion we are In from the
bloodthirsty rebels, many of whom are
now, thank God, killed and dispersed. We
are in pretty mess can get nothing to eat,
and no wine to drink except whisky.
When we sit down to dinner we are
obliged to keep both hands armed. Whilst
l write this l have my sword in one hand
and my pistol in the other. l concluded
from the beginning that this would be the
end, and am right, for it is not half over
yet. At present there is such goings on
that everything is at standstill. / should
have answered your letter fortnight ago,
but only received it this morning. In
deed hardly mail arrives safe without
being robbed. No longer ago than
yesterday, the mail coach from Dublin was
robbed near this town; the bags had been
very judiciously left behind and by great
good luck there was nobody in the coach
but two outside passengers who had moth
ing for the threves to take. Last Thurs
day an alarm was given that gang of
rebels in full retreat from Drogheda were
advancing under the Freuch standard; but
they had no colors, nor any drums except
bagpipes. Immediately every man in the
place, including women and children, ran
out to meet them. We soon fonnd our
force q great deal too little, and were far
too near to think of retreating. Death was
in every face, and to it we went. By the
time half our party were killed, we be-
gan I'D U0 oil 0AVOs Il VI VAAotOAy tuC
rebels had no guns, except pistols, cutlasses
and pixies, and we had plenty OF muskets
and ammunition. We put them all to the
sword, not soul of them escaped, except
some that were drowned in an adjoining
bog. In fact, in short time nothing was
heard but silence Their uniforms were all
different, chiefly green. After the action
was over we went to rummage their
camp. All we found was q few
pixies without he4ds, q parcel
of empty bottles filled with water, and
bundle of blank French commissions filled
up with Irish names. Troops are now
stationed round, which exactly squares
with my ideas of security. Adieu! have
only time to add that am yours in great
haste. b. Il.
"P. S-If you do not receive this, of
course it must have miscarried; therefore,
beg you to write and let me know"