The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-19
THE sSooUALxIE.
FIERY o'GoRMAN-MAHoN.
The Aged Irishman Who Wanted Il
Fight o Duel With Parnell.


\ Chicago gentleman well posted in
Irish affairs said yesterday: 1.-THE o'Gor-
man-Mahon, who, in spite of his 81 years.
is credited with having expressed desire
to challenge Mr.. Parnell to duel. is one
of the most picturesque figures in Irish
politics. 1t was he who first proposed Mr..
Parncll as leader of the Irish party when
the split took place in 1850 between the
followers of Mr.. Shaw and the advo-
Gates of more determined measures in the
house of commons. When 0'Connell stood
for Clare in ISIS the o'Gorman- Mahon was
one of his sturdiest and most aggressive
supporters. He was the Adonis of the
Irish party III his youth. Even now his
ngure-tall, erect MS u pine, with huge
masses of white hair and leonine face
Is not without suggestion of the old time
fashionable gentleman. He is the last
survivor of that picturesque class-as
ready with his pistol as with his tongue.
Nobody can enumerate the number of
times he has been out and the still larger
number of occasions in which he dispatched
or received the cartel. In the Clare cleo
ton he had most amusing encounter
with the sheriff who presided over the
meeting at which the nominations for
the house were made. The o'Gorman
had perched himself ON the edge of
the gallery Immediately in front of
that fIlnctionary He was dressed in q
coat of Irish tabinet, with glossy trousers
the same national material; he wore 10
waistcoat; blue shirt lined with streaks
of white was open at his neck; n broad
green sash with medal of the Order of
Liberators at the end of il hung conspicu-
ousiy over his breast, and profusion of
black ctirls. curiously festooned about his
temples, Swallowed a very handsome and
expressive countenance, great part of
which was occupied by whiskers of
hushy amplitude.
WHO are you, sir?' exclaimed the high
sheriff.
my name is 0'Gorman-Mahon,' was
the reply.
81 tell that gentleman said the sheriff,
to take off that badge
..There was moments pause and then
the answer was slowly and distinctly re
turned: This gentleman laying his
hand on his breast tells that gentleman
pointing with the other hand at the sher-
iff-.that if that gentleman presumcs 10
touch this gentleman, that this gentleman
will defend himselfagainst that gentleman
or any other gentleman while he has got
the arm of gentleman To protect him.
This extraordinary sentence was fol-
lowed by loud burst of applause from all
parts of the courthouse, during which the
sheriff sat down, looking quite crcstfallen.
.Dueling was common among politicians
ia those days. but O'Connell having killed
an opponent in one Of these encounters
was accustomed TO preface his speeches by
a statement 10 the effect that under no cir
csInstances would he accept challenge.
The O'Gorman. who usually accompanied
him. would Just as regularly rise in his
Mace at the conclusion Of the tribunes
sreech and remind the audience that for
his part he was not troubled with con-
scientious scruples about duellng- and II
there was any one present who took UNI
bragg at anything o'Conneli had said dur
ing his speech he was ready 10 meet them
whenever and wherever they pleased.
When in the whirligig of time the
Ottoman was thrust from Irish politics,
he der,arted for South America. and there
took part in the struggles of the young
republics for emancipation After career
OF adventure. i'm which hair-breadth es-
cares and deeds Of gailantry are plenti-
fully interspersed. he rose 10 be a general
i'm the army OF one the republics. Nhen
the star OF Ireland seemed once more in
tie ascendant he threw mp his commission
and returned 30 his native isle TO take part
I'm the old fight which was still raging -
hriskiv as when he left for South America
in the '5sss He j. the dean of the Irish
party. and with one exception - possibly
The oldest member OF the house OF COM
mons -