The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-17
ALMOST BLINDED.
A Quantity Of Lime Thrown
Into Parnell'S Eyes.
4 Bloody Conflict Between Opposing Fac
lions at Ballinakill.
Michael DaVitt and His Followers Severely
Beaten During the ee-BlackthOrnS
Used With Effect.
Special 10 THE MORNING CALL


DUBLIN, Dec. 16,-At Ballinakill to-day,
while meetings Of the two factions were be-
Ing held near together the Parnellites at
tackled the opposition. The McCarthyites
repelled them after a spirited defense led by
Davitt, DR.. Tanner and number of priests.
Many persons on both sides were injured.
Davitt, accompanied by Father O'Hal-
leran, was the hrst prominent speaker that
arrived at the meeting, and he took his stand
In the higher part of the square near the
church. Cheers and counter cheers were
vociferously INDUCED in by the assembled
factions. AS Davitt began his speech a
wagonette, in which were William Red
mond, NJ. p; Father Ryan and other Par
nelltes, was driven through the lower part
of the square. followed by cheering crowd.
Redmond began speaking simultaneously
with Dayitt. The advent of another party
headed by several priests, driving briskly
through the crowd. put temporary stop to
the speeches at both meetings.
The newcomers ranged themselves along
side the car occupied by Davitt amid a
chorus of mingled cheers and execrations.
PARNELL'S ARRIVAL.
Sculy took up the speaking and was ex-
pressing his views when a great shouting
announced the arrival of Parnell aud Har-
rison and number of their supporters on
horseback and in cars. Parnelps appear
ance beside Redmond was the signal for
cheers and yells of Tally no." "the Fox"
and "Kitty's petticoats." Amid the din
Parnell spoke to the crowd around him. He
sharply scored HennesSy, the ants candi-
date, as man who went 10 Parliament in
1861 as Tory supporter of Disraeli, and
who now wants to go as Liberal supporter
of Gladstone.
Several men made strong effort to drag
the wagonette into the midst of the anti
Parneu gathering, but were dissuaded.
Parnell. resuming, maintained that the con-
sistency of his public life had been pre-
served amid his unceasing efforts to create
and preserve an independent Irish party.
BLACKTHoRNs USED WITH EFFECT.
Harrison was about to follow Parneu, and
Tanner was speaking when a sudden conflict
arose on the verge of the crowd. A rush
was made toward Davtfs car, and gen.
eral melee ensued. A forest of ash-plant
sticks and blackthorns arose and descend ed
in the air where the dividing lines of the
opposing factions met
Davitt leaped from his car, welding
thick hazel stick. and fought his way, foot
by foot, straight toward ParnelPs wagon,
receiving and giving numerous blows. He
finally reached the wagon, hatless and with
his face badly marked, and with few of
his men with him, who also bore traces of
the severe usage they had received in their
desperate passage between the two vehicles.
DAvITTis DEFIANCE.
Standing on the steps of ParnelPs wagon
Davitt uttered breathless and indistnct
defiance, then turned ami pushed back to
his own car, surrounded by his faithful
supporters, amid the continuous yells and
execrations of the two wildly excited fac
tions and with an exchange of a shower of
blows.
Davitt then remOunted his car and
shouted: g Men of Kilkenny, came here
In defense of the right of public meeting
and liberty of speech. Our opponents sent
their blackguards to interrupt the proceed
ings, but We have beaten them back. was
l was many times struck by my own
countrymen." These remarks were greeted
with tumultuous cheers, after which the
crowd began to disperse and the square re-
snmed its normal aspect.
A CHALLENGE TO PARNELL.
Parnell and his friends drove to Castle
Conner, and Davitt and Tanner followed in
their wake. st Castle Comer, Davitt and
Tanner addressed an open assemblage
dilating upon the affair at BallinakilI, and
asserting that Parnell brought hired mob
there 10 attack them.
just then the carriages containing the
Parnellltes passed the crowd, which hooted
and pelted them with mud and stones.
William Redmond appearing on the edge of
the crowd, Davitt sent him message saying
that II Parnell would agree to stand beside
him and deliver speech, Davtt would re-
ply to 1t, and would guarantee Parnell a
quiet hearing. Redmond bore the message
10 Parnell, who instantly replied: Il am
not IN position to treat; am only in a
position to fight
THE BATTLE RENEWED.
Afterward, while the Parnelltes were ad-
dressing crowd, number OF Dayiet's fol-
lowers got together and began hooting.
The Parnellites closed around the vehicle
from which their orators were addressing
the people, and the police appeared and
tried to. divide the factions. The meeting
ended in scene of wild confusion, and
Parnell and his friends drove off amid
showers OF stones and mud. Frequent at
fempts to assault members of the party
were made, and several bags filled with
lime were thrown at them. Harrington's
shoulders were covered with lime, and
mass OF lime struck Parnell full in the face,
completely binding him. This insult infu-
rated Parnell's friends. Harrington turned
and advancing toward Father Downey, who
was at the head Of ParnelRs opponents,
shouted, Coward. you are disgrace to
your cnurchW
PARNELL ALMOST BLINDED.
The police again lnterfered and ParnelPs
party finally got away on to the road. Par
nelpS eyes panied him so he was soon
Obliged to stop the carriage, and entered
laborer's cabin in fainting condition,
where local doctor attended him. The
lime became caked beneath his eyelids, and
the doctor was only able to remove some of
it by using a silk handkerchief and some
hair-o1l he found in the cabin. The phys
ician finally advised Parnell to drive imlne-
diately to Kilkenny. So he re-entered his
carriage and proceeded on the journey But
again the pain became so intense that sec
ond halt was made, this time at roadside
public house, where the doctor made further
efforts 10 relieve the terrible pain which Par
nell was suffering. The doctor was able at
this place 10 procure quantity of castor-oil,
which he poured freely into Parnelrs eyes.
He then tried to scrape off more of the lime,
ueine Aoi shio pun iPuso iilc point OIL an 0rQl-
nary lead pencil.
SEEKING RELIEF.
The lime. however, had become crusted
inside the eyelids. and the doctor with the
crude implements at hand was only able to
remove the turturing substance slowly and
with much difficulty. The doctor apoiogized
to Parnell for causing him SO much pain,
but said it was unavoidable. Parnell re-
piled: Never mind the pain. DO your
best Don't let me lose my sight" Find
Ing he was unable to remove all the lime.
the doctor urged Parnell to drive with ali
speed to town, and this was done. Arriving
at Victoria Hotel Parncll had to be led from
his wagopette to his room. He reclined in
an armchair, apparently sightless and suffer-
ing the most intense agony. He still re-
mains in the hands of his doctor. Surgeon
Hackett. who attended Parnell along the
road, stated tonight that ali the lime had
been removed. but the patient was still suf-