The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1891-01-31
O'OonueJl's Celebrated Duel,

The reader will find III Frank Les
lies Popular MONTHLY for February All
| illustrated article Of twelve pages OF
Daniel O'ConEell by the author OF st.
Leger." From it Is taken the following
| account OF his famous duel: We now
cradle period cast gloom over O'Coli-
nell's life refer to his duel with
D'Esterre. All that time dueling was
rife. 1t was the only method by which
among gentlemen. Some of these on
counters, both in England and Ireland,
| were of the most brutal and sangulnarv
character. D'Esterre had been in the
navy, where he had distinguished him
| self in q subordinate capacity. He af-
| terWard came TO reside in Dublin,
! where he was member or the dublin
! Corporations He was small, sinewy
man, in the prime of life, and OK UNI
! questionable courage. He had the rep-
utation Of being fatal shot" He
was, it should 10 stated, hopelessly in
! debt.
This was in January of the year 1916
| O'Connell had addressed a large meet
| ing in the cause OF his ''agitation' for
the characterization Bill. In his speech
he alluded to the Dublin Corporation
gs a ''beggarlv corporation" 1T was
| asserted at the time, by the partisans of
O'Connell, that ID Esterre had been Sc
lected, by reason Of the qualities just
mentioned, to pick q QUARREL with the
| great ''Agitator, by which he might
summarilY be disposed of. This IS con-
lecture merely, though the Slight and,
| in fact, untenabl6 grounds for duel
| would lend probabilities to the theory.
D'Esterre, ON seeing The report of the
speech, wrote to ask QConnell ii he
had used the language attributed to him.
In his reply the latter said he neither
admitted nor denied that he had used
it; but, Sin view of the treatment OF the
religion and character Of the Catholics
by the Dublin Corporation, no terms at
tributed to him could exceed the con"
temptuous feelings he entertained for
that body, in les corporate capacity"
d Esterre was, or appeared to be, furi-
Gus. He paraded the streets, where he
would be likely to encounter his oppo~
nenC. with pistol and cowhide. O'Con-
nell, fore warned. took successful meth
DDS toavoid him. The widest excitement
meantime prevailed. Failing to have
street encounter. Sir Edward Stanley,
on the part of D'EsCrrre. called upon
O'C0nnell, who referred MIN to his
friend, Major MacNamara. The latter
accepted the challenge, and insisted
that the meeting should take place that
very dav. After some demur On the
part of Stanley, 1T was SO arranged. The
parties were to meet thirteen miles from
Dublin at half past three in the after
noon. The ground was covered with
light snow, but the day Wav fine.
D'Esterre had instructed his second to
insist, unless O'Donnell apologized. on
the combat continuing till one OF the
parties fell. IF blood you want,' said
Mach amara to this announcement.
'sblood you shall have"
The parties were put IN position.
D 'Esterre fired first and missed. O'Con-
nell's bali struck the former in the
groin, in flicting fatal wound, q Con-
nell declared that he fired low with a
view only to wound bis adversary.
Dublin was crazed with delight at the
result. On the following day 10 cards
were left at @ 'Connell's house. It was
supposed that 9 prosecution might fol-
low; but d Esterre, who survived few