Los Angeles herald., 1892-06-19

that they FASTENED to carry the news to the
chief dignitaries of the region. 1t was dur
ing the rebellion of 179S, and not few
patriots as we'll as loyalists, were ready to
welcome the strong arm of the govern
ment to put an end to the disastrous civil
war, just then at its height. The excited
fishermen ran straight to the castle of the
Protestant bishop of Killala, DR.. Stock,
and promptly on receipt of their news two
sons of the bishop, accompanied by the
port surveyor, hasuened to the beach and
put off in fishing boat to greet the officers
of the men-of-war.
In few minutes the town was astir
awaiting with mingled curiosity and
anxiety the result of the visit of the
volunteer ENJOYS to what could we'll be
supposed contingent of England's ma
jestic and invincible navy. Rumors that a
sea armament hostile to British interests
in Ireland was steering for those same or
neighboring coasts had put the minds of
all classes into fever of expectation, and
the divided feelings of the hour were in
dicated by the character of the assemblage
that stood on Steeple Hill, overlooking the
bay, watching the issue of events. Fore
most in the throng was the local British
magistrate, Capt. William Kirkwood, who
led body of loyal yeomanry and detach-
ment of British regulars, accompanied by
some officers of the garrison of Ballina,
eight miles inland; the bishop and some of
his clerical guests, while here and there
were the leading men of the town and a
sprinkling of young fellows of rebellious
tendencies more or less openly avowed.
AS time passed and no assuring message
was received, Capt. Kirkwood handed his
spyglass to one after another of the by
ISLANDERS known to be experienced in naval
matters, and asked them to scan the mys-
terious vessels. When an old salt, who
had fought under the greatest English
captains Of the time, declared confidently.
"They are French, sir" Kirkwood turaed
to a suspected rebel, Neal Kerugan, who
had just asked his opinion of the vessels.
and with a meaning look said, "Ah, Neal,
you know as we'll as do"
The vessels were French in disguise, The
civil ENJOYS were promptly made prison.
ers when they jumped on the ships decks.
and boatloads of men in the blue coats OF
the new republic of France, with extra
arms to equip the insurgent peasantry,
were put on shore without moments de-
lay. Bustle and confusion followed the
excitement awakened in the town. Capt.
Kirkwood distributed his small force with
an eye to defense and awaited attack.
Under cover of twilight body of stall
wart grenadiers, led by sharpshooters and
guarded by flankers, charged through the
streets of the town from the enemy's lines,
and Kirkwood's men, offering but weak
reply, broke and fled to the shelter of the
castle walls After spirited fight the
castle barriers were thrown down and the
surviving defenders gave up the struggle.
Instantly a tall and resolute man, wearing
generals epaulets, appeared amid the
smoke of the courtyard and in command
ing tones ordered the excited victors to
ground arms. He spoke to his troops in
French and in the same tongue inquired
of someo of the people of the castle, through
an interpreter, for Bishop Stock. That
prelate opportunely came forward and in
good French answered in his own behalf.
"My word for it," said the leader of the
invaders, shat neither your people nor
yourself shall have cause to feel apprehen-
sion. We have come to your country not
as conquerors, but as deliverers"
This, the first declaration on Irish soil of
the purpose of the hostile array, came from
the chief of the expedition himself-for
such the speaker was-Jean-J Joseph Hum