The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-19
SIR BOYLE ROCKIES RIVAL.
The Man Who Wrote the .sConstitutiona
Amend m ant,I Bartian Of Our ballot.


Amendment" Portion Of Our Ballot.
Many of your readers have heard and some
have doubtless read of the eccentric Sir Boyle
Roche, who was noted more for the blunders he
perpctrated in speeches and letters than for any
thing else He was member of the Irish par
Lament in the troublesome times OF "ninety-
eight" when handful OF men from the county
OF Wexford struck terror into the hearts of
many gallant Sons of Mars, including Sir Boyle
Roche. Writing of these stirring events in
Ireland, now nearly 100 years ago, he describes
them in manner which may safely challenge
comparison with any similar composition ever
published.
In my younger days it was my fortune TO
make the AGO uaintance ia New York of several
of the patriots who took part in the last Irish
rebellion. Many a hearty laugh has been en-.
joyed while listening to the recital of their ad-
ventures, told as only Irishmen could tell them
Some of these related to Sir Boyle Roche, whom
they knew by contact or repute. But read the
letter in which he describes his participation in
some OF the scenes of the me morable rebellion
OF l79s:
My Dear Sir: Having now little peace aud
Quetuds, sit down to inform you OF the dread
ful hustle and confusion We are all in from these
bloodtnirsty rebels. most OF whom are-thank
God,-kiled and dispersed. We are in pretty
mess; can get nothing to eat, nor any wine to
drink, except whisky and when we sit down to
dinner We are obliged to keep both hands armed.
AID pistol in the other.
l concluded from tho beginning that this
would be the emo of 1t, and see l was right, for
II il not half over ye'. At present there IL such
goings-on that everything Is at a s,auistill.
should have answered your letter a fortnight
ago, but did not receive II until tlSs morning
Indeed, scarcely mail arrives safe without
being robbed. No longer ago than yesterday the
coach with the mail from Dublin was robbed
near this town. Tae bags had been iuiiciously
left behind, for fear OF accident, and By good
luck there was nobody In il but two outside
pass engers. who had nothing for the thieves to
take. Last Thursday notice was given that q
standard, but they had no colors nor any drums,
except bagpipes
Immediately every man in the place, iuclud-
ing women and children, ran out to meet them.
We soon found our force much too little; We
were too near TO think OF retreating. Death was
in every face, but 20 IL we went, anu by the time
hall of our little party were killed We began TO
be all alive again. Fortunately the rebels had
no guns except pistols and pixies and, we had
plenty of muskets and ammunition, We put
them all TO the sword. Not a soul of them
escaped, except some that were drowned in an
adjacent bog, and in q very short time nothing
WAS heard but silence Their uniforms were ell
different colers, but mostly green. After the
action we went 10 rum m age sort OF camp which
they had left behind them. All We found Was q
few pixies without heads, parcel OF empty bot
ties full of water and bundle of French COM
missions filed with Irish names Troops are
now stationed all around the country. which ex-
sctly squares with my IDEAS 1 have only time
to add thst / am in great haste.
"p. S.-It you do not receive this, OF course II
must have misoarried; therefore you must
write TO let me know"
The above contains q drove of "bulls," but
think tAere il not one OF the drove a more paipa.
bio blunder than that which appeared at the
foot OF the ballots voted at the last election in
this state IL doubtless was noticed by many
voters, but nobody has deemed IL OF sufficient
Importance TO call attention 10 II in print. The
thunder referred 10 10 As follows.
For constitutional amendment raising the
limit OF state indebtedness, yes.
Against constitutional amendment raising the
limit of stats indebtedness, no.
The last paragraph contains two negatives.
thus making il equival TO an affirmative. II
the word For" had been used, instead of
Against" or the word ayes" instead of "No. -
IL would have been correcI As IL was worded
anu voted, 1t was about clear 81 the Dutch.
mans explanation Of the difference between two
pigs, large and g small one To customer he
said: DE little pig ia de biggest" His wife,
assuming TO correct him. said:
You VIII excuse him; he NO speak - goos