Evening journal., 1893-09-09
a NEW pAnLlAMsN1AnY poIN1.
Colonel orSeefe Creates Laugh at the
Fenian Convention.

Colonel OTSeefe Creates "A Laugh nt the
fenian Convention.
At the Philadelphia Fenian convention
ln 1865 violent discussion between the
two factions was interrupted By the an
nouncement that an envoy from Ireland"
had just arrived with important informa-
tion from the ''men in the gap" The "en-
voyn entered the ball amid a look of ex-
pectancy and advanced to the platform
with a dashing, military stride. He was
about 30, fresh faced, with "A huge blond
mustache and a pair Of azure eyes that
fairly blazed
This was Captain james Murphy, an he
roic officer OF the Army OF the Potomac,
who had risked liberty and even life to
accomplish his mission. He was received
with loud cheers as O'Mahony took the
packet o1 the Irish executive from his
hands and introduced him in feeling words.
The cviSael then asked ''ls everything
securef Are the spies guarded againstY"
mo" responded a voice; there Is no
sentinel in the gallery"
''Will some member volunteer for the
dutys" inquired the head center.
II willr shouted a wiry little merchant
tailor from Cairo, Ills, whom our delega-
tion had dubbed Colonel O'Keefe."
LET the gentleman into the loft" +" said
O'Mahony, "and let him remain there un-
til this reading is finished"
OlKeefe left1or his post of duty with she
air Of Macdonald when he was ordered to
charge and break the Austrian center at
Wagram.
After order was restored O'Mahony pro
ceeded with the reading. The document
painted the situation in Ireland in hues the
most roseate.
As the reading was drawing TO a dose
and while the convention was hushed in
rapt attention voice from the gallery
broke the spell and startled the multitude.
'Mr. Speaker-Nr. Speaker, sirl'
"What is it--what does the gentleman
wishsn inquired O'Mahony, rather aston
ished at the vocifegous interruption.
Now, Colonel O'Kecfe, like some of his
brethren, had been out the previous night
eating oysters and drinking bottled ale, and
he was hardly in physical condition for a
prolonged vigil. His mind was filed with
fragments of parliamentary lore which had
been hurled around the convention chan
ber during the preceding two days
"Mr. Speaker, sir--I want to get down
out of this"
1.-The gentleman" said O'Mahony in his
most sepulchral tones, must remain where
he is until this document is read through.
The men at home must not be exposed to
danger. The gentleman viii please not in.
terrupt any more"
Colonel O'Keefs subsidized for the time be
ing, and the reading was again proceeded
with. In the middle Of most important
and exciting paragraph the voice from the
| gallery again made itself heard.
"Ar. Speaker-Mr. Speaker, STRIP
"What is it now" growled out O'Maho
ny, knitting his brows, brushing back his
thick brown hair from his white forehead
aud locking decidedly savage.
"Nr. Speaker, STRIP yelled Colone
O'Keefe 'Begorra, sir, rise to a point o
necessity
The convention Immediately shook Will
a very earthquake Of prolonged merrment
| O'Mahony himself going almost into con
! vulsions Of laughter After he had some
what recovered his compOsure he said lie
the gentleman out" and heepisode ended
John L. Finerty in Donahoe's Magazine.