Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-08-26
A NEW PARLIAMENTARY POINT.
Colonel o Keefe Creates Laugh at the
Fenian Convention.

Colonel o keefe Creates n Laugh ut the
Fenian Convention.
At the Philadelphia Feninn convention
In 1865 violen. 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 zen.
voy" entered the hall amid look Of ex-
pectancy and advanced to the platform
with dashing, military stride. He was
about 30, fresh faced, with u huge blond
mustache and a pair of azure eyes that
fairly blnzed
This was Captain James Murphy, an he
roic officer Of the Army OF the Potomac,
who had riske0 liberty and even life to
accomplish his mission. He was received
with loud cheers as O'Afahony took the
packet Of the Irish executive from his
hands and introduced him in feeling words.
The colonel then asked: as everything
secured Arc the spies guarded against"
No" responded voice; there is no
sentinel in the gallery"
"Will some member volunteer for the
duty" inquired the head center
~ willr' shouted wiry little merchant
tailor from Cairo, Ills, whom our delega-
ton had dubbed Colonel oKeeie."
let the gentleman into the loft, T." said
O'Mahony, "and let him remain there un-
til this reading Is finished"
O'Keefe left for his post OF duty with the
air Of Macdonald when he was ordered to
charge and break the Austrian center at
Wagram.
After order was restored O'Mahouy pro
ceeded with the reading. The document
painted the situation ia Ireland in hues the
most rOseate.
As the reading was drawing to close
and while the convention was hushed in
rapt attention n voice from the gallery
broke the spell and startled the multitude
"Mr. Speaker-Mr. Speaker, sir"
What is it-what does the gentleman
wishW inquired O'MRhony, rather aston
ished at the vociferous interruption.
Now, Colonel O'Keefe, 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 n
prolonged vigil. His mind was filled with
fragments Of parliamentary lore which had
been hurled around the convention cham
Der during the preceding two days.
Mr.. Speaker, sir-I want to get down
out OF this"
THE gentleman" said o'Mahony in his
most sepulchral tones, must remain where
be Is until this document Is read through.
The men at home must not be exposed to
danger The gentleman will please not in
terrupt any more"
Colonel OKeefs 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.
Mr.. Speaker-Mr. Speaker. STRIP
What is it nowp growled out O'Maho-
ny, knitting his brows, brushing back his
thick brown hair from his white forehead
and looking decidedly savage
Mr.. Speaker, sirl" yelled Colonel
o'Keefe. "Begorra, sir, rise to point of
neoessityw
The convention Immediately shook with
a very earthquake Of prolonged merriment,
o'Mahony himself going almost into con
vulsions Of laughter After he had some
what recovered his composure he said, Let
the gentleman out, and theepisode ended.
John f, Finerty in Donahoe's Magazine.