Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-08-22
A NEW PARLIAMENTARY POINT.
Colonel O'necfe Creates Laugh at the
rcnisnsConve ntion.

fcnfanNonNent1on.
A,tbe philadelphia Fenian convention
IN is6s n violen. discussion between the
,,eo factions was interrupted by the an-
nonnecment that an envoy from Ireland"
b,a ius, arrived with important informa-
t,on from the 'Incn in the gap" The Ell
yovp entered the ball amid look OF ex-
pec,aucy and advanced to the platform
with n dashinC. military stride. He was
about 80, fresh faced with huge blond
musiache and pair Of azure eyes that
fairly blazea.
This was Captain James Murphy. an he
roic officer Of the Army OF the Potomac,
who had risked liberty and even life 70
accomplish his mission He was received
with loud cheers as O'Mahony took the
packet Of tie Irish executive from his
hands ami introduced him In feeling words.
The colonel then asked: us everything
securci Are the spies guarded againstF
no" responded voice; there IS no
sentinel in the gallery
"Will some member volunteer Tor inc
DUTY" inquired the head center
~ willW shouted wiry little merchant
tailor from Cairo, Ills, whom our deiegac
ton had dubbed Colonel OKeefe."
Let the cenilemep into the loft" SAID
O'Mahony, and let Rim remain there I'M
Ill this reading is finished.
OKcefe left for mis- post Of duty with the
air Of Macdonald when be was ordered TO
charge and break the Austrian center al
WaCram.
After order was restored O'Mahony pro-
cceded with the reading The document
nainted the situation IN Ireland in hues the
most roseate.
As the reading was drawing to close
and while the convention was hushed IN
rant attention "a voice from the gallery
broke the spell and startled the multitude.
"Air. Speaker-Mr Speaker. sirl'
"What is it--vhat does the gentleman
wish" inquired O'Mahony, rather aston
ished at the vocifeOus interruption.
Now. Colonel O'Keefe, like some OF his
brethren. had been out the previous night
eating oysters and drinking bottled ale, ana
be was hardly in physical condition LOT
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-l want to get down
out OF this
"The gentleman" said o Mahony In MS
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 O'Keefe subsidized for the time be-
Ing, and toe reading was again proceeded
with In the middle of a most important
and exciting paragraph the voice from the
gallery again made IcseH heard.
Mr.. Speaker--Sit Speaker, srp'
What is it uowf" growled out O'Maho-
ny, knitting his brOws, brushing back his
thick brown hair fs0p his white forehead
and looking decidedly savage.
Mr. Speaker. sirg' yelled Colonel
OKeefe. "Degorra. sir, rise to point OF
Decessityr'
The convention Immediately shook with
q 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 the episode ended.
John f. Finerty in Donahoe's Magazine