The Irish standard., 1893-11-25
DIED FOR LIBERTY
The Pathetic Story Of .'the Noble
Hearted Three" Allen, Lar
kin and OBrien.
THE MANCHESTER MARTYRS,

THE MANCHESTER MARTYRS,
The Anniversary of Their Execu-
ton Celebrated Last Thurs
day Throughout Ireland.
The notable anniversary of the death
of the Manchester Martyrs was -cele-
brated throughout Ireland last Thursday
The com ng of Nov. % recalls to lrisu
minds the stirring events OF the Fenian
days, when the fearless heroes, st the
risk OF their lives, faced the British foe
in the hope of winning freedom for their
native land. The history of the daring
Manches' or rescue and the display of
English barbarity in wreaking vengeance
on Allen, Larkin and O'Brien, is not so
widely known among Irishmen as it
should be. Indeed, as learned writer
has pointed out, Irishmeu knowtoo little
of their native history. Comparatively
few OF them have read the story of 81,
yet it is one of the most pathetic tales in
history. After the abortive Fenian ris-
ing. Colonel Kelly and Captain Deasy,
two of the American officers who had
gone over to assist in the insurrection,
escaped to Manchester only to be ar
rested there. While being conveyed to
the county prison, short distance of,
the daring rescue was successfully ac-
complished. The following is brief
history of the occurrences: RS
When the archway on the Hyde road
at Bellevue was reached, a crowd Of men,
all armed with revolvers, swarmed over
the low wall on the roadside, and ran
after the van. A shot fired by one ot
them brought one of the horses to the
ground, and, as matter Of course: the
progress of the van was suddenly stayed,
and it was quickly surrounded by the
attacking party, who, with revolvers ley-
elled, drove off the police escort, who
were unarmed Then an attempt was
made by some of the party to break in
the van door with crowbars and hatch
cts, but without success. BY this time
the police, who had fled, we're seen re-
turning, accompanied by a great crowd
Of people. There was then no time to
lose. The attempt to break open the
van was abandoned, and the policeman
Brett was called on to deliver up the
keys. He paused. The police and the
crowd were now st hand Some of the
Fenians faced them and fired few shots
over their heads, thus keeping them at
bay. Then the word was given to burst
open the lock Of the door with pistol
shot. This was done; but. unfortu lately
the shot which shattered the lock passed
through the body of poor Brett, killing
him on the spot. One of the female
prisoners thereupon took the keys from
the mortally wounded policeman, and
passed them through the ventilator to
bUo u0u OuVStSAC.
Then young man, who was described
by one of the female prisoners rs having
"pale face," entered the van, unlocked
the compartments in which Kelly and
Deasy were confined, and brought them
out. AS they alighted from the vehicle
the pale-faced young man seized Kelly's
manacled hands, and kissing them rap
turously,. exclaimed, "Ah, Kelly, I'd die
for YOU" The rescued men were carried
off across the fields, under the escort OF
few rescuers, while the rest of the
party prevented pursuit, firing occasi nal
shots over the heads of the advancing
crowds, and keeping them at 9 safe DIS
tance. Not until they felt sure that the
rescued leaders were safe did these de
voted men attempt to save themselves.
At last they separated and sought safety
in flight. Police and people followed
fast, and succeeded in arresting few
Of them, who were savagely beaten by
some of their captors. Amongst the
prisoners, it was said, was the young
man with the spale-tace,' = who was after
wards identified as William Philip AL
len.
Five persons were put upon their trial
for the murder Of Sergeant Brett. Their
names were: William Philip Allen,
Michael Larkin, Thomas Mcguire, Mich.
ael O'Brien (alias Gould) and Edmund
O'Meagher Condor (alias Shore). jury
carefully selected to convict was empan-
|elled to try the case. At the time feel
ing ran high in England, and Irishmen
were hated with an intense hatred. The
thirst for vengeance was only to be ap-
peased by the conviction Of the accused.
It was an easy task for the jury. The
charge entered was that Brett was de-
liberately murdered that i, that he had
been killed by q shot aimed directly at
him through the yentilator. The only
evidence ii sup port of this accusation
was that 81 5 female thief Who sgss IN