The Irish standard., 1894-03-03


Hamburg, then one of the free cities OF
Europe. Arriving in Hamburg footsore
and weary on the night of Nov. y, 1898,
the Irishmen put up at the American
Arms Hotel. Next day Tandy visited the
office of the French consul general, from
whom he procured passports which would
enable him and his friends to proceed to
Paris without any molestation. The
documents were at once handed to him,
and with them he returned to his hotel
purposing to commence his journey to.
ward the French capital on the follow
ing morning. At 4 a. M, however, he was
awakened from his slumbers by the in
gress into his bed chamber of gang of
armed men commanded by Sir James
Crawford, the then British minister at
Hamburg.
"Let us see your passport" " exclaimed
Sir James in donaineering accents wor-
thy of typical British bully.
'You shall have it at once, SIR cried
Tandy, rushing from the bedside to a
portmanteau, from which he took re-
volver.
"Here it isl" he shouted; but before he
could touch the trigger the weapon was
snatched from his grasp, and he was inn
mediately handcuffed. Having asked
his guards ON what charge they had
forced his door open and put him under
arrest, he was amazed to learn that it
was by the authority OF the British gov
ernment. Il did not know" he re-
marked, "that English warrants ran in
Ham burg" eyes, they do," said bury
German soldier, "and you will aoon
know it to your cost" Tandy and his
comrades were then conveyed in the
dawn of cold. bleak November morning
to squalid dungeon in the city. When,
a few hours afterwards, the news of their
capture was brrited about, NJ. Maragan,
the French minister residing at Hamburg,
wrote highly indignant letter to the
Senate of the commonwealth demanding
at once the release Of the Irish prisoners,
all of whom, he added, were officers Of
the French army. The Senate, infiu-
enced by Crawford. and afraid of the
power and prestige of England, declined
to accede to the request of the French
official Maragan, not discouraged by
this rebuff, sought to bribe the chief Of
the prison guards to connive at the es'
cape of the captives; but that loyal turn
key refused to be corrupted. France at
the time was unable to compel the Sen
ate by threats of war to give up the pris-
oners. She was menaced herself by al
most all the European nations, and it
looked as if her integrity and independ-
ence we're about, becoming things Of the
past. The senators of Hamburg we're
we'll aware of this condition OF things,
and, therefore, defed the republic of
France in their sycophantic desire to
please England, whose star was then in
the ascendant.
On September %, 1893, after almost
ten months incarceration, Tandy and
his companions were removed from their
cells in the dead of night, and put on
board an English frigate. Shortly after
ward they found themselves in Newgate
prison, London, and were subsequently
dispatched to Kilmainham, Dublin. On
hearing the news Of this Infamous extra
dition, Bonaparte, who was just then be-
coming master of France, was much ex-
asperated at the base and vile conduct
of the Hamburg authorities. France
had at the time recovered from her re-
cent disasters. Her power and her in
huence became almest supreme under
the regime of the greatest military gene
raj and strategist Of his own time, and,
perhaps, of any other age. He at once is
sued q proclamation to the effect that,
owing to the perfdy Of the senate and
it's violation of the international law of
hospitality to political refugees all French
consular officers located in Hamburg
should quit that city, and that all the
official representatives Of Hamburg re-
siding in France should leave French
territory within the limit Of twenty four
houra. The publication Of this docu-
ment sent spasm OF terror down the
spines of the senstors Of Hamburg. They
trembled with an sgue which affected
their neither extremities for several days
afterwards When they partially recov-
cred from the shock, they wrote to Bona
parte apologixing for their conduct, and
promising to sin no more. aYou have
acted worse than savage tribes, !" was Ma
poleon's reply, ''for savage tribes often
acknowledge the laws and privileges Of
hospitality. I refuse absolutely to ac-
cept your apology Z The Senate shiv.
erred once more in its boots in presence
of the incorporating attitude Of the
Iittle Corporal and g 2 last resort
Conttnued on Righth Page.
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