The Irish standard., 1897-10-16

| struggle, the Branden5urgers (William-
ites), when being pressed back upon
the breach, got In at the rear of one of
the Irish batteries into, and over which,
we are told, they now swarmed in a
dense black mass. In moment, how
ever, the whole struggle was suddenly
and decisively terminated by the crown
ing feat Of the defense. At the very
instant when the Brandenburgers-lit
tie knowing that the ground beneath
them was every rod Of mine-were cx-
ulting over what they thought at least
an installment of success. the earth
heaved and yawned under their feet.
and with a roar like thunder, mingled
with thousand dcspairing death
shrieks, battery and Brandenburgers
went flying into the air. For moment
there was a pause; each side alike
seeming to feel the awfulncss of the
fate that had so suddenly annihlated
the devoted regiment. Then. in6eeo, -
shout wild and high went up from the
walls. waited from end to end of the
city and caught up on the Thomond
shore, and final salvo from the un
conquered battlements, by way OF part
ing salute to the flying foe, proclaimed
that patriotism and hcroism had won
the victory"
| William, resolving to renew the as
saut next day, could not persuade his
mon to advance, though he offered to
lead them in person! "Whereupon {"
says the historian, Sin all rage he left
the camp on Aug. 81, and never stopped
until he came to Waterford where he
took shipping for England Sept S, his
army in the meantime retiring by night
from Limerick"
Such was the glorious ending of the
powerful Williams first attempt to cap
ture Limerick. William quilted ire
land, but he left his army and his gem
erals behind him to continue the strug-
gle. And early in the next year u69D
the struggle was renewed. Athlone and
Aughrim were lost, and again Limerick
became the scene of operations. On
| Aug. 25 Williams general Ginckle an
peared before the town with orders
from his master ito let no hesitation
IN granting favorable terms keen him
IRON ending the war, if it could he
ended by such MEANS" Ginckle ac-
cordlngly issued a proclamation Offer
ing "A free pardon, restoration of for
feited estates, and employment in his
majesty's service for all who would ac-
cept it, if the Irish army would aban-
don the war;
But Sarsfeld and his brave men re-
fused to abandon the war" and once
more they prepared to meet the foe,
once more glorious Limerick was to
brave the fiery ordeal. Sixty guns.
none of less than twelve pounds calibre,
opened their deadly fire against it. An
English fleet ascended the river, hurl-
ing its missiles right and left. Bonn.
hardment by land and water showered
destruction upon the city-in vain!
Ginckle now gave up all hope of re-
ducing the place by assault and re,
solved to turn the siege into a block
ade Starvation must, in time, effect
what fire and sword had so often and
so vainly tried to accomplish. The
treason of an Irish officer. long sus-
pected. Luttrell. betrayed to Ginckle the
pass over the Shannon above the city:
and one morning the Irish, to their
horror. beheld the foe upon the Glare
side of the river. Ginckle again offered
to grant almost any terms if the city
would but capitulate; for even still he
judged 1t rather forlorn chance to
await its capture. The announcement
| OF this offer placed further resistance
out OF the question. Accordingly, on
sept. 23, after day of bloody struggle
from early dawn. signal for parley was
| given, and cessation of arms took
place. On the morning of the oath a
three days truce was agreed to. On
the 2Gth the negotiations were opened.
Favorable as were the terms offered.
and even though Sarsfield now asscnted
W accepting tnem, inc news that the
struggle was to he ended was received
by the soldiers and citizens with loud
and bitter grief. They ran to the ram
parts from which they had so often
hurled the foe. and broke their swords
In pieces. Muskets that had scattered
fire and death amid the British grena-
diers, We're broken in a frenzy of dc,-
peration. and the tough shafts of pixies
that had resisted Williams choicest
cavalry crashed across the knees of
maddened Rapparees. The citizens, too.
/ ran to the walls with the arms thew
had treasured proudly as mementocs Of
the last years glorious struggle, and
shivered them into fragments, exclaim-
Ing with husky voices: We need them
no longer. Ireland is no more!'"
After siege of more than a year
the city of Limerick was surrendered
to King William on the Sd of October.
lc9l. The Irish, however, did not sur
render themselves as prisoners, nor did
they sue for mercy. They went out
with all the honors of war, colors tly-