The San Francisco call., 1897-05-30

ways he reminds the reader OF one OF
Dumas heroes. The story of his life was
written for his wife, but it was given to
the world by his SON as an invaluable con-
tribution to the history of Ireland Tone
was practically the founder of the Irish
separatist movement. He did not believe
in mere legislative independence. To
build up free Irish State was the object
of his life.
He sought colleagues and comrades in
Belfast the capital of Ulster, then the
hotbed of treason, and he found them.
Protestant himself, he brought Catholic
and Protestant together and impressed
upon all who came under the sphere of
his influence the necessity of united ac-
ton again t the common enemy. There
was to be but one creed-Irish nationality
and one class-re bells against the British
rule.
The Society Of United Irishmen was
founded in Belfast and soon made recruits
in Leinster, Munster and Connaught.
Among the most interesting parts of his
story are his recitals as to tho state of
Ulster toward the end OF the eighteenth
century. The Protestants were ripe for
re bellion, and we can understand, there
fore, why the Protestant Irish in the
colonies as well as the Catholic Irish gave
Washington such cordial support. Tone
kept on the high road to rebellion all the
time and he strengthened the waverers.
He was obliged at length to leave ireland
and ne sought the United States, and the
voyage across was full of adventure, in
that the vessel had to run the gauntlet OF
English cruisers.
In the United States he planned anew,
and finally sailed for France to persuade
| tn foh Han and
| to Ireland to help the, United Irishmen in
overthrowing the Government of Eng
| land.
His success with the Directory won the
admiration OF Wellington.
| "W olfe Tone" says the Duke, twas a
most extraordinary man, and his history
| is the most curious history of those times
! With 100 guineas in his pocket, unknown
and unrecom mended, he went to Paris in
| order to overthrow the British Govern
ment in Ireland. He asked for a large
force, Lord Edward Fitzgerald for small
one. They listened to Tone, and the
| Bantry Bay expedition was the result"
Tone returned with the Bantry Bay ex-
pedition. But the elements fought for
England and the French feet was scat
tered by the winds.
Tone did not despair. He persuaded
the Directory to send another and yet an
other expedition. Both failed. A fourth
| ana laSJ Sdileu from DTeSC In Sept6m D6r,
| 1893. 1t consisted of fleet of one sa ii of the
line-the Hoche, seventy-four guns-eight
| frigates and one schooner, under command
| of Admiral Bonn pard, and an army of
5000 men under General Hardy. Tone
was on board the admiral's ship the
Hoche. On October 10 Bompard arrived
off the entrance OF Lougn Swilly and was
signaled from the shore. At daybreak
next morning British squadron, consist
ing of six sail of the line, one razee (sixty
| guns) and two frigates, under command
| of Sir John Warren, hove in sight.
| Bompard signaled the French frigates
and the schooner to retreat and cleared
the deck for action. A boat from one of
| the French vessels came alongside the
Hoche for port orders. The French off,
GERS gathered around Tone and urged him
! to escape.
'Tne combat is hopeless" they said,
1--WE shall be prisoners OF war, but what
will become of your"
He answered.: shall 1t be said that /
fed when the French were fighting the
battles of my country No, shall stand
by my ship"
The British bore down on the Hoche,
surrounding the French ship. but Bonn
pard MAJ I'd his eolors to the mast and for
six hours stood the combined fire of the
English ship-.
Her masts were dismantled, her rigging
was swept away, the scuppers flowed with
blood, the wounded filed The cock pit. At
length, with yawning ribs, with five feet
of water in the hold, her rudder carried
away, her sails and cordage hanging in
shreds, her batteries dismounted and ev-
cry gun sienced, she struck. Tone COM
manded battery and fought like lion.
The Hoche was towed into Lough Swiliy
and the prisoners landed and marched to
Letterkenny. Tone was taken to Dublin
loaded with irons. The end soon came.
He was tried by court-martial and sem
fenced to be hanged. He askeo to be shot