The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-04-02


Away in the provinces the atrocities of
the yeomsn and militia were becoming
more fiendish every day. Patience had
been long preached from Dublin, but
the limits OF endurance were well-nish
reached, and, as actually did happen, it
was becoming evident that the struggle
would be precipitated by some more
than usually appalling military outrage
and that the chance of a well-organized
and centrally directed movement would
thus be lost. 1t was an anxious time.
and they were an anxious body Of men
who sat with the gallant host around
the council board. But the deliberations
were interrupted. Reynolds had pro-
cured tho information which MacNevin
had so pointedly refused him. A few
days before he had received tho last
installment Of the sum of 5000 pounds
awarded by the generous and apprecia-
tive crown and constitution. He wanted
more. His appetite was whetted; his
greed for gold increased as the reward
for his infamy grew greater. The mon
ey Of England was only to be bought
by the blood of his sworn comrades and
he bartered their blood without hest
tation or remorse. While the patriots
were consulting, Major Swan was gath
ering his forces; and as the door Of
the room was thrown open and the del
egates looked up from their papers, they
saw Major Swan and an armed band
all sergeants-right upon them. A doz-
en- carbines covered the unarmed United
Irishmen; q dozen EeyGnets cleaned in
the light; resistance was not only use
less but impossible; and every man was
marched away to prison. The blow was
struck; Reynolds had fairly and fully
earned his share Of the castles great
store OF blcod~money; and the move
ment was crippled forever
They hanged Blyne; Bond WAS MUIR
dered by a prison warlci after the gov
eminent had gone through the empty
formality OF pretending to spare his
life. Others also OF the victims of that
raid one hundred years ago today died
in prison for Ireland or still others
we can say
Some on the shores OF distant lands
Their weary limbs have laid,
And by the strangers needless hands
Their lonely graves were made.
We know how John Shcares labored
when he was asked to take the place of
In in, ini1 Int ,1J
after the capture Of SO many gudis
spirits. Samuel Nelson had spared
Reynolds; but Reynolds did not spare
his friends or Ireland.
1t seems that Oliver Bond was one -
those who did not believe in the
treachery of the Kildare informer lie
was rather inclined to suspect an hon
est United lrishman named William
Porter. The first few OF Swans
myrmidons who accompanied their lead
err to the door of Bonds house were
dressed as ordinary citizens, and they
gave the 'password' for the night as
soon as challenged. That word was:
''Is Ivers from Carlow Gomez" They
wero freely admitted and then came the
rush OF armed men. When Mr. Porter
reached the place of meeting later in the
evening he found tho house surrounded
by the soldiery. After tho arrests Bond
recalled the fact that Il few evenings be-
fore ho had entrusted Porter with the
signal token at the latter's express
request: and it was an anxious time for
tho Innocent man until that day in June
when Bend and Bryne and Mccain
wcro placed on their trial. and when
Reynolds coolly took his place in the
witness box and told the tale of his in
fanny. Bonds generous heart was
touched by the thought Of the cruel
wrong he had done to his friend.
Reaching across those who guarded him
in tho dock, he graspcd Mr.. Portcr's
hand and thus silently acknowledged
his mistake.
What Of the future of Reynolds, the
base and venal instrument of the most
fiendsh policy ever devised by an or
ganizcd government. His masters paid
him we'll. The negotiations between the
spy and the ministers were carried On
through wealthy merchant named
Cope, to whom Reynolds owed several
largo sums Of money While Bond and
the others yet lay in Jail the government
went through the form OF arrcstiur
Reynolds for the two-fold purpose OF in
timidating him to greater cxcrtions and
rehablitating him in tho confidence OF
those who suspected his trcachcry. At
this point final arrangements were
made Besides tho "lump sum" of 3, 900
pounds already mentioned, life pen
sion OF 1000 pounds year was guar
antced on condition that his Services
should DO continued, and Reynolds was
again set free. But tho necessity for
publicly producing him at Bonds trial
was Imperative and thereafter his use
fulness as an informer was at an end.
Castlereagh and the others would will
1ngly have got rid of him then. But
reynolds was not a reckless sco,lndrel
like Jimmy O'Brien, and he gave his
dear friends and patrons no opportunitv
Of saving his pension to the taxpayers
by qualifying for the gibbet or the pris-