The sun., 1898-01-23
IN THE DARK DAYS OF '9S.
AN IRISH FlMILF's ExPERIEN0Es
DURING THE REBELLION.
Hrcthsds Of tho United Irishmen-Odds Against
the patriots-A search Made by nritish
Troopcrs-A Woman who slew - Woman
--NIaior alrr,a Nlctlms--The neiEn OF Terror.


--sraior sirr's victlms--Tho neiEn OF Terror.
To THE EDIron OF THE suN-Isir: Having
read tho articles In TILE Sun concerning the ap-
preaching centennial celebration OF the Irish ro-
bollon OF 1893 i am reminded forcibly Of many in.
cidents OF the uprising which werc rclatod to me
In my childhood by my parents, whose parents
were active participants in tho events OF that
unfortunate and never to DO forgotten struggle.
Ny grandfather. Timothy Lynch. and his
brother Frank were natives OF the town OF WeN-
ford, and were the sons of q not ovcrprospor-
ous farmer. year o. so previous to tho upris-
ing both brothers. unknown to their father,
Joined tho United Irishmcn. At tho period of
their Joining there was nothing to indicate that
an armod rebellion was contemplated. Pro-
tests and supplications for certain rights and
privileges Of which the people as nation con-
sidered themselves unjustly deprived were
presented to their British rulers through the
medium Of some Of tho ablest agitators the
world has ever seen. AS time progressed with
no prospect Of favorable result, and as the
Irish people found the yoke too heavy, the Uni
ted Irlshmen became an army for liberation.
Tho movement necessitated tho greatest &C.
crecy. Iron-clad oaths were administered to
all about to engage In tho enterprise. Arms
had to be manufactured and drills carried on in
secret under tho very nose Of an implacable foe.
British spies were everywhere. while the coun-
try was patrolled night and day by British cav
airy. Add to all this tho extreme poverty to
which tho people were reduced, and some idea
may DO obtained of tho difficulties with which
the United Irishmen of 1893 had to contend;
that they ever made any demonstration as an
armed force In the field against q nation well
supplied with every requisite Of war is some
thing wonderful.
,.-Al NothA t,a1 1<,f
the. patriotic action of his two sons was the ac-
cidental finding OF Irish pike in a cock Of hay
in his field. Although somewhat of n conserva-
tive, he did not discourage any movement that
might help to tighten tho yoke Of English tyr
amy, but he appeared to have prescntiment
that q resort to armp would be unsuccessful,
and would only place the country in o condi-
uon still moro deplorable Somewhat alarmed
at the discovery Of tho pike, he made a thorough
search of every cock of hay on his property,
and was rewarded by the discovery OF score
Of pixies, q dozen blunderbusses and num-
Der of bags of powder and bullets. Leaving
them undisturbed. he began putting together
certain facts of which he had lately become
cognizant. That night he taxed his sons with
being members of the United Irishmen, but
made no other comment than to say he was
afraid 1t was going to be q very bad business.
would cause the removal from his premises Of
what he had that day discovered.
Ny maternal grandmother. then only o girl
was q native Of the Same town, and her father
and two brott ers stood high In the order Of
commissioned officer in the French army. and
had served with some distinction under Bona.
friends. His presence in Ireland. although not
positively known TO the English spies. was sus-
pected, and he, like many other French Off
cause with their military knowledge. ran the
greatest risk of being arrested and hanged; His
somewhat lively. One night he received infor-
nation that a search wes, going to be made for
him: md in less than an hour from the time Of
ron OF cavalry surrounded his fathers house
Six or seven. led by that ,coundrel; Major SIR.
scare cd the house from cellar to attic.
Satisfied that the officer had escaped: the
party acted toward the rest Of the family in the
Fudest and most brutal threatening his
riSd Off With them ali the provisions they could
father with them. but released him n few days
later almost starved to death. the result result 10, Of
as to where his was concealed.
the women one of the many Of those dissolute
women that followed tho English army in those
times She was very drunk. she could swear
like trooper. and she fiourished a loaded blum
key. She would allow no one to leave the
room and ana had every one srrorize Much to
without waking her., Old Betsey Egan a kind
Of eharwomaa or or hangero'n of the family
came forward and without word picked up
the fallen weapon. cooked it, placed the muzzlo
at the ear ofthe intruder. fireds and almost
placed in a washtub and carried across the
fields by Betsey and another woman, and
dumped into a convenient ditch.
The city OF Dublin afforded q much better
place of concealment for the actual leaders than
the t2
not the only rendezvous of the patriots in Dub
lin. and il would appear that but few meetings
cided on. Charles Lever in one of his works
mentions house at 9 Rcvin street and gives, no
%orSs of Se ed
places of the. order were continually changing
Several meetings. were held in the house Of one
distance from Dublin. This Havey was ,coun-
Try gentleman OF some means and OF good fam.
OF gray mare which was considered one Of
the fastest and most valuable animals In the the
United Kingdom. Lynx.eyod Major SIR be-
OF Havey in the United 1rishmen, but instead
OF placing him under arrest he systematically
dence OF disioyaIty, real and manufactured.
The rascal Kept the poor man In abject terror
d Sea h fqf 96a II
came eventually the property OF Major SIR.
Tho situation Of the Irish people at this time
treated like wild beasts rather than human
beings, the most savage passions were aroused.
No quarter was asked or given In the many
desperate conflicts that ensued. The women
as a rule found themselves much safer In tho
field with their fathers, brothers or sweethearts
than In their cabins, where they would be ex-
posed to all manner Of indignites ut tho hands
Of the marauders, both men and women, who
followed the British sodiery.
Late in the evening of the day OF the conflict
at Vinegar Hill. my grandmother answered a
loud knock at her door. On opening it she was
confronted by two troopers. One of them
dismounted and asked her for drink OF water
When she brought him n jug full he handed IL
to his companion, who drank eagerly; in fact.
ho drank all 1t contained. The jug was re-
plcnished, and the first conner drained tho ves-
sci. While he was drinking my grandmother,
who stood shaking with fear at the open door,
noticed that he was bleeding profusely from q
wound or wounds about the body. His coat and
uratcd with blood. His companion also appeared
TO be in great distress. Judging by the wnv he