The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1900-06-09

prise that O'Connell W.. at D'Es-
terre intended to caSoc:ues sor
meeting. D'Esterre's s.'etr
Edward Stanley, also mel. als<
corporation. He called at O'Co.. %
house and requested an apolog,
OConnell referred Stanley to his
friend, Major MacNamara. Stanley had
an interview with MacNamara, in
which he expressed hope that an apol-
ogy or explanation would be given by
O'Connell. The major, himself re-
nowned duelist, politely explained that
such a course was out of the question.
In that case" replied Stanley, "I de-
liver you message from Mr.. DIES
terre to Mr.. O'Connell."
The duel took place on the afternoon
of Jan. 81, 1875, at Bishops Court,
county Kildare. D'Esterre was ac-
companied by Stanley, by his surgeon
and by two friends. O'Connell was
accompanied by Major MacNamara and
a large number of friends. Although
there had been no personal ennlity be-
tween the combatants and no cause of
quarrel whatsoever before the time
when O'Connell's allusion to the cor
poration of Dublin had come to DIES
terre's knowledge, and although no
great revenge had stirred up in either
breast the man Staying instinct of a
savage, yet never did man meet man
face to face with sterner resolve to fight
to the end battle of life and death.
The hearts of the onlookers seemed
to stand still as the word "Firep was
given and as the pistols were being lev
eled. Then the hush OF the fearful sus-
pense was broken by the crash of the
firearms, which sounded almost stimuli
taneously. For moment it seemed as
though neither had been wounded, and
then D'Esterre wheeled round with his
back to O'Connell, staggered and fell
heavily forward. The doctors found he
had been wounded in the hip and was
bleeding profusely, but no one knew
that it was his death wound. On the
contrary, Major MacNamara shook Sir
Edward Stanley by the hand, warmly
congratulating him that the duel had
ended without loss of-life. The wound
ed man was lifted into his carriage,
while O'Connell and his friends set off
for Dublin. AS they were leaving
troop of cavalry came laundering into
Bishops Court, sent from Dublin, it is
said, to protect D'Esterre and his
friends from an infuriated populace in
case O'Connell should have fallen.
The death of D'Esterre, which oc-
Cured on the second day after the duel,
was rendered doubly tragic by the en-
barrassed state of his pecuniary circum-
stances. A sheriff's seizure of his eff
fects was made almost Immediately after
his death, and his body was buried that
night. The funeral took place, we are
told, by candlelight, and its secrecy was
adversely commented upon by the news
papers of the day, which charged the
government with first encouraging
D'Esterre and afterward abandoning
him in the hour of adversely. The dy-
ing man made a declaration that
O'Connell was innocent of having
caused his death, saying that he himself
had 0rovoLed tho d,,a1
Apprehensive of prosecution,
O'Connell retained very able criminal
lawyer, Mr. Richard Pennyfather CATER
ward Baron Pennyfather) for his de-
fense, but the social etiquette of the
time rendered this precaution quite TN
necessary, for on the day after DIES
terre's death he received the following
letter:
"Sir-Lest your professional avoca-
tions should be interrupted by an ap-
prehension of any proceeding being in
contemplation in consequence Of the
late melancholy event, I have the honor
to inform you that there is not the most
distant intention of any prosecution
whatever on the part of the family or
friends of the late Mr.. D'Esterre.
have the honor, etc.,
"EDWARD STANLEY"
In O'Connell's reply he thus expressed
his sentiments:
Believe me, my regret at that event
is most sincere and unaffected, and, if
know my own heart, can truly assert
that no person can feel for the loss So
cicty has sustained in the death of Mr.
D'Esterre with more deep and lasting
sorrow than do. Allow me again to
thank you, sir, for the courtesy Of your
letter, courtesy quite consistent with
the gentlemanly delneanor of your en-
tire conduct in this melancholy transac-
ton"
O'Connell never fought another duel,
he came lamentably near do
ing so with Peel, and gave Disraeli,
many years afterward, just cause for
him.
In a letter from Cape Town to Col.
John F. Finerty, Mr.. John Hanigan, of
the Chicago ambulance corps, says that
"our Consult General Stowe is more
r. IL