The Irish standard., 1900-08-18

etld as would cover large table. 4
pension O! f1oo year, the position
of tide waiter and free pardon,
with government protection. Refus-
ing the offer with contempt, he was
detained in prison until in March
OF 1899, when he was tried before
military tribunal in Lifford, under the
presidency Of an officer named Murray.
Sufficient evidence, however, not being
forthcoming to secure conviction, the
officer promised him his liberty and life
il he undertook to engage in single
combat with dragoon armed with a
long sword or lance, while he himself
should meet his antagonist with pike,
i'll the use of which, it is said, he was
very dextcrous. With characteristic
treachery on the part of the authorities,
the dragoon was given secret directions
to kill Manus, while the latter was re-
strlcted to mere measures Of self-de-
Tense.
Manus accepted the terms, and day
was fixed for the encounter in a field
adjacent to Strabane and Liiford, where
the Finn and Mourne unite their waters
with the Foylc. Thousands had assem-
bled to witness the contest, when the
gallant Donegal pikeman was led out TO
the center Of the field of combat, where
the dragoon with lance in rest pranced
dehantly to and fro. Now came the
struggle for life, liberty and country on
one hand, and tyranny, selishncss and
supercilious insolence on the other.
Manus with the first tilt OF his pike cut
the reins of the dragoons horse, rem
dering him unmanageablc, and on the
latter making towards him, Manus, by
the aid Of the ashen handle of the pike,
sprang aside, and, as the dragoon
passed, he rushed at him, caught
with the hook OF his weapon the collar
of the dragoon's jacket, speedily un-
horsing him and dragging him to the
ground, where he had him at his mercy,
but he did not kill or even njure him.
However, instead OF being awarded tile
liberty he had so dearly earned, he was
again taken before the president of the
court martial, who, in frenzy OF rage
and disappointed malice, declared that
if this man had 1000 men under him
like himself he would pull down the
British throne, at the same time order
ing him to be taken away, tied to a
triangle and punished With 500 lasllcs
In spite of the remonstrances of O'Don-
nell against this cruel and infamous
breach of faith, the order was about be-
ing carried out when Lord Cavan, COM
mandcr OF the forces-an honorable and
humane man-appeared on the scene,
and, on learning the circumstances, di-
rected Manus to be unbound and set at
liberty, which was shortly afterwards
done on his entering into formal recog>
nizance to keep the peace for seven
years. He was not again intcrfercd
with, but was allowed to live at peace
until his death, which took place on
Aug. S, 1874, at the age Of Sc years.
He was buried in Carton churchyard
A rude slab, on which are carved the
arms of The O'Donncll, marks the last
resting place Of this bravest among the
brave and heroic men of '98.
The facts of the above narrative the
writer had from the lips of the eldest
surviving son of the % hero, Manus
Oge O'Donnell, few months ago.
Further particulars he gives with re-
gard to his fathers Imprisonment; /;
among others, that when he was locked
up and chained, after refusing to betray
his comrades or the cause he had es-
poused, coffin was placed in his cell,
with the evident purpose Of unnerving
or intimidating him, and this, with a
number OF famished rats which ate the
thongs of his boots, was the only So
ciety he had during the dreary period
of his confinement. The answer which
he gave to his would-bc seducers, as re-.
peated to the writer by his son, deserve.
to be enshrined in the heart of every
true lover of Donegal and of Ireland. IL
am the father of an only child"-Ed-
ward, who died young-"and l would
not leave it in the power OF anyone TO
say to him when l am gone that he is a
traitors son. I have only TO die once,
and prefer death to disgrace and dis
honor" Manus Oge, or Young Manus,
is no longer young in ycars-he is now
84-.-living in the same place where his
father died, Goal, near Kilmacrennan,
splendid specimen OF Irish vigor and
vitality, confirming in the buoyancy Of
his spirit and the freshness OF his feel
ings, the truth of what the poet said
when he sings:
~ will go to holy ireland, the land of
saint and sage,
Where the soul of youth is leaping in
the frozen breast Of age"
the beau ideal in FORM every inch OF
him, OF an Irish chiefta;n, tall and Dig
niicd as becomes a man of his race,
yet rugged and hoary withal as the
submits of the mountains amongst
which he has passed his almost century
o; life. He has also a brother and sis
ter alive, and a nephew, Mr.. Manus