The Irish standard., 1900-10-06

ton. But the author, whose modest,
prevents his signing the document ant
thereby winning the laurels of ever
lasting fame, made one mistake tina
discredits his production Mt the Start
The mythical great-uncle is repre-
sented as roped by Captain Hanna
who was fighting for the British, anC
led forth to his death. Who, it /:
asked. is going to believe any sucf
yarn? Is it among the outside posi-
bilities that Hanna and a McKinley
could be anything but bosom mates;
Not III thousand years-and this sto
ny is only of date 1898, trifie more
than century ago.
According to this Repub'i lean ta'e
OF Mckinley, gore and shamrock
Great-6ncle Francis Mckinley started
life as Il Omitted Irishman" in a lite
peat-covered shack at Conagher ,ar
Dervock. County Antrim. 1t was not
much Of shack. FraEcis was n close
friend of Henry Joy McCraken, the
gallant leader of the united men of
the north" and to this fact 8 smeoue
put Captain Hanna next.
1.-The morn was bright" goes on thp
historian, reckless of the we,l-known
fact that it rains eight days a week
in County Antrim. land the hens were
scratching merrily in the flower beds,
when up rode fierce Captain Hanna.
The officer carried round his saddle
pommel Il coil of rope and Mr.. Nc
kinley, who was smoking cheroot
while he chopped up some peat for his
wife's Kitchen fire, wondered whether
the captain had come to lasso the
chickens.
Imagine his surprise and indigna-
tion when the officer, with npatness
and dispatch that would have double
discounted Rough Rider Rooseve.ts
best efforts, threw the rope around
great-uncle's own and private neck,
where it was frightened until the vic.
tim was obliged to let go his che.oot
or be choked to death.
Somewhere in his clothes Mr.. Han.
ma had concealed n bayonet, sre; ial v
sharpened for this festive occasion
This was thrust into the indignant Nc
kinley, great-uncle, until he expressed
Willingness to let his little boy chop
up the remainder of the peat. Then
he was told to trudge. Off he wus
marched to the market place at Col T..
aine, where he was tried by drum
head court-martial and condemned to
die.
Has anyone n handkerc hief?
asked Captain Hanna, looking around
ut his men, wlD had great reputa-
ton as foragers. A corporal sad he
had one In his tent, but fastened t.
add that he had brought it from home
wher-he enlisted three years ago He
was told to deliver the goods. With
this piece of linen the prisoners eyes
were bandaged and he was stood up
opposite the firing squad. But he
wanted to see the faces of the men
III the bob-tailed red coats who Were
about to fill him full of holes, SO he
snatched off the handkerchief, rolled
| 1t up In ball and threw it Mt them
crying out, That for you, Tommy At,
kins.'
Silence, Me- shouted the captain
red-faced Mt the irritation at the pri.
soner's effrontery. But. the presidents
great-uncle kept his nerve.
'Hurrah for Mckinley he shout.
ed, waving, his right arm as If he car.
ried campaign torchlight. Pm not
afraid of such chuckle- heads. Long
after you are dead and I am slain one
of the Mckinley blood will occupy the
presidential chair in America. Let her
co. ....
1.-THE rifles parked and all was over
with the great-uncle."