The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-04-06
A FAMOUS FRESHMAN Is DEAD.


90, announced the death in that city
of James Stephens. the head center
of the Frnan organization which
caused England SO much alarm in the
COS For the past twenty years lm
resided in the capital Of Ireland and
took no part in political agitation of
the constitutional kind. He was &c
years old when lie passed away, and
thNt he was highly esteemed M hrs
countrymrn was evidenced in the size
of his funeral to Glasnevin cemetery,
where his remains were inferred last
Sunday. Michael Davitt acted as II
pallbearcr. and the hearsc was drawn
by six horses with an Irish flag float
ing over it. The casliet was covered
with wreaths from political societies,
but there We're no speeches or demon
STATIONS.
For the information of those whom
it may interest we will give a brief
sketch of the dead rcvOlutionist. He
was a native of Kilkenny, a civil on
gineer by profession, and a man of
university education. In 1913 he join
cd the Young Ireland party and was
with William Smith O'Brien when
that intrepid patriot rose in open re-
volt against England. In the first on
counter with policemen at Bellingarry
young Stephens was severely wounded
but escaped capture and went to
France. There he remained until 1859,
when he returned to Ireland and Or
ganized the Phoenix society This was
suppressed by the government.
1t was followed by the Fenian Or
SaniZation, which became formidable
to the British authorities under the
leadership of Stephens. A paper called
the "Irish People" was started in Dub
lin in the early COS by O'Donovan
Rosa, calling upon the oppressed to
throw off the British yoke. In 1860
Stephens, Rosa, DR.. O'Lcary, Charles
J. Kickham, Thomas G. Luby and
others were arrested and cast into
prison. They were tried before Judge
Keogh and a. packed Dublin jury and
sentenced to penal servitude. In open
court Stephens repudlated English law
and Jurisdiction and defied the govern
ment to inflict punishment upon him.
He was consigned to Kilmainham
Jail, from which he soon escaped with
the help Of John Dewey and others.
Two warders Of the prison opened his
cell door, led him to the wall. and as
sisted him to Its top. His friends on
the outside assisted him to the ground
and brought him to place of conceal
ment He remained in hiding for some
months, finally went to Paris. and
thence to the United States.
in Boston he delivered u speech in
1866, saying 100000 men were armed
and equipped and ready to take the
field in Ireland. That statement caused
several brave and enthusiastic Irish
Americans to so to Ireland. Among
those who went We're Colonel Thomas
+. Burke, Colonel John McAfferty,
Colonel John Warren, Captain O'Mea-
CHER Condor, Captain John Mcclure,
Captain William Mackay and others.
They We're all arrested, tried and i'm
prisoned, but finally released and came
back wiser men. In court they deliv-
cred eloquent addresses, declared they
owed no allegiance to England, and
were citizens of the United States.
The rising in Kerry in 1867 was Il
fiasco. Peter O'Neill Crowley lost his
life in the premature Instruction, and
some Of his brave companions got cap
tured and suffered for their impetuous
patriotism in British bastiles. A d.
vision occurred in the Fenian organiza-
ton in this country and Stephens fell
into disrepute. He afterwards left for
France. and in 1880 Parnell secured
his pardon and obtained permission for
him to return to Dublin. He was en-
Enthusiastically received by the Irish peo-
pie, who purchased a cottage for him
and granted him an annuity for life.
Stephens was certainly a great or
ganizer,- but possessed no military