The Irish standard., 1905-11-18

referred him to his second, Major Mac
Namara. Stanley expressed hope that
the affair might be amicably settled by
an apology or an explanation from
O'Connell, but MacNamara declared
1 that course was out of the question.
Stanley thereupon delivered challenge
from Mr.. D'Esterre to MIR. O'Connell
! All that remained now was to arrange
\ time and place of the duel, and that lay
1 with MacNamara, as the second of the
person challenged. Let us, in Gods
| name, have it over as soon as possible u
said he. I'VE will meet at Bishops
Court, in the County of Kildare, at 8
O'clock this afternoon" Stanley was
disconnected and pleaded for stay.
But Mcnamara, fearing an interrupt
| ton by the authorities, refused to en-
terrain his counter proposals, agreeing
| only to a postponement of one-half-
| hour. He suggested, however, that as
the principals had no personal quarrel,
or any feeling Of private animosity,
| their honor would be sufficiently up
held by discharging only one pistol
each. mo. sir!" replied Stanley, glad
Of the opportunity of staggering a
little. THAT will not do. If they fired
| five-and-twenty shots each, Mr.. D'Es-
terre will never leave the ground until
Mr. O'Connell makes an apology"
We'll, them" responded Major Mac
Namara, also warming up, IF blood be
your object, blood you shall have, by"
The matter had become noised about,
and in the afternoon a considerable
number of spectators had gathered at
Bishops Court, twelve or thirteen miles
from Dublin. D'Esterre was half an
hour late, and O'Connell walked up and
down alone at the end of the field, near
the road WALL closely wrapped in his
great cloak, and engaged in prayer to
st. Brigid of Kildare whose feast-day it
was, and on whose territory the meet
ing was taking place.
THE ordeal was all the more trying to
vout Catholic, for he knew that by de-
cree of the Council of Trent those who
take part in duel are communicated
Therefore, none Of the clergy of Dublin
could accompany him to administer the
last rites of the Church; but in cabin
hard by there was suspended priest
named Father O'Mullane, prepared to
give him absolution in articuo morris
should he be fatally wounded"
At length, forty minutes past four
O'Clock, everything was ready. While
O'Connell was Testing with his friends,
D'Esterre declared that, whatever might
be the result of this unpleasant BUSH
ness, it did not originate, on his part, in
any religious animosity or party feeling.
From the bottom of my heart" he
cried, Il can say-and I appeal to God
to witness the truth of my words-I
harbor no ill-feelings against my Cath
Ollie fellow countryman."
The complaints, with a pistol in each
hand. faced each other, ten PAGES apart
At thu. fall of the handkerchief the men
(who were both excellent shots) stood
with weapons down for few seconds
kesnly watching each other. Then DIES
terre, maneuvering apparently to con-
fuse O'Connell and make him fire at
random, moved a pace to the left, took
a step forward, and raised his pistol
as If to shoot. Both O'Connell, who
stood still, on the alert, anticipated him.
Quick as lightning he lifted his weapon,
aimed low, and fired, AT the same mo-
ment the pistol of D'Esterre exploded,
the bullet striking the ground at O'Con-
nells feet. Then D'Esterre staggered,
swayed from side to side, and fell heav-
lily forward. At the top of the field
arose the wild, exulting shouts of the
peasants. Down with D'Esterre, O'Con-
nell forever!" they savagely cried.
The surgeons fastened to the aid Of
the fallen man. He was bleeding pro-
fusely, but no one suspected that he had
received his death wound.
The participants in the duel and their
friends returned to Dublin, and while
D'Esterre was slowly bleeding to death,
O'Connell sent his brother James to
DR.. Murray. the Coadjutor Archbishop
to say how deeply he deplored the duel,
but that it was impossible for him to
have avoided it. But the Archb shop
had no fault to find with O'Connell.
Heaven be praised! ireland is safe!"
he exclaimed fervently, on hearing the
issue. In gratitude to the Saint whose
intercesson he had implored-and, he
believed, obtained-O'Connell gave his
eldest daughter Ellen the second name
of Brigid.
The popular excitement in Dublin was
tremendous. Bonfires blazed till mid
night in the streets, which swarmed
with crowds shouting joyously for the
victory of their leader. Next day seven
hundred gentlemen left their cards with
their congratulations at O'Connelrs res
idence.