Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-07

1642 are relics as precious as the Decla-
ration Of Independence in Washington
The bastions have been turned unto III
tie gardens, and here and there among
the angles and shrubs ana mowers hdFe
been planted.
One of the guns. which bears the name
of Roaring Meg was presented 10 the
city of Londonderry by the fishmonsers
of London and is the most precious oo-
ject in the town because of its enectiVe
work in the siege of 1888. when hlns
James II with an Irish army besieged the
city for 105 days, but its determined de-
tenders succeeded in preventing his en-
trance They suffered famine and pestl-
lence and were reduced to the necessity
Of eating hides. tallow and the flesh OF
cats and dogs. During the siege oniy
eight of the defenders were Killed by the
enemy. but ten thousand persons per-
ished from hunger disease and exposure
in three and half months. When the
siege was lifted on the appearance OF a
squadron of ships laden with arms, am
munition and provisions King James ana
his army retired. 1t was one of the most
important episodes in the history of Ire
land.
Clerical Defender of the City.
You can still see here and there in Lon
donderry evidences of that terrible strug-
gle. The cathedral is decorated with
relics and trophies, including a bomb
shell which fell in the vestibule contain
ing the terms of capitulation offered by
King James. The laconic reply of the
Rev. George Walker. rector of the Epls-
copal church. who was IN command an oi
that Is no the motto upon the coat or
arms of Londonderry.
A statue of Mr. Walker, whose courage.
fortitude and apostolic influence saved
the CITY. was long ago erected from the
aston which bore the heaviest fire dur
ing the siege. His noble figure stands
upon the top of shaft ninety feet high.
in the attitude which he Is said to nave
assumed in the most terrible emergency
to revive and sustain the faltering cour-
age of his parishioners. In one hand ne
erasps a Bible; the other is pointing
down river toward the approaching
squadron of deliverance in the distant
bay.
At another point upon the walls Is
Gothic castellated structure erected by
public subscription as clubhouse LOT
the boys and young men OF nondonuerIS
1t is known as Apprentices Hail. IL was
erected as a memorial to the courage ana
foresight of group of thirteen young ap-
prentices who. during the excitement
caused by the approach OF the KING
army had the presence or mlnd 10 drop
the heavy gate without instruction from
their elders and thus made 1t possible
to defend the city against the assault.
The End of All Traitors.
Lieut.. Col Robert Lundy, who was In
command Of the garrison at the time was
coward or traitor. He insisted upon sur
rendering the city to the kings army, but
was prevented from doing so by the Rev
Walker. rector of the Episcopal Church,
and Adam Murray, an elder in the Pres
byterian Church. Lundy persisted in his
nurpose carried on secret negotiations
with the enemy and was preparing to
omen the gates when his intentions were
discovered He escaped in disguise by
climbing down the branches OF pear
tree. which grew against the wall on the
east side. An effigy of the traitor hangs
from a chain near Walkers monument.
bearing the inscription, THE End OF all
Traitors.
Twice year on the 18th of December
and the 18th of August. the dates of the
beginning and the end OF the seige, the
apprentice boys of the city lead a pro-
cession Of all the Protestant organizations
to attend divine service at the Episcopal
cathedral, and then pass the rest of the
day as we celebrate Fourth Of July. At
nightfall an effigy of Col Isundy is always
burned in a prominent place. These cele-
brations are deplored by thoughtful peo-
ple, as keeping alive religious animosi-
ties but OF recent years the COLLISIONS,
which used to occur between the Orange
societies and the Roman Catholics have
been avoided. The population of London
derry is very largely Protestant.
The cathedral is ugly old building,
Int quite interesting, because Of its his