The Irish standard., 1908-07-18
WHERE HEROES LIVED
Bits OF, History of Emmet, Burke
and Others.
Spots Made Famous by Men of
Erin Hold Interest.


about yesterday-Pilgrinaag to the
Homes and Haunts of Irish Patriots
went this morning to the home Of
Robert Emmet in Marchalsea Lane
rear the debtors prison. where he used
to meet his fellow conspirators while
organizing the insurrection of the
United Irishmen in 1903, writes Will
liam E. Curtis in his Dublin letter to
the Chicago Record Herald of July 13.
Emmett was a brilliant, eager boy,
only "a, and had been expelled from
the University of Dublin for sympathy
with the revolution of 1898. He went
to Paris, remained there for a while
until things had quieted down, and
then returned to Dublin, where he con-
ceived a rash project to seize the cas-
tie and the fort. The authorities were
taken entirely by surprise, but the
country contingent which had been
promised to support him failed to ar
rive, and Emmet with less than hun
dred men, armed with pikes-simply
spearheads mounted on the ends Of
poles-marched against the castle and,
of course, were Immediately overcome.
Many of his followers. who fed to their
homes, were killed at their own doors,
and Emmet became fugitive.
Robert Emmett was born in Dublin
in 177s and was a playmate and school
fellow of Thomas Moore, the poet. His
brother, Thomas Adds Emmett. born in
1864. was involved in the revolution of
1898, and fed to America, where he
became eminent at the bar Of New
York, serving at one time as attorney
general of that state. He left several
sons and grandsons.
When Robert Enmet escaped, after
the failure of his foolish attack upon
the castle, he took refuge among his
friends in the Wicklow Hills, south Of
Dublin, to await an opportunity to
cross over to France. Against their
protests he went at night to say good
by to his sweetheart. Sarah Curran,
daughter 'of the famous advocate, was
arrested and tried for high treason. He
conducted his own defense with ex
tiaordinary ability. His closing speech
stands as one of the greatest examples
He was condemned to death and hang
ed outside of st. GATHERINGS Church,
upon the spot where Lord kilwarden,
an eminent judge of the highest integ
rity, was killed by some OF Emmet's
men while returning with his nephew
and daughter from visit to the corn,-
try.
Emmet, in his farewell speech, asked
that his epitaph should not be written
until Ireland was free. and that un-
doubtedly suggested the popular belief
that his burial place is known and will
tie disclosed in due time.
Sarah Curran died soon after in Sic
lily of a broken heart. and Tom Moore.
one Of Emmets most beloved friends
and also devoted to Miss Curran, en-
shrined the pathetic story in touch
ing ballad:
She is far from the land where her
young hero sleeps,
And lovers around her are signing:
But coldly she turns from their gaze
and weeps,
She sings the wild songs Of her dear
~. native plains,
Every note which he loved awaking;
All! little they think. who delight in
her strains,
How the heart Of the minstrel is
5s breaking.
Near by the place where Emmet and
his fellow conspirators planned the
reNolution of 1908, is No. ISL Thomas
street, the house in which Lord Ed
ward Fitzgerald leader of the insur-
rection Of 1898. was captured after a
desperate struggle, and 1t is a curious
coincidence that he and Emmet should
both have been arrested by the same
man, a certain Major SIR. in command
of a regiment at the Castle Lord Ed
wards refuge was the house of tailor
who sympathized with the insurrection
las almost every other artisan in Ire
land did-and sheltered him for sever
al days before the arrest. The house
is marked with tablet and an appro-
pirate inscription. Lord Edward was
wounded in the shoulder by Major SIR
and carried away to prison. where he
died before he could be brought into
court.
q The Corn Market of Dublin is lust
beyond the house and the name of the
thoroughfare is there changed to Thom-
as street. which is customary in Dub