The San Francisco call., 1909-07-27
By HUGH SUTHERLAND
Seventh Letter.

land, july = lSoS.-l am going TO
- describe an Irish eviction. It
took place the day after I landed
in the country to report upon the won
derful progress made during the last
seven years in reforming the atrocious
land laws.
The scene shall describe is quite
out Of harmony with the purposes of
tbs tour. Seven years ago I suf-
fciently exploded the evils and cruel
ties Of the system, and its purpose now
is to show Americans how great a
change for the better has been
wrought But this eviction. rather
shocking greeting TO an optimistic in
quirer, demands q place in the story
for the very reason that it is shocking.
I do not think there have been half
dozen forcible evictions in ireland
since / was here in 1902. When one
recalls the wholesale evictions of so
years ago and Of the days of the saw
age land war when families literally
Ry thousands were dragged out OF their
cottage homes and fung into the
bitches to starve, one realizes that this
exceptional affair of the other day is
a sign Of hope. for its general con-
demnation is testimony that the bar
barous custom is extinguished forever.
In the present instance I shall not
enter into the merits of the case which
furnishes the unusual example In
deed. from inquiries made 1 judge that
il would be a nice decision which
should say whether justice was with
the landlord or the tenant
Resisted the Sheriff
The scene was the farmhouse Of
Richard J. Walsh. near Kilmurry, a
short distance from Castle island, in
the county of Kerry. AS it lies only a
couple Of hours drive from Killarney,
quite number of spectators were
from the shores of the beautiful lakes.
Walsh and his landlord, a Dublin man,
have been at odds for many months
settlement being found impossible.
there was an attempt at eviction a few
weeks ago. But when the sheriff and
his bailifs arrived to serve their writ
they found the place fortified, and their
summons was greeted with scorn. This
having been reported, and renewed ne
gotiations having proved useless, the
might Of the British government was
invoked.
The American, WITH his quick resent
ment of anything approaching militar-
the subjection of this farmhouse, in
habited by one farmer and his bedrid-
den mother. SO years old. called for not
only the local members of the Royal
Irish constabulary. but drafts from
Kerry, Limerick and Dublin 4 whole
company of these armed military po-
lice, with their officers. was brought
from the capital. 200 miles away.
It may be remarked that the defend
ers were determined to make the trip
worth while. Fourteen neighbors of
Walsh volunteered to garrison the
house, and the defense they put up
was regarded by connoisseurs in evic-
tions as one of the ablest and most
stubborn on record Barring the fact
that firearms were not Gsed on either
side. the contest was as serious and as
brutal as any incident of war.
Parliament Member Present
The constabulary, drafted into
Castle island Monday. were under COM
mand of Assistant Inspector General
Bali Of Dublin, one Of the ablest, and
most fearless Of the officers. He moved
his forces like an alert military COM
nander. At o'clock Tuesday morn
ing, in a driving rain, the sheriff, the
bailiffs and their armed escort of ESQ
constabIes marched out of Castle island
and along the winding road TO Fort
Walsh Civilians interested in the row
preceded and followed the military.
some on foot and some in Jaunting cars.
on one Of the vehicles that sped along
the wet lanes was Joseph Murphy, NJ.
p, who had hastened over from Lon
don in the night to witness the diff
culties of one OF his constituents.
II was hardly daylight, owing to the
low hanging clouds, when the attack
ing force approached the condemned
farmhouse. But early as it was the
defenders were astir. and knots of
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