The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-06-12

Who fears to speak of '9S? It is now
exactly Ill years ago since the British
government goaded the County Wex-
ford into a premature insurrection in
order to strike terror into the hearts
of the Irish people and destroy the
Irish parliament in Dublin. The gov
ernment quartered the soldiers in the
homes of the farmers, and the armed
mercenaries committed all kinds Of
depredations. Sir John Moore, the
hero of Corunna, was in command OF
the troops, but threw up his post be-
cause he could not maintain military
discipline. The Orange Yeomanry
Cavalry joined the soldiers in their
dastardly work, burned the houses Of
the peasantry and compelled them to
caves, with their women and children.
The people had been disarmed and could
offer but feeble resistance. Though
a man OF peace, Father John Murphy
2srnsesand- inflicted terrible cbastise-
ment on the British troops and their
Orange auxiliaries. The following
sketch Of the intrepid priest is given
in honor of his immortal memory III
the land OF his birth. The brutal
British soldiers and Orange militia
killed $4,000 men, women and children
during the Rebellion of 1898, but 10000
of the armed ruffians bit the dust and
went to their reward.
Father John Murphy, who after O
glorious stand in defense of the libcr-
ties of the people, was cruelty put
to death by the English, was born at
Tincurry, County Wexford, and having
been ordained at Seville, Spain, re-
turned to Ireland in 1885, and became
parish prizes tof Monageer and Boole-
vogue. HE was" says Miles O'Bryne,
in his memoirs, "a worthy, simple pious
the greatest exertion and exhorta tions
to oblige the people to surrender their
pixies and firearms of every descrip-
tion." AS soon as the cowardly yeo-
manry thought that all the arms were
given up, and that there was no fur
ther risk, they took courage and set
out on May 26, 1898, burning and de-
stroying all before them.
Father John, seeing his chapel and
his house and many others Of the
parish all on fire, and in several of
them the Inhabitants consumed in the
flames, and that no man could escape
the fury of the yeomanry, betook him
self to the woods, where he was soon
surrounded by his people who had es-
capped; all came beseeching their be-
loved pastor to tell them what was to
become of them and their poor FAM
had better die courageously and in the
field than be butchered in their houses
that, for his own part, if he had
any brave men to join him, he was
resolved to sell his life dearly and
prove to those cruel monsters that they
could not continue their murder and
devastation with impunity.
All answered and cried out that they
were determined to follow his advice
and do whatever he ordered. well,
them" he replied, I'VE must, when
night comes, get armed the best we
can with pitchforks and other weapons
and attack the Carnolen yeoman cav
airy on their way back to Earl Mount
morris where they will return to pass
the night, after satisfying their savage
rage on the defenseless country peo-
ple." Father Johns plan was soon put
into execution; he went to the high
road by which the corps was to re-
turn, left few men near a house, with
instructions to place two cars across
the road the moment the last Of the
cavalry had passed.. and at a short
distance from thence he made COM
plete barricade across the highway
and then placed those who followed