The Irish standard., 1911-01-21
|R|SHMEN PROMINENT
IN MANY LANDS
All the Countries of Europe Boast
Of Fitzgeralds, O'Briens
and O'Connors.
Russia Recently Unveiled a Monu-
ment in Honor of Cor
nelius O'Rurke.

lies VINO formerly sought freedom OF
worship far from their own sad isle,
writes Ben Hurst in America"
France, Spain, Italy, Austria well
coined the O'Briens, O'Connors, o.
keefes, Taaffes, MacMahons, or Fitz-
Geralds. But the Irish pushed still
further afield, and We find many citi-
zens of Irish descent in Russia.
The name of O'Rourke has been re.
Gently much in evidence in the Slav
press on the occasion of the centen-
ary of the battle of Varvarin. In this
and many other engagements an
O'Rourke led the Russian and Serb
battalions to victory, and monument
,c him has just been erected on the
plain where the Turks were routed IN
1910.
which the numerically inferior Chris
tian forces defeated the Moslems,
none has been more glorious than that
of Varvarin.
Therefore there is none in which
the younger Serb generation takes
more pride; and the commemorations
Russia was officially represented and
the family Of the heroic Count Joseph
Cornelius O'Rourke were specially in
vited by the Serb government to at
tend.
Count Nicholas O'Rourke, grandson
Of the famous general, although over
is years of age, responded to the in
vitation aud Travelled from his estate
in the center of Russia to witness the
unwilling of the monument dedicated
to his brave ancestor. In the presence
Of church and state dignitaries Il ssol-
emn requiem mass was said for the
souls OF those who had fallen in bat
tie, and an immense concourse then
defiled before the stone on which the
names Of the most distinguished com
batants are engraved. That of
O'Rourke is first on the list of honor.
o., The family of ORourke had left
ireland after the battle of the Boyne
and settled in France. In the reign
cf the Russian Empress elizabeth a
branch emigrated to the Baltic prov
inces and became definitely acclimat-
lied
The future champion of the op-
pressed Christian races was born in
Dorpat in 1772, and received in bap.
usm the Enthusiastically Irish names
Joseph Cornelius. He was early des.
tined to the career of arms, for in
accordance with prevailing custom for
sons of the nobility he was while yet
all infant inscribed in the ranks OF
the Imperial Guard.
That he took kindly to his calling is
evident from his participation in all
Russias wars of that time. AS
young lieutenant he was appointed ia
the French Emigrant Corps and fought
with them at Zurich against the Re.
publican government.
He returned to Russia as colonel
and then took command under the
famous General kutussoff. In the
campaign of 1906 he was decorated
for signal bravery with the Order of
st. George.
In the terrible battle OF Eylau,
O'Rourke again distinguished himself
and at the proclamation of peace was
entrusted with the formation of the
uhlan Regiment "Vollinsky." This
was the regiment he led against the
Turks at Varvarin. He had equipped
it at his own expense and marched
with it to the Balkan Peninsula as
part of the Moldavian contingent told
off to assist the Christian races strug.
Cling for freedom.
O'Rourke assisted in the deliverance
of Prahovo, and took part in the stiff
combat of Bella Palanka. He next
drove the enemy from Soko Gania and
defeated them in the pitched battle
of Jassika. An imperial rescript was
forwarded to him on this occasion to
express appreciation Of his valor.
But it was at Varvarin that Count
Joseph won his brightest laurels to.
gether with the priced Decoration Of
Saint Anne. In the face of great odds
he decided to hold his ground and
threw up trenches to shelter his men
and cannon.
Under his inspiriting command
Serbs and Russians repulsed during
four days repeated furious onslaughts
of the Turks, treble their number. In
a final desperate encounter O'Rourke
not only beat back the attacking force.
but chased them over the Morava riv.
ser into the wilds of Albania.
III He now took the offensive and start
ed to storm Gurgussovats (the present