The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-02
Scion of Historic Irish Family
Dies in New York
Hotel.
DY LA MAHQUIsE DE EONTENoY.
" lECTENANT- COLONEL FER d.
1 NAND T., DE COUltCY, who died

,, private in 1851. artvr. having come
from Erin AZ 8. mere boy. and was
Try of the historic irish family OF DC
Courcy, The present head OF which 4.
me thirty third Lord Kinesalo, Baron
1ourcy of Conrcy. and Baron OF Ring
rome. in Ireland. the three peerages
uatlng from the beginning OF the
twelfth century. when they were be-
slowed by Henry Ill, being subse.
Huently confirmed by patent, in 1897.
Evon still more ancient than In,
hinE5alc pecrages is the rara honor
conferred upon the DC Courcy family
as isha a nereailary prerogative by King
'ohn' OF remaining covered IN the
presence of the sovereign. This right.
winch the late Colonel de Courcy II
| ?. a, also enjoyed, was conferred un-
stances: The Sir John dc Courcy OF
that day. who seems to have been n
SORT of Hercules. had, IN spite of his
services in conquering Ulster for
Johns father. Henry IL, been impris
oned in the Tower of London, and his
| estates coniiscated. the victim of some
isnoble intrigue ut court
John de Courcy had been languisl-
Ing iii the Tower dungeons for some
Time when King Philip Augustus OF
FRANCE made a sort OF sporting offer
10 kinG John, 10, settle the dispute
which had arisen between the two,
concerning ure dukcdom Oh Normandy,
By single combat. each monarch ,o
provide his own champion. King John
was SO unpopular that he could find
no British nobleman willing to act as
MS champion until he bethought him
self of Sir John de Courcy who was
prevailed upon 10 undertake the task.
1t is related that when everything
was prepared for the contest in tn.
presence OF the Kings of England,
france and Spain. tho French cham
! pion. on catching sight of the colossal
proportions OF his English or rather
| Irish adversary, was seized with panic,
rut spurs TO his horse and He'd from
the arena, whercupon the victory was
| adjudged by acclamation to the cham
pion OF England.
Tho French and Spanish mouarchs,
! being informed OF the great strength
of the English champion and desiring
10 witness some exhibitions OF Il. DO
courcy. at King Johns request, cleft
Il massive steel helmet, "full faced
| With mall" in twain. with a single
! bluw of his sword, which cut so deep
! ~ into the block OF wood on which
| the helmet had been set that nobody
present but himself could draw the
weapon out again. The sword with
| which this blow was struck, well
as Sir John dc Courcys armor, 70 on ex-
| hibition to this day in the Towec of
London.
| King John was so delighted VITA
| his performance that he not only re
! stored him to his nonors and estates.
but likewise told him to ask anything
within his gift, and 1t should p.,
! granted. 10 winch DE Courcy replied
1 l.at he desired that he himself anu
inc members of his house might have
! the hereditary privilege OF remain nls
/ covered III the presence OF their SOY
creign--once their first obeisance hnv-
! ing Uecn made. THIS request WAS inn
| mediately granted by King John, Who
also cnaeavo-ed. BY every means II
| his power, to render II binding upon
| his successors 10 the throne.
Americus twenty-third Lord King
sale, in 1892. in observance OF the an
Gent privilege OF his house OF De
| w illiam H. covered, and when that
| monarch expressed surprise at this
apparent dlscuurtesy, explained. SIR,
my mamie Is DE Courcy, l am Lord OF
! I>Ingsdle. in Your Majcsty's Kingdom
! OF Ireland, and the reason tor my ap.
pearing covered in your royal pres
encc is TO assert the ancient privilege
| Of my family, granted 10 Sir John dc
10 the members OF his house, by King
John" William exclaimed. II admit
your right" and extended very graci-
ously his hand, which Lord Kingsale.
dofing his hat, kissed. and then re-
covered his head.
In the enrly part OF the nineteenth
| century 4 number OF the De Courcys
made their home in ireland, especially
/ the kinslolk particularly near ANA
| dear TO the twcnty-lifth and the TWEEN
| tysiXth Lords kingsale, who hour
ishcd In Kerry. But the present Lord
| kingsale has no longer any territorial
associations with the Emerald Isle
! lie is in rather atraitemed circum-
| stances. Indeed, his entire income is
| derived from his managing director
snip OF the Moran Tea Company, N
| Ireland while his only brother, the
| Hon. Robert de Courcy. was, until he
recently inherited an annuity OF S5.-
| 600 a year. one of the saloon stewards
| OF the Pcninsular and Oriental steam
ships running between England and
Australia. experimenting his stipend
as wielder of the. napkin by acting
| as cornct!st 10 the SHIPS band. his
bugle calls being also used to summon
| the passengers TO their various meals
| LoId k!ngsale's and heir is cap
| tain OF one OF the crack regiments
OF the Indian army, that IL TO say.
| the famous Thirty third sikh Pio-
neers, served with distinction as II mem
Der of the Thibet expedition. married
! out in india the very pretty uaugh-
| ter of a fellow officer, with not much
more money than himself. and makes
his home at Lahore. in the Puniab.
| where he Is raising Two boys, rejoic-
ing in the typical Irish names of
| Mike and Pat.
Dispatches from Paris and from