Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1913-06-12
DID WILLIAM OF
ORANGE, ORDER MAS
SACRE OF 81 ENCOE?

r
massacre Of Glencoe. one of the most
outrageous crimes In the annals OF
English history? When William and
Mary Jointly had the crown OF Eng
land conferred upon them, they were
opposed by James III who proceeded to
Ireland, where the people were favor
able to him, and having collected q
large army he met and was completely
defeated by William in his famous bat
tie Of the Boyne. The next year, Ire
land was entirely subdued, and the
Scottish Higfilanders, who had taken
up arms In favor Of James. were in
duced to submit to the government, but
in their paciacation occurred the mas
sacree of Glencoe
History tells us that Nolan of
Glencoe, chief OF the McDonalds, had
delayed taking the oath of allegiance
to the king, and the enemies OF the
clan, taking advantage of this circum-
stance, obtained an order for its mill
tary execution. Accordingly body Of
soldiers entered the valley Of Glencoe,
and cruelty put to the sword all who
failed to escape, including men, women
and children The signing of this or
der has subjected King William to se-
we're criticism
Is William to be censured for having
done SO? No apologist-and there have
been many OF them-has ever been able
to defend from execration of history or
fendish atrocity this massacre upon
the poor defenseless and unsuspecting
inhabitants of the valley Of Glencoe in
the month Of February, 1892.
Macaulay and other historians have
tried to excuse William for having CIV
en- the order, but no amount of sophis-
try can palliate the crime Of ordering
such deliberately treacherous act OF
wholesale massacre after his public
proclamation of peace, and why he did
so historians are not able to explain.
In this massacre the Scottish Chief
tain Mcdonald and all his clan, num-
bering several hundred, were butchered
In cold blood, after they had accepted
of Pardon, and had come in to the
magistrates and taken the oath Of al
legiance.
The Scots. who had fought for their
rightful king against the usurper, Will
liam OF Orange, had been defeated and
routed. In August. 1851. proclama-
ton was issued by William, offering
indemnity to those who should come
in and take the oath before the first Of
the year. The clan Of Mcdonald Of
Glencoe was prevented from doing SO
by accident and severe weather from
reaching the garrison Of Inverary in
time. Having certified to the cause OF
the delay. however, the oath was for
mally certified by the sheriff
Notwithstanding this, advantage was
taken OF the fact that the appointed
time had elapsed before the submission
was made, and warrant was issued,
signed by Williams own hand, ordering
the militia of Glen Campbell to repair
to Glencoe on February l. Campbell
being uncle to young McDonald's wife.
the soldiers were received with all
manner Of friendship and hospitality.
For some days the troops lived in the
utmost harmony, and on the very night
of the massacre the officers passed the
evening at cards in McDonalds house.
In the night lieutenant, with par
ty of soldiers, called in a friendly man
ner at his door and was admitted Nc
Donald, while in the act of rising, to re-
ceive his guests, was shot dead through
the back with two bullets His wife
had already dressed, but she was UNI
clothed by the soldiers, who tore the
rings off her fingers with their teeth
The slaughter now became general. and
neither age nor 1nfirnlity was spared.
In one place nine persons, as they sat
at table, were butchered by the sold
iers.
More than 100 persons were massa-
cred and several who ded to the noun
tains persisted by famine and the in
clemency Of the season. The slaughter
would have been greater had not the
people fled to places OF shelter outside
the confines of their territory. The fol-
lowing day the officer who was to
guard the passes from Glencoe, 50 that
none would escape. but, on account OF
the weather could not fulfill the order.
was 80 chagrined that he laid the hous-
es In ashes and carried away the
cattle and other spoil, which were d.
vtded among the butchers. Could VIII
liam have imagined such narrowing
result when he AFFIXED his signature.
or were his orders misunderstood /? This
massacre has remained q blot on his
name ever since, growing more ana
moEe as the enormity Of such massa-
creris contemplated.