The Irish standard., 1914-09-12
Robert Emmett

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In all Irish history there is no
name which touches the Irish heart
like that of Robert Emmett. In the
Of Robert Emmet there
was such a rare combination Of thu
admirable qualities that the man
stands before our mental vision as q
peculiarly noble and lovable being,
with claims upon our sympathies that
are absolutely without q parallel.
This hero was born on the 4th
day Of March. 1878. He was the
third son Of DR.. Robert Emmett, q
well-known and highly respected
physician Of Dublin. Just about the
period when the United Irishmeu
were forming themselves into q
secret revolutionary society. young
Emmett was sent to receive his edu.
cation in Trinity college. There the
young fellow distinguished himself
by his literary abilities. but his polit'
ical opinions were soon detected.
and he was exiled in 1898. Knowing
that he was an object Of suspicion to
the Government, he then took his
Departure for the Continent.
He there met a number of refugees.
and in 1902 was joined by his broth
er, and others of the political prison
ers who had been confined in Fort
George in Scotland. and who had
been released.
At home the condition of affairs
was not such as to discourage them.
The people had not lost heart; the
fighting spirit was still ripe amongst
them. Robert obtained an interview
with Napoleon and learned from him
his intention to invade England. He
returned to Duglin in October, 1882,
full of high hopes. AS he was now
preparing for another instruction,
he did his best to avoid being dis
covered. He passed under feigned
names, and moved about as little as
possible. He gathered together the
remnants of the United Irish organi-
cation, and with money of his own,
$4,000 which was left him by his
father, who had died at this time,
commenced the collection of arma-
ment and military stores for his fol-
lowers. In May, 1903, the expected
War Broke Out
between England and France. This
event raised his hopes still higher.
He now made up his mind to seize
Dublin castle. AS he and his fol-
lowers were storing ammunition in
Patrick street on the 18th of July,
an accidental explosion took
place, which almost led to the discov-
cry of the whole plot. Emmett now
took up his abode in the Marshalsea
lane depot, snatching his few hours
of sleep ION mattress, surrounded
by all the implements of death. y
There he made final arrangement
of his plans, and fixed the 23rd OF
July as the date of the rising. On
that date all the men did not assemb.
lie at the appointed time or in the ap.
pointed place. owing to some mis-.
take or other, and the whole force
that turned out in Thomas street fol
the attack on the castle did not
number a hundred insurgents. They
were Joined by a terrible crowd thai
committed
Terrible Outrages
against the will of their noDle-mind
ed leader. No attack on the castle
took place; and the party scattered
before the military appeared, In
little more than an hour from the
time of his setting out on his desp
crate enterprise Robert Emmett wa:
a defeated and ruined man. He fec
to the Wicklow mountains for safety
and he remained there month un
known to the Government officials
He might have escaped, but he was
anxious to see Sarah Curran. lad,
to whom he was engaged to-be mar
ried, and who was at the time living
in Rathfarnham. Miss Curran was 8
good virtuous woman, and in every
way worthy Of such a hero as Robert
In his attempt to visit her in order
To Bid Her Farwel,
before leaving his native country. HI
was arrested by Major SIR in thu
house of one Miss Palmer at Har
oldscross on the 25th day Of August
1903. On September 10th he wal
put on trial in the courthouse a
Green street. charged with higf
treason. The jury returned hin
.,... 80 -. %h.n -3o1l,orod man.