The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-11-20


broad pale forehead, while the alb
sence of any beard gave him a pecu-
liarly boyish appearance. Gentle and
docile in his calmer moments, when
aroused to action he was all fire and
energy. We have seen how he bore
himself during the attack on the pris-
on van, for he it was whom so many
witnesses identified as the pale-faced
young fellow who led the attack, and
and whose prophetic assurance that
he would die for him, greeted Colonel
Kelly on regaining his freedom. Dur
| Ing the magisterial investigation he
: NJ Ire himself firmly, proudly. and, as
the English papers would have it, def
antly. His glance never quailed dur
ing the trying ordeal. The marks of
the brutality of his cowardly captors
were still upon him, and the CALLING
irons that bound his hands cut into
/ his wrists; but Allen never WINGED for
a moment, and he listened to the evi.
dence of the sordid crew, who came
to barter away his young life, with
resolute mien. The triumph was with
him. Out Of the jaws of death he had
| rescued the leader whose freedom he
considered essential to the success of
a patriotic undertaking, and he was
satisfied to pay the cost of the venture.
He had set his foot upon the plough
share, and would not shrink from the
ordeal which he had challenged.
Amongst the crowd of manacled men
committed for trial by the Manches.
ter magistrates, not one presented a
finer or more impressive exterior than
Michael O'Brien, set down in the list
above given as Michael Gould. Stand
ing in the dock, he seemed the i'm
personation of vigorous manhood.
Frank, fearless and resolute, with
courage and truth imprinted on every
feature, he presented to the eye a
perfect type of the brave soldier. He
was tall and well-proportioned, and his
broad shoulders and welldeveloped
limbs told of physical strength in
keeping with the frmness reflected
in his face. His gaze, when it rested
on the unfriendly countenances before
him, was firm and undrooping, but a
kindly light lit his hazel eyes, and his
L 2
ing and encouraging expression, as
often as he glanced at Allen, who stood
behind him, or bent his gaze upon any
of his other fellOwprisoners. O'Brien
was born near Ballymacoda, County
Cork, the birthplace of the Inflated
and heroic Peter Crowley. His father
rented large farm in the same par
ish, but the blight of the bad laws
which are the curse of Ireland fell
upon him, and in the year 1856, the
O'Briens were flung upon the world dis
possessed of lands and home, though
| they owed no man penny at the time.
Michael O'Brien was apprenticed to a
draper in Youghal, and earned, during
the period of his apprenticeship, the
respect and esteem of all who knew
him. He was quiet and gentlemanly
in manners, and his character for mo.
rality and good conduct was ire.
proachable. Having served out his
time in Youghal, he went to Cork, and
he spent some time as an assistant in
one of the leading drapery establish
ments of that city. He afterwards emf
grated to America, where some of his
relatives were comfortably settled
Like many of the bravest Of his fell
low-countrymen, the outbreak of the
civil war kindled a military ardou1
within his bosom, and O'Brien found
himself unable to resist the attrac
lions which the soldiers career pos
sessed for him. His record through
out the war was highly honorable; his
bravery and conduct won him speedy
promotion, and long before the ter
mination of the conflict he had risen
to the rank of lieutenant. When his
regiment was disbanded he recrossed
the Atlantic, and returned to Cork
where he again obtained employment
as assistant in one of the large com
mercial establishments. Here he re-
NAMED until the night before the Fe
MAN rising, when he suddenly dis
appeared, and all further trace was lost
Of him, until arrested for participa
ton in the attack upon the prison van
in Manchester.
Close by his side In the dock stood
Michael Larkin, an intelligent-looking
man, older looking than most of his
fellow-prisoners. The following are g
few facts relating to his humble his
tory:
HE was" writes a correspondent
who knew him, "a native of the parish
of Lusmagh, in the southwestern cor
ner of the Kings County, where TO,
many generations his ancestors have
been residents on the Cloghan Castle
estate (then in the possession of the
O'Moore family and where several
Of his relatives still reside; and was
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