Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-02

probably saved the lives Of whole
company.
Had that machine gun got Slowed
round, No. 1 Company might have
been nearly wiped out"
What impresscs people in
O'Leary's deed is not only his BRAY
cry but the triumphant success with
which he carried out the whole act.
Other soldiers may have displayed
more self-sacrifice and endurance,
but not one of them appears to have
done more for his side by one indi-
riduai act of bravery than OTeary.
1t Is the dashing quality of his
deed that wins admiration and this
quality, it is TO be noted, is pecu-
liarly Irish. He is credited by his adj
mirers with having shot eight men
in eight seconds. His quickness
must have been phenomenal, and
here again he showed peculiarly
Irish trait.
How one man could have shot
eight soldiers, when all eight of them
were armed and many Of their COM
rades we're only few yards away,
must appear mystery to many. The
Germans were perhaps retiring
hastily from their positions. but
they had magazine rifles in their
hands and fired many shots ut the
British
Why did they not get OLeary.
who was running out alone ahead Of
his companions? He must have been
amazingly lucky, as we'll as amaz-
ingiy quick
Then it + almost equally aston
lshing that lie could have shot eight
men in few moments while run
ming. The best explanation OF this
Is that the British soldier has rifle
carrying more bullets than that Of
any other army. The Lee Enfield
rifle now used in the British army
carries ten bullets in the magazine
and one in the barrel.
OLcary. OF course. fired all his
eleven bullets, and he is credited with
making eight of them Kill man
apiece. That is IN amazing shooting
record, said to be unequalled for a
soldier
Sergeant OTeary is not a partic-
ularly fierce looking soldier, az might
he expected, but a tall, slender, fair
haired young fellow. He is only
twenty-five years old.
"A quiet. ensy.soing young fellow
OLcarT is said his friend. Ser
gcnnt Day. of the Second Battalion
of the Irish Guards. But lie is re-
marka5ly quick on his feet"
Oleary WAS born in the little vii
lage OF lnchigeelach, in the County
Cork. His father and mother still
live there. He has IN older brother
and four sisters, who are now in
America.
lie erved FOR several years in the
Canadian Northwest Mounted Police,
but went back and joined the British
Army in order 10 he nearer home.
After the light in which he won his
decoration he wrote home:
Dear Parents: | guess you will be
glad TO hear that was promoted full
sergeant on the field on account oe
distinguished conduct on February /,
when we charged the Huns and rout-
ed them in disorder.
You bet the Irish Guards are get
ting back now
Mrs. Ol.eary. the old mother of the
hero. has been interviewed at her
home in Ireland As might be ex-
pctcd her words were very simple
Its proud l am of Mike" said
Mrs OI.eary, but | wish he was
home instead of being in that cruel
war.
When that telegram came for me,
thought sure Mike was dead. bur
when ! opened it found that he had
been promoted Sure ] was better
pleased to know hat he was alive
than promoted.
Mike Is good boy. He never
gave me n moments uncasincss since
hc was in the cradle. except when he
went away OH his foreign adventures.
| suppose he had to leave me.
There's little enough chance for II
boy here, with only the pigs to look
after and his father and me-"
We have been inclined TO think
that the days were over when Il
mighty warrior could rush in among