Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1916-05-10
-FOUR IRISH LEADERS EXECUTHD
Men Prominent In Government and
Other Walks Of Life.


London. May S.--Almost simulta-
neously with the announcement by
Premier Asquith in the House Of
Commons to-day that four Of the
leaders Of the rebellion in Dublin had
been courtmartaled ami shot this
morning came the announcement
from Austin Birrell, chief secretary
for ireland, that he had resigned as
parliamentary head Of the Irish gov
ernment.
The four men shot were all sigma
tories Of the republican proclamation
which signalized the inauguration Of
the rebellion. Patrick II. Pearse,
provisional president of Ireland;"
James Connolly, who was styled
'commandant general of the Irish re-
publican army" Thos. J. Clark and
Thos. McDonagh were the four for
whom death was meted out. Three
other signers--S. McDiarmid, L. Cean-
ant and Jos. Plunkett-were SEN
fenced to three years in prison.
Premier Asq"ith at the same time
announced that Sir Roger Easement,
who was one Of the prime movers in
the uprising and who is a prisoner in
the Tower of London, would be tried
with the utmost expedition.
Mr.. Birrell made brief statement
and amitted his error as chief secre-
tary for Ireland in understanding
the Sim Fein movement, adding that
| when he was Informed that the in
| surrection had been put down he ten
dered his resignation to the prime
minister and that 1t had been ac-
| cepted.
1noI rf I,,sol,
parliamentary party, begged the gov
| ernment to be lenient with the great
| mass of those involved in the revolt
and said he was partly to blame for
| Mr.. BirrelIs earlier complacency re-
| specting conditions in Ireland, as he
had concurred in tho secretary's
! views that the danger of an outbreak
| was not a real one.
Mr.. Birrell said that when he view
| ed the smoking ruins of Dublin and
the ruins Of his own ambitions there
| was one sad hope in his heart--that
this was no Irish rebellion and that
new bonds of union might be forged.
He hoped that some good might come
out of this great evil.
The Men Executed.
Patrick H. Pearse was about 33 or
"a years old and was known in Ire
land as an authority on Gaelic litera-
ture. He started in life as a barris-
! ter, but devoted most Of his time to
literary educational pursuits.
| For some time he was editor of the
| Gaelic journal in Dublin and later
founded St. Edna's Schools, which he
| conducted up to the time of the Sim
Fein rebellion.
Pearse had many friends in the
United States. He lectured in this
country on Irish ideals and Gaelic
literature, the proceeds of his lee
lures going to the support of his
school. He was the son Of an Eng
lishman, but was himself born and
educated in Dublin. He was unmar-
ried.
James Connolly lived for several
years in New York, where he was ac-
tive as Socialist and labor agitator.
He returned to Ireland about five
years ago to aid in organizing the
Irish Labor party. Connolly was
author Of a book entitled Labor in
Irish History" published in Dublin,
and was editor Of labor paper in
that ty called The Irish Worker.
He was the father Of eight children.
all of whom survive him as we'll as
his wife.
Thomas McDonagh was close
associate Of Pearse and highly edu-
Gated man. He was for some time
assistant professor of English liera-
ture in the Nnational University of
Ireland, but resigned to become as
sistant to Pearse in st. Edna's
School.
Thos. ]. Clark was one Of the lead
ers in the Fnenian conspiracy of the
early SOS. He was arrested and SEN
fenced to life Imprisonment, but was
released after serving ii years. Az
ter q short visit to America he re-
turned to Dublin, where he opened a
tobacco store. Clark married the
daughter of Mayor John Daily, of
Limerick, another of the Fenian
leaders. He is survived by his wife
and four boys.
-Four More Executed.
London, May 5.--The following Of
fetal communication has been is-
sued:
-Four prisoners, Joseph Plunkett,
Edward Daily, Michael O'Hanrahan
and William Pearse, were sentenced
to death and shot this morning after
the sentence had been confirmed by
the general commander-in-chief
"Fifteen others sentenced to death
we're commuted to ten years pnal
servitude."