The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1917-06-09

cided by EamonE Caennt and two other
members of the Irish Provisional
Army, that an attempt should be made
to supply the Irish Volunteers with
guns and ammunition, and Eamonn,
then Captain Caennt, led his men to
Hoth for the famous gun running
manouvre, admitted even by the Irish
Uunionists as most brilliant mill
tary coup. He was also present at
midnight week later, when they
landed the second supply of guns at
kilcool, County Wicklow.
After John Redmond's English re-
cruiting speech in September, 1914, the
original Provisional Committee issued
manifesto rcpudiating him, and
amongst the seven signatories is
Eamonn Caennt No man had more
absolute belief in merit and fair play
than Eamonn. He Won all his distinc-
ton by his ability and earnestness.
When he joined the fourth battalion
OF the Irish Volunteers, it was a pri-
vate. BY dint Of hard work and the
study of military books, he was pro-
noted to a Captaincy and eventually
became Commandment of the Fourth
Battalion, which position he held at
the time of the insurrection. He was
a striking military figure and he led
his men through the streets of the
city on parade. Over six feet, of proud,
almost haughty, Learing, he we'll suited
the uniform of an IrishRebel Leader.
He was also director of Communica-
tions,' and as such, sent dispatches
by hand to almost every corner of
Ireland. Owing to the delays caused
~ the opening, or OBTAINING altogether
of the letters CT volunteers in Dublin,
he initiated and put on a working
basis, An Post Caedlac, or the Irish
Post, which served Dublin City from
November 1916 to Easter, 1916.
Again. one of the signatories of the
Republican Proclamation and a men,
Der of the Provisional Committee of
the Irish Republic, he was the South
Side Commander of the volunteers
during Easter Week in the territory
covering the distillery buildings, Mar
rowbone Lane, Waiting Street Brew
cry, Ardee Street Roes Distillery,
Mount Brown and the South Dublin
Union. In the latter place he COM
in person, and there some of
the heaviest fighting of the insurrec-
tion took place.
Capturing the Union-an extensive
series OF buildin gs-on Monday, with
seventy men, he held it against all as
saults of the British forces until the
order from the irish Commander in
Chief to surrender, on Sunday after
noon, the 30th Of April, when he
marched out with forty-three men,
Some of the remarkable exploits of
that week are told by the South Siders
i'll Dublin tod"y. On Thursday. the
9th of April, TIE British attacked the
fierce fighting ua,ii 1920, had to re-
tire, leaving the Republican troops in
At present nothing can be
written owing to the censorship, but
even the British Commander, Sir
Francis Vane, spoke in high terms of
the bravery of the rebels" who fought
against him.
On Sunday evening. after the sur
render, EamOnE Caennt marched his
men through the streets Of Dublin
Until the came 10 the Parnell statue,
and there he ordered his. men to pile
Up their arms. His bearing was noble,
almost magnificent" was an onlooker's
lescription-"evc,l the officers and
soldiers in command of the captured
rebels looked or in wonder"
Taken to Richmond Prison on Sun
day night, he was tried there the fol-
lowing Wednesday and Thursday, and
then removed unsentenced to Kilmain-
ham Jail. On Saturday afternoon he
was visited by his wife. and she saw
him for twenty minutes in his cell, in
the presence of a soldier. There was
in the cell either to sit on or
lie on, and he had to pass the nights
lifting in the corner, with no extra
over his uniform, his over
coat having been lost. On Sunday
the 9Th Of May, he was
visited by the officer in command
about four o'clock and informed that
he was to be shot at 3:45 a. m. the
following morning He asked that his
relatives be sent for, and about 900
o'clock he was supplied with writing
and q table, chair and plank
bed. He wrote the following letters
to his wife, his little son and his
To his wife an hour before his
sacrifice:
Kilmainham Jail, $3.50 a. M, S-5-16.
My Dearest Wife Aine:
Not wife, but widow before these
lines reach you. I am here without
hope of this world. and without fear
calmly awaiting the end.
have had Hoiy Communion and
Father Augustine has been with me