The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-12-31
IRELAND SEES
BLOODSHED
Officer Killed in Clash in Phoenix
Park, Dublin


Press) An officer Of the guard and
one member of a band of intruders
were killed early this morning in a
shooting affray in Phoneix park. a
short distance from the vice regal
lodge. In some quarters the belief
was expressed that an attack was IN
preparation against the lodge.
About eight men are believed to
have made up the band Of interlopers.
-Four arrests were made.
At 13O o'clock this morning shots
were heard in the neighborhood OF
the vice regal lodge. They continued
internationally at intervals for nearly
an hour in that portion of Phoenix
park between the lodge and the mag
azine There apparently was no di-
rect attack on the vice regal lodge it
SELF The inmates Of the lodge at first
thought the shooting was connected
with some sort of holiday revelry.
AS the firing persisted, however, a
military guard, consisting of an officer
and two men, turned out and searched
the ground. Finding nothing unusual
there, they went through the park
near the main road. While traversing
the center of the park they engaged
in a sharp exchange OF firing with the
intruders and Lieutenant Boast, who
was leading his men, fell, shot
through the heart.
One Of the attacking party also was
killed He was civilian about 40
years of age. According to some re-
ports, he was wearing portions of
soldiers uniform. No weapon was
found on or near his body, and up to
the present the mans identity has not
been ascertained. Fools of blood We're
found on the scene, which is abouI
half a mile from the lodge.
After the shooting the intruders fled
in the darkness. The four men ar
rested were not taken into custody
near the scene Of the shooting, but
were apprehended as they were leav-
ing the park about two hours later.
They denied having had any connec-
ton with the affray, and it is re-
ported that no incriminating evidence
was found on them.
After the shooting the military
brought machine gun to the scene.
This was fred in the direction which
it was supposed the men had taken
fight Nobody was hit by the bullets.
y The bodies of the two dead men
were taken to the George V hospital
where an inquest will be held tomor-
row. Lieutenant Boast was only 20
years old. He was mentioned in Sat-
urday's Courier Circular as having
been invited to dine with Field Mar
shall Viscount French, lord lieutenant
and governor general of Ireland, Sat-
urday evening. On Saturday he had
hidden farewell to his parents, who
had been paying him a visit. There
was great excitement in the city when
the newspapers announced the occur
renee. Crowds visited the scene dur
ing the afternoon.
In the absence Of all official infor-
nation the theory late tonight is that
no raid against the vice rega lodge
was intended. It is supposed that an
isolated shot was fired which Lieuten-
ant Boast and two .privates went to
investigate. It is thought that they
reached the person who fired the shot
and became involved in struggle
with passerby who, with the lieuten-
ant, was killed.
1t is reported that the dead civil
ian was a laborer who had been treat
ed at Dublin hospital and was walk
ing home through the park. He wore
bandages on his face, the police say.
No Official report has been made by
the police on the occurrence which
will be explained at the military
inquest. The military officials refer all
inquiries to the police.
London, Dec. 28.-A dispatch to the
Exchange Telegraph from Dublin says
that the officer killed in the attack on
the vice regal lodge in Phoenix park
was Lieutenant Boats. The member
Of the attacking party killed was
dressed in an old uniform of a pri-
vate in the British army. His body is
to have been riddled with
bullets.
The Exchange Telegraph's corre-
spondent said it is understood that
snipers at the vice regal lodge con-
tinued only for few minutes and
that the firing took place from the
main road at distance Of nearly a
quarter Of mile from the lodge.
The name OF the civilian killed is
said to be Laurence Carey, who re-
sided at Lucan. near Phoenix Park.
According to one version of the origin
Of the struggle, Carey ignored the
challenge TO halt. and when the sol
dicrs approached Carey seized Boast.
whereupon the soldiers fired their
pistols. killing Carey. This version
does not state who shot Boast.
Boast began as Il drummer boy in
the Lancashire regiment and won his
commission for conspicuous service in
the war. His brother is still a drum
mer in the same regiment. His father.