New-York tribune., 1920-10-22
MacSwiney at
Point of Death
Is Fed Twice
Swallows Beef Juice While
Unconscious; Has Violent
Mysteries OH Regaining
Senses and Tasting Food
Many Arrests i'm Dublin
Newspaper Owner Is Called
Before a Court Martial ::
New Measures in Effect
By Frank Cettv

from The Tribune's European Bureau
Copyright. 1920 New York Tribune IncN
LONDON, Oct. q. - Terence Mac
Swiney. Lord Mayor of Cork, was de-
irious and at the point of death to-
night after seventy DAYS of hunger
strike in Brixton prison.
For twenty-four hours the prisoner
has been in semi-conscious condition.
unable to recognize his wife and sister,
VINO have been constantly at his bed
side
The physicians say that the scurvv
which attacked the Lord Mayor Tues
day now covers his entire body and
that his condition is critical.
Last night while the Lord Mayor was
Inconsclous he was fed forciby a little
beef juice. Upon partly rcgaining con-
his mouth he became violently hys-
terical and whispered hoarsely:
"Ihey've tricked met"
Today IN paroXyms Of hysteria the
prisoner was constantly moving his
feeble hands before his face as though
TO ward off further efforts to feed him.
! he prison physicians disregarded his
wishes, however, and when he lapsed
INTO unconsciousness they again fed
him.
According to the Irish Self -Deterloi-
time the prisoner has had food s.nce
lis arrest, but the belief that frie nds
Rave fed him still persists.
MacSwiney's sister telegraphod a
friend in Cork to-day urging prayers
for the speedy death OF the Lord
Mayor
Although MacSw1ney mas lived far
too long for his death to have the
greatest effect as republican prcpa-
ganda for inflaming sentiment in Ire
land, it would be unfortunate if the
prisoner shoulKdie this week, is ex-
pected The governments announced
intention of enforcing repressive meas
ures against republican sympathzers in
Ireland in it's campaign to stamp out
murder is arousing enough anti British
feeling in Ireland without needing the
spark of MacSwiney's death to touch off
the powder magazine.
day, apparently in fulfllment of
the governments plan to rake Ireland
from end to end for arms and assas-
sins, the military, supported by ar
mored cars, made extensive raids and
many arrests in Dublin.
Under the coercion act The Free
mans Journal faces suppression, the
first Irish newspaper to suffer this.
Martin Fitzgerald, the proprietor, has
been summoned to appear before q
court martial tomorrow morning. The
art editor of the newspaper and one
reporter have been arrested.
At Leap, near Skibhereen. uniden-
tilted men ambushed three Black and
Tans to-day, wounding AID then dis
arming them.
LONDON, Oct. 81 (By The Associated
Press In the House of Commons to-
day Edward Short, the Home Secre
tary. said in answer to a question that
the condition of Lord Mayor MacSwiney
was very serious. Until yesterday,
added the Home Secretary, the doctors
had given the Lord Mayor only medi-
cine, but yesterday, during semi-con-
sciousness, they gave him a little liquid
food.
Mr., Short was asked whether this
meant that the doctors were forcibly
feeding the Lord Mayor. He replied
that in this case forcible feeding
consisted in holding the cup to his
lips. The swallowing, he said, was
voluntary
Answering another query, Mr.. Short
said it was not true that evidence had
recently come. to light showing that
nourishment had been administered on
other occasions.