The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-10-15
By WEBB MILLER,

(Uulte0 freSS Stau correspondent
Copyright. 1920, by the United
Press.)
London, Oct. 15.-Death only can
or will prove definitely whether
Terence MacSwiney is fasting his
life away or whether he is taking
nourishment in the hope that some
turn of fate win release him from
prison without making him a
laughing stock.
A personal investigation at Brix-
ton prison, where the lord mayor
of Cork began his Gath day of fast
ing yielded this information:
Friends and relatives vehemently
declared that the only sustenance
given MacSwiney had been a thin
cracker each morning in COM
munion.
Prison officials and attaches Of
the home Office refused to talk, de-
claring it is the policy Of the gov
i eminent to maintain silence Irish
office officials admitted, however.
that II the government we're able
to obtain evidence of feeding, they
doubtless would be glad to an
! nounce it to the world in the hope
Of belittling the mayor.
Police ON Guard.
A heavy police guard halts news
paper men at the gate Of Brixton.
Il was unable to cajole them into
allowing me a glimpse of the in
terror. At the home Office I was
RECEIVED courteously but with the
imperturbable statement that moth
ling could be said regarding Mac
Swiney.
/ Muriel MacSwiney, the lady may
Dress, talked with me on behalf Of
the relatives. She talked imper-
sonaily Of her husbands death al
10 thing assured. There was nc
,isign Of worEy or grief: only sisdis-
!, ,hation that there should be doubt
Of her husbands courage Id c1rtJ
out his death strike.
1--WE wouldn't be able to feed
Terry even If We wanted to do it,
she declared. Prison officials
watch US to closely. One of US is
at the bedside day and night and
7 always there is q nurse there. Most
OF the time a doctor is with US
too.
"They keep food at the bedside
Milk and broth are in sight at all
times in the hope that he will
Yield.
Besides. what would be the use
of eating now" the lady mayoress
asked. 1T would only keep hin
alive q few more days. We have
given up all hope of his release
He is determined to continue the
fast until death.
I Death VIM Prove.
His eventual death will prove
to the world that his will has moi
weakened"
! Prison officials are doing every
thing to keep MacSwiney alive. his
wife said. His room is kept n
high temperature. hot water bot
ties are packed about his emaciatef
body and he is bathed three time!
daily while careful examinations
i are made and reports on his condi
tion filed with the home Office.
| The physicians have warned Mac
Swiney's relatives not to excite th'
man. =
Sim Fein sympathizers, confiden
that MacSwiney is martyr. NEE
1.-THE cynical comments of non-sym
, pathizers with the assertion tina
there is no data to show how loni
a man can live without food il b.
. is given scientific care. They ex
press the belief that the prisone
, can live several weeks longer, bu
all are confident that eventually b.
will die.
KIN Two Civilians.
Dublin, Oct. 15.-(United Press.
bitterness in Ireland was intensi
fed today by . Sinn Fein attemp
to capture an armored lorry. whio1
. resulted in the death of tw'
, civilians and the wounding Of tw'
: officers. The car was standing il
l front of the Munster -Leinster ban
. while constables raided a nearb
, shop. A band Of Sim Feiners. be
, Ilieving the car deserted, made
, rush for it. They were met by fir
, from soldiers concealed within.
. civilian was killed and others re
ported wounded. The two wOunde
, officers were inside the bank.
II Soldiers on q truck which fol
|. lowed the lorry opened fire with
machine gun and the raiders flet
One Of their number was killed.