The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-10-15

rThe Unfled Press assigned Webb
MILLER. Of its London staff, to make
personal Investigation OF the carcum'
| stances under which Lord Mayor Ter
ence MacSwiney Of Cork is conduct
inx his hunger strike at Brhton
nrison. England This was done in
view OF the fact that no man has
ever before gone without food sixty
four days and many physicians be
lieya such : prolonged fast tmpos-
sfble. Following Is Millers report on
his investigation-l
rBy webb Miller, United Press Staff
Correspondent1
Copyright, 1929, by United PrcssI
LONDON, Oct 15.-Death only can
or will prove definitely whether Ter
ence MacSwiney Is fasting his lie
away or whether he Is tAking nourfsn'
ment in the hope that some turn OF
fate viii release him from prison
without making him = laughing stock
a personal Investigation at Brixton
prison, where the lord mayor OF Cork
today began his sixty-fourth day OF
fasting, yielded this information:
Friends and relatives vehementfy
declared that the only sustenance
given MacSwiney has been thin
cracker each morning IN communion.
Prison officials and attaches OF the
home office refused to talk, declaring
1t is the policy Of the government to
maintain silence. Irish office officials
admitted. however, that il the gov
ernment we're able to obtain evidence
OF feeding they doubtless would be
glad to announce it to the world IN
the hope of belittling the. mayor.
A heavy police guard halts news
paper men at the gate OF Bri1ton
prison. was unable to cajole them
Ento allowing me a glimpse OF the
Interior. At the home office l was
received courteously, but with the
imperturable statement that nothing
could be said regarding MacSwiney.
Muriel McSwiney, the lady mayor.
ess. talked with me on behalf of the
relatives She talked impersonally OF
her husbands death as thing as
sured. There was no sign Of worry
or grief, only indignation that there
should be doubt of her husbands
courage in carrying out his death
strike.
I'VE wouldn't be able to feed Terry
even If we wanted to do It, she de
clared. Prison officials watch us
too closely. One of us Is at the bed
side day and night, and always there
is nurse there. Most of the time a
doctor Is with as, too.
They keep food at the bedside.
MIX and broth are in sight at all
times in the hope that he WIN yield.
Besides, what would be the use OF
eating now? 1t would only keep him
ai1Ve few more days. We have
given up all hope Of his release. He
is determined to continue the fast
until death.
His eventual death will prove to
the world that his wfll has not weak
ened.r
Prison physicians are doing every.
thing to keep MacSwiney alive, hts
Wife said. His room is kept at high
temperature. hot water bottles are
packed about his emaciated body. and
ne is bathed three times daily, while
careful examinations are made and
reports on his condition filed with
tho homo office.
The physicians have warned Mac
Swiney's relatives not to excite the
man
Sim Fem sympathizers, confident
mat MacSwiney Is a martyr, meet
.ne cynical comments Of non-sympa-
MIXERS with the assertion that there
is no data 10 show how long a man
can live without food IL he is given
scientific care. They express the be
hef that the prisoner can live several
weeks longer. but all are confident
mat eventually he will die.
Two Civilians Killed.
!, DUBLIN, Oct. 15.-Bitterness in
ireland was intensified today by a
onn Fein attempt to capture an
srmored lorry, which resulted in the
aeaE ! of two civilians and the wound.
ing ct two officers.
The car WAS in front of the Nun