The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1920-11-05

CORK FASTERS
REFUSE FOODS
NEAR DEATH
Tension IN South Ireland
Increases Because Of
3 Many Raids.
BY RUSSELL BROWNING.

NA&SSy .NoJ0S.
BY RUSSELL BROWNING.
Omitted Press staff Correspondent.
Cork. Nov. 5.-Tensiqn in Cork
increased today with reports Or
widespread raids by military forces.
On all sides it appeared to be taken
for granted that further tragedies
are bound to occur and British and
Irish steeled themselves to meet
them.
The excitement surrounding Ter
ence MacSwiney's funeral had not
died away today. The election last
night OF Donald O'Callaghan as lord
mayor Of Cork showed feeling here
had not died down. O'Callaghan
was associated closely with Mac
Swiney. He attended the funeral
services in London and took part in
the fighting at Holyhead in an effort
to prevent seizure of the body by
British soldiers.
Cork bustles- with ordinary busi-
ness during the day. The river Lee
Is crowded with small craft and the
quays are lined with workers. The
factories are busy. But at all
times there Is a tension showing it.
SELF in the quick gathering of
crowds at the smallest provocation.
At night the streets are deserted.
The curfew is in effect. Pedestrians
may 60 about If they have passes,
but even then 1t Is dangerous. as
sentries and other armed men are
quick to shoot.
Strikers Near Death.
Adding to the tenseness of the
situation Is the impending death Of
the remaining nine hunger strikers
in Cork Jail. Their death is accept
ed as certain to occur, especially
since they only recently rejected an
honorable opportunity to break the
fasts. In the space in front Of the
Jail hundreds of women gather
daily to pray for the prisoners
whose bodies are wasting = away.
but whose courage remains un-
shaken. The women remain all day,
kneeling and counting their beads.
With the exception of John Hen
Messy. all nine hunger strikers were
conscious when visited the Jail.
Hennessy is believed to have sunk
into q coma from which he will not
emerge. This was the 87th day Of
the strike. Jail doctors told me
the men have no medical care, but
that expert nursing is provided by
nurses.
Relatives are still admitted to the
prison and the men are able to
whisper to them and to the priest
I who offers them consolation.
Refuse Food.
The physicians denied they had
tempted the men to eat by placing
fragrant dishes in the cells. The
men had been accepted at their
word and no effort had been made
to make it more difficult for them,
the physicians said.
Several days ago." one physi-
clan said, "the bishop Of Cork at
tempted to dissuade the men from
their course. At his order the nuns
prepared suitable foods and offered
them to each Of the prisoners. The
food has been rejected and none has
been ordered since"
The men show the ravages OF
starvation. Their faces are drawn
and the skin is stretched tightly
over prominent cheekbones. Their
features are colorless. The bodies
have shrunken and the weights OF
all have sunk to about half OF
normal.
The nine are resigned to their
death. They consider themselves
! bound to carry out their strike. es-
recial,y since the death Of Mac
Swiney and two of their number
now in the Cork cemetery.
Kill Three Selliors.
Dublin, Nov. 5.-United Press)
Wholesale military raids through
out southern Ireland yesterday
were reported at the Irish ofice
today.
! he raids were accomplished
without bloodshed. Bales of docu-
ments were seized and few arrests
made. Three soldiers were killed
in an ambush in County Longford
according to ofiicial reports. Sir
more were wounded. The n,en
were ambushed as they left Gran.
ard. where extensive reprisals had
! been carried out One OF the at
tacking party was killed.