The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-08-26
COLLINS FOUGHT
TO THE DEATH
Handful of Men Slaughtered
by Overwhelming Force of
Bushwhackers

HdnQIul 0i McH SlduSHLSItu
by Overwhelming Force OF
Bushwhackers
Gofk;iAug.23 fBy the Associated
Press) Michael Collins fell fight
ing to the last against what seem
ed at first and overwhelming force
Of irregulars who ambushed his
little party in a wild mountain road
between Macroon and Bandon.
The commander in chief Of the
national army had been visiting
Cork, and, accompanied by the
members of the headquarters staff,
left at O'Clock Tuesday morning
to inspect the military positions
south of Cork. He was escorted
by a light armored car and a lorr;y
carrying soldiers. Altogether the
party is believed to have number
ed about a score, including Gen.
Sean O'Conne1l, commander Of the
bodyguard; and Major General Dal-
ton, commander Of the Free State
troops in Cork.
A dispatch rider preceded the
large touring car with Collins and
other officers, then followed a
wlippet armored car, while an or
dinary open tender brought up the
rear. The party visited nearly all
the posts to the south Of Cork oc-
cupied by the national army.
among them Skibbereen, Ross Car
berry and Clonakilty, at each place
the officers commanding were in
terviewed and the company was
enthusiastically received.
Owing to the interruption Of
communication in the main road
the party towards evening took a
roundabout route for Cork from
Bandon. While proceeding by road
at 6:30: o'clock in the evening the
party was ambushed by about 200
irregulars.
The battle opened with few
shots fired by the attacking forces.
The nationals were taken by sur
prise, and one of the first bullets
nearly. struck Mr. Collins before
his car was stopped, missing him
only by an inch or two. The ma
tionals hastily dismounted and
General Collins himself assumed
leadership. A hail of bullets
sweeping the road left him quite
unmoved, his first thought being
for the safety of his men, whom he
ordered to take cover at the fences
on both sides of the road.
At the very outset the dispatch
rider in front was badly wounded
in the lungs, and under the direc-
ton Of the commander in chief was
removed: to temporary safety. It
was in the very last stages that
Michael Collins was killed. 1t is
asserted that the careful. well di-
rected FIRE at the nationals took
heavy toll, a large number Of ir-
regulars being killed or wounded.
Dublin, Aug. % (By the Associ-
ated Press s).-The Irish govern
ment this afternoon issued the fol-
lowing statement on the death of
Michael Collins:
y 1"The greatest and gravest of our
eountrymen has been snatched
from US at moment when VIC
tory smiled through the clouds
upon the rising up of the nation tc
which he had devoted all the pow
ers Of magnificent manhood.
1.-The genius and courage Of
Michael Collins lent force and in
spiration to the race and brought
the long fight against the external
enemy to triumphant end, which
had become almost a dream and
swept before it the domestic revolt
which tried to pluck from your
hands the fruits Of that triumph
cf. your unchallenged authority in
the land.
'1n every phase of the awaken
ed activity of the nation, the con-
struetion, administration and exc
c.ution Of the military the person
ality of Mieheal Collins was vivid
and impelling. He has been slain
10 our unutterable grief and loss.
But he can not die. He will live
in the rule of the people which he
gave his great best to assert and
confirm and which his colleagues
undertake as a solemn charge to
maintain
Ready to Receive