Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-08-24
ASSASSINATION OF LEADER
AS TOLD BY EYEWITNESS

ne ldACbI ItNaDlt as
to the assassination OF Collins which
comes direct from Cork says ne fell
fighting 70 the last what geened at
first an overwhelming force Of rebels
who anbushed his little party in a
wild mountain road between Macroorn
and Bandon.
The Commander-in-C Chief OF the Ma
tional Army had been visiting Cork.
and. accompanied by tho members Of
his headquarters staff. left at o'clock
Tuesday morning 10 inspect the MILL
tary positions south OF Cork. He was
escorted by light arrnored car and
lorry carrying soldiers. Altogether the
parry is believed TO have numbered
about a score. including General Sean
O'Connell, commander Of the body
guard. and Major General Dalton,
commander Of the Free State troops in
Cork.
A despatch rider preceded the large
touring car with Collins and other Of
flcers. Then followed a whippet ar
mored car, while an ordinary open
tender brought up the rear. The
party visited nearly all the posts 10
the south of Cork occupied by the Ma
tional Army, among them Skibbereen,
Ross Carbery and Clonakilty. At each
place the officer commanding was In
terviewed and the party enthusias-
tically greeted.
200 Irregulars In Attack.
! Owing to the interruption Of com
munication by the main road the party
toward evening took a roundabout
route for Cork from Bandon. Bealna-
blath, which is eight miles from Mac
room, lies to the south OF the main
road on the south side OF the River
Lee in a hiily rugged district. While
! proceeding. by road near this village
at six-thirty IN the evening the party
was snbushed by about two hundred
irregulars.
! The battle opened with a few shots
| fired by the attacking forces. The
Free Staters were taken by surprise
| and one OF the first bullets nearly
! struck Collins before his car stopped
missing him only by an inch or two
They hastily dismounted and Collin.
himself assumed leadership A hail Of
bullets sweeping the road left hin
quite unmoved. his first thought be-
ing for the safety Of his men. whom
he ordered to take cover at the fences
on both sides Of the road.
Collins Shot as Fight Ended.
At the very outset the despatch
rider in front was badly wounded IL
the lungs. and under the direction o
the commander-in-chtef was remove,
TO temporary safety. Then the Ere
Staters settled down to reply 10 N,
fire The fact that they were face,
by far superior numbers did not daun
either Collins or his officers, and with
IN a few minutes the attack develope,
into grim engagement fiercely con
tested.
Every man OF the ambushed part,
had been tried repeatedly and ha
, proved his bravery and coolness in &C
; ton, and all Of them showed stead
ness in the battle which lasted clos
, to an hour. 1t was in the very las
! stages that Michael Collins was kill
: ed. 1t is asserted that the CAREFUL
! directed fire OF the Free Staters too
; heavy toll. large number OF rebel
l being killed or wounded.
For forty-five minutes the only cas-
, uality on the side OF the Free Slater
: was the dispatch rider. The hghtin
was nearly ended and the rebels wer
: on the point OF retreating. defeated de
3 spite their overwhelming numbers an
/ advantageous position. and the firin
[ had become less intense when Collin
fell. 1t was obvious that he had bee
mortally wounded, but, notwithstand
, ing this, he still fired from the groun
and encouraged his men by his un
, tiinching bravery.
Prayed for Dying Commander.
In feeble voice the commando
asked for Major-General Dalton, an
Dalton and Gen. O'Connen connforte
= their dying chief. They whispered
few prayers and recited the Act O
Contrition before he died. His bod,
was removed under fire to the armore
: car.
The rebels We're by now in retrea,
eaving many dead and wounded on III
I held. The Free Staters were oblige
a to leave the touring car. taking the
dead chiefs body in the armored ca.
which reached Cork about midnight