New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-07-08
Girl Tells How 18 Men Held Fort
While Rebel Garrison Escaped
Band of Women Nursed and Cooked for Republican
Soldiers During 48Hour Fighting With
Free Staters in Dublin

Most Of US we're employed in ofhees. but
OF course they were closed even II we
had wanted 10 20 there. On SATURDAY
afternoon we knew that the O'ConnelI
Street hotels had been chosen for the
next stand. and I was ordered 20 report
NJ the Hammsn Hotel the next morn
ing when we arrived BY the back
way there was fighting going on IN
front, but we were not hurt. heAvy
hotel furniture. trunks, mattresses ana
books mAdo excellent window BARR
eades and only q few bullets entered
the building. As q matter OF rae,
there was not q single republican shot
dead during the 0'Connell Street siege
although there were several dangerous
~ wounded.
Women Refused to Go
ION Sunday morning word came ,ha'
the Hannah Hotel was 20 be sneilso
and General Traynor ordered all WON.
en- 10 withdraw with the exception OF
Mrs. MacSwiney and Kathleen Barr
neither Of whom would 90. We ropeee
through n passage knocked througn
walls 10 the Gresham Hotel, and IN heo
Cross clothes escaped through an alley
IN the rear. On Monday we returned
20 the Hannah, as the shelling hec
not started, and again became mes,
sergeants. There were ample stores o.
provisions In the hotel cellars, and on
OF our regrets was that We eouioh
take them away before the hotels were
burned. In the rear OF the BUILDING
where we stayed we might as well nsy'
been cooking for the regular occupant
OF the hotel, for we had wonderful hte,
ard utensils and not Free state sno
came our way.
when retained 10 the Hannah OF
Monday with Shsila Barry, another SIS
ter OF Kelvin Barry. found II had peer
decided 20 evacuate all but a small
garrison. saw tears running down ID
Valera's face as he said goodbye 70
those remaining behind. That evening
with six other girls and thirty unarme'
men 7 left the Hannah for the las
time, passing through tenement mousse
a. the rear. People insisted on givin;
W food and drink although we didn'
need any. That night we all knew
there wero only sixteen men with Mrs
MacSwiney and Kathleen Barry left q
hold all the hotels against the Free
State forces.
Knew Position Was Hopeless
They knew every minute was valu'
able 70 the republican forces In gettini
the defense organized outside Dublin
but nobody expected they could holt
out for two days under heavy shelling
To the end not a single Free State
ever entered the o'Connell Stree
buildings"
When asked II the leaders didn'
know from the FIRST that the position
In Dublin was hopeless Miss Coyle re
piled:
"Of course, they did, but they hope
10 gain time. You see, all the repub
lican organizations we're modified II
the cause, but, as the present eonhie
was unexpected. they were not WHOLLY
prepared. There also were a numbe
OF republicans who were fed up OF
fighting the British, but who were com
ing 90 Dublin 20 join in the campaign
Il was necessary that these should b
allotted places and equipped. The Dub
lin lighting is only the beginning o.
the battle. When IL comes 20 moppini
up the provinces there will be dif
ferent story 70 tell"
Asked what part the republican won
en- would take now, Miss Coyle said
wen 90 back 20 our ofhces and worl
until we are needed. Then we vii
obey orders"