The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1922-08-24
MULTITUDE
PAY TRIBUTE
AS Michael Collins Body Is
Taken Through Dub
lin Streets
DRAPED IN TRI-
COLOR OF IRELAND
One Of Fighting Party
Tells Vivid Story Of
Fatal Ambush

Dublin, Aug. "a tBv the Associated
Press Draped in the tricolor Of Ire
land, the coffin containing the body Of
Michael Collins, slain chief of the free
state government. was landed here
| early to-day from the steamer Classic
and later borne through the streets
amid an impressive tribute from the
assembled multitude
General Collins body was met at
the dock by large throngs of mourners,
including Richard Mulcahy, chief Of
| staff. The body was taken on gun
carriage preceded by band of pipers,
to st. vincent's hospital
Prayers were said as the procession
passed in silence, broken only by the
distant crack OF snipers' rifles in va
rious parts of the grief stricken city
The cortege was fianked by line of
Dublin guards marching in slow time,
with the muzzles of their revolvers
protruding from the holsters.
Immediately behind came an armed
car bristling with rifles held at all an
giles, comprising an incongruous ending
to the mournful procession. Several
men who were wounded in the fighting
near Bandon, County Cork. Tuesday
night, in which Collins lost bis life,
had accompanied their beloved leaders
body on the sea voyage to Dublin
Among the little band of fighting
men who made the last stand with
Collins and who followed the body of
the slain hero through the Dublin
streets with lowered head, and tear
blinded eyes, was bcyish figure
wearing a ragged civilian coat and
tweed cap. Across his shoulders he
carried a machine gun, the same gun
with which he said afterwards, he had
poured hail Of lead into Collins at
tackers.
After the procession, he told an in
terviewer in shy and diffident man
ner, and in voice often choked by
emotion, a vivid story Of the fatal
ambush.
"The car in which Collins was rid
ing" he said, was the first to meet
the ambushers' fire. There were at
least go of them against twelve Of
us. 1t was about o'clock when we
passed through the village. We had
not gone over 400 yards along the road.
when from both sides we we're caught
by deadly criss-cross OF machine
gun fire.
AThe driver Of Collins car wanted to |
drive at full speed but the general
ordered him to halt and told us to |
take cover. He took command OF the
whole situation and directed the fire |
against the attackers for nearly an |
hour. Two machine guns kept up in
cessant firing at Mick's open car, hut |
up to then no one had been hurt, and /
il began to look as though the irregu-
lars we're going to scatter in order to |
risk no more casualties.
1T was during lull in the at
tackers' fire that Mick noticed a sniper
creeping on hands and knees some dis
tance down the road behind him. Mick |
went about dozen yards
in his direction with the object Of stop
ping further movement in the rear of
the party At that moment heavy fir
ing swept across the road from both
sides. The gun in the whippet ar
mored car which followed had jammed,
Iessening the effect Of osr fire.
''The sudden burst OF shooting
caused Mick to turn around for few
seconds, and the next moment I saw
him fall to the ground shot through
the head As he lay dying he shouted
words Of encouragement to- his men 20
go on firing and not mind him. I'm
4-f H.
God. Mick is shot Men rushed TO his
assistance. Although bleeding freely
from terribly lacerated wound. he
lived fifteen minutes, during which he
continued to FIRE his revolver
The body was later removed from
he hospital mortuary, where il was
irst taken to the hospital chapel. I'M
Ter the vigilance Of guard Of honor
hosen from the national army. the
lead generals relatives and friends WIS.,
ted the chapel during the morning
lours. and large crowds passed by the
,ier throughout the day.
Collins body was attired in the uni
orm Of commsnder-in-ch chief. with his
evolver still left in its holder. Even
n death. the pale features Of the ma
ional hero wore the appearance OF de-
erminstio
Collins Law dressed exactly a. he met
lis death. the uniform bearing the /
rimson stain which told the story Of
he end Poignant scenes were wit
essed in the little chapel as the mourn
r. came and went
Miss Kitty Herman. Collins fancee, .
md his sister. Miss Powell Collins,
rere among the first 20 enter the chap
l. After them others came in q steady :
tresm. many Of them lingering before Z
he body and reluctant 90 leave H.
fsny kissed the forehead Of Ireisnd's
cad commsnder-in-chief
Meanwhile. nuns moved silently ~
nd fro in the pale light Of the can
les. Sir John Livery stood beside the
ofin with q canvas. painting = por.
rait Of the dead hero.