The New York herald., 1922-08-24
COLLINS Died GUN
IN HAND Fighting
AGAINST Big ODDS|
Caught in Ambush, Leader
Expires in Arms Of His
Friends.
LAST WORD forgive
Body Arrives in Dublin for
Burial Monday in Glas-
nevin Cemetery.
FOUGHT HOUR 90 TO 200
Free State Leader Killed in
Last Stages as Rebels
Began Retreat.
FOUGHT HOUR 20 TO 200
Special Cable to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
Copyright, fe22, by THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau

Special Cable to THE NEW York HERALD.
Copyright, fe22, by THE New York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Dublin, Aug. 23.
A bullet from behind as he was
fighting beside the private soldiers Of
the army he commanded. last night
ended the life OF Michael Collins when
he and his party were caught in a
rebel ambush just outside Bealnablah,
County Cork. on the way from Ban
don to Clonakilty, Collins's birthplace.
He died almost instantly in the arms
of his friends, Generals Dalton and
O'Connell, and as they murmured
prayers over him the dying leader,
always generous, reused himself to
say:
Forgive them. Let the Dublin
brigade bury me in Glasnevin with
the boys"
Collins's body arrived in Dublin late
tonight. A guard of honor and the
Ministers of the Dali were at the dock.
The body was taken to st. Vincent's
hospital. Tomorrow the body will lie in
state in the City Hall. On Monday it
will be buried in Glasnevin cemetery.
near the grave OF Arthur Griffith. s
On an obscure and mountainous
road Collins was driving along in an
open touring car with a small escort
and whippet tank. A volley of shots
was fired by party of rebels con-
cealed at the roadside. The Collins
party leaped out of their cars and
into the ditch at the side of the road,
firing as they did so. Collins, who
was recognized expert marksman,
crouched down besides his soldiers fir
ing rapidly.
The exchange OF shots lasted nearly
an hour and then ceased entirely. The
Free Staters Kept a sharp lookout for a
while and then concluding that the rebel
ambushers had retreated started back
L, their cars. Then single shot was
fired from behind them.. striking Collins
in the head just behind the right ear,
and the leader fell. dying few moments
after.
Gloom I'm Cork.
The party. bearing the dead body OF
their leader, hastened to Cork, where 1t
was received by groups of weeping sol
diers, who loved their commander-in-
chief, as Mick" who had fought beside
them for six years.
The shops of Cork were closed to-day
and full military honors were accorded
the body of the dead leader, Bishop
Cohalan heading the procession which
escorted 1t to the harbor and on board
the steamship Classic. which sailed for
Dublin.
Dublin and all Ireland were stunned
by the news of the death OF the young
soldier statesmen who since the death
OF Arthur Griffith has appeared to his
people to be the only man in Ireland
with the combined determination and
ability to reestablish order and inaug-
urate stable government. When the
news of the tragedy was heralded on
the streets here last night men and
women wept for Ireland's loss. Every
manifestation Of ordinary gayety
throughout the city instantly ceased
and to-day was a gloomy one.
II was recalled that Collins was shot
down in the very district which at last
election returned him with 1900 votes,
the greatest personal victory any can
didate ever scored In Ireland.