The Daily Times. — 1860-07-07 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

MOTHER IN SEARCH OF HER CHILD. -`WONDERFUL ESCAPRFROM A MURDEROCS MOB.  Mrs. Sherwood went to Wicklost to get possession of one of her four kidnapped thifdren, *lio she liad heard, was there in the house of a relative, named fatal. Taking a friend with her; she Went into Farrell's cottage, ed beard from hint and his wife that the boy, about nine yeafs of age, had been with them for the last three months, athi only just gone out after his supper. The Farrells professed to send out to bring in the boy; but when their sham messages aud talk had wasted a considerable time, she went herself and saw the boy at a distance running away, and was told by some women that he had said that he was afraid lest she should put him in jail with -his grand, mother, and would not go near her. It was getting late, and the Farrellian diplomacy was giving time to the mob outside to gather, and the signs of coming wrath were already beginning to burst forth. Farrell refused to escort Mrs. Sherwood outside his house, fearing, as he said, lest the mob outside should wreck his house. He feared to take her and her friend in his boat to the railway station. They tried to go by the pathway along the sea, but descried gatherings of people waiting for them along the road. The moment they left Farrell's house a shrill whistle gave notice, and yells were instantaneously raised. Stones began to fly, and they returned to Farrell's house. Here Mrs. S. became sick, and was deadly pale, and very faint, so as not to be able to venture forth again for some time. -When she and her friend next ventured forth by the front door the shouts were raised, and the stones began to fly, and many struck them in the back and limbs. This continued along the way, one man who struck Mrs. S. with a stone in the shoulder was seized by a shopkeeper, who declared he would appear against him. As they proceeded they providentially met Sergeant Collins, who- with singular coolness, decision, and skill, managed to stop the stonethrowing, and to keep off the mob until, being joined by other policemen, they reached the barrack ; the assailed , parties were conveyed in safety to the railway station, whence the train was about to start for Dublin. Their lives were saved by the timely aid of the sergeant, who showed by his bearing that he possessed all the sagacity and all the courage which the dangerous juncture called for. Had the Farrels, under the fear of the Court of Queen's- Bench, given up the child, humanly speaking, both Mrs. Sherwood and her hazardous friend must have been torn to pieces -by the furious mob, who evidently had gathered for the rescue; and Dr. Cullen's kidnapping subjects in Wicklow would have added the crime of murder and manslaughter to the virtue of childstealing, for the honour and glory of holy motherchureh. The ferocity of the Wicklow mob was, perhaps, never matched by any outside the walls of the far-famed Tuam. The annals of the Sherwood case may yet furnish instances of various traits of Irish life, and Roman Catholic principles and pursuits, which will make many of our neighbours stare at the curiosities of religion and morals here, which still outlive the progress of the age and the steady advance of Christian civilisation.