There were some Presbyterians among them?
Eh? and his hand went up to his ear.
The ladys axin if there wasnt Presbyterians wi the United Men, father, said his daughter.
Troth, was there, maam! it was allowed that there was ministers an farmers an shopkeepers o them. Jack was a Presbyterian himsel.
How was he taken prisoner?
I dinna just mind, but I think it was at a meeting they had at a house in Feeny. The alarm was given that the soldiers was coming, and all fled an got away but Jack. He was a fine boy of nineteen years of age, the support o his mother. He was stiff in his turn, too, far stiffer nor I could ha been, for he swore hed die afore hed tell upon his comrades. Ay, he was stiffer nor me.
True for you, father, laughed the old woman, leaning over Paddys chair; youd ha told sooner nor be scourged.
We recalled Paddys naïve history of his flight from the pass on the White Mountain and mentally agreed with her. Paddy, however, was an Irishman pure, while Jack McSparron was descended from the Scottish Covenanters, and had inherited from them the fortitude of an Ephraim MacBriar.
Go on, Paddy; your story is most interesting.
The old man smiled, but he was hardly thinking of his visitors, the picture brought back by memory so engrossed him.
Jack wouldna gie the names o his comrades, an he was sentenced to be flogged till he would tell. I mind Niel Sweenie, that was a comrade boy o mine, an me went to Dungiven to see the flogging. We seen Jack in a cart an his mother wi him, an all the way along the road she was laying her commands upon him to die before hed betray his comrades. The army was marching all round the cart, an people frae all the farmhouses an cottierhouses was following. Then we got into Dungiven. I mind the crowds that was looking on, an me an Niel among them.
Jack got so many lashes, an then theyd stop an the officer would ax him if he would tell now, an the old woman would call out, Dinna give in, Jack. Die like a man, my son. Think o the curses o the widows an orphans that wad follow you; an the poor boy would make answer, Ay, mother, Ill die before I tell.
Dear, dear, but that mother was the hard-hearted woman! interrupted Paddys daughter, glancing at her grandson, who happened to pass the door at that moment with a creel of turf on his back.
Paddy did not heed her interruption; he was embarked on the full tide of recollection the horrible scene lived again before him. They gave him a great many lashes, he continued; I dinna mind how many hundred it was, an each time they stopped he was asked if he would tell, an his mother still bid him die like a man, an his answer was still the same. At long an at last the officer called out Stop! would you kill a game bird? an he was took down an put in the guard-room for the night.
Niel an me was invited in to tak a look at him, an we seen him lying on his face on a table wi an ointment shirt on that the soldiers had thrown over him. The officers gave orders that the whole country was to see him if they liked. I think they wanted to scare the United Men.
He was to be took to Limavady the next day for the sentence to be carried out there, so the whole country took a holiday again to see the rear o the flogging. Jack an his mother was in the cart, an the army marchin wi them, an me an Niel an a crowd o neighbors following along the road to Limavady.
The mother called out to us, Im going wi his living funeral, says she; but Ill gie him the same advice I did yesterday, says she.
When we reached Limavady he was tied up, an we were watching for the lash to fall, when there was a great shout an we seen a man galloping up the street as hard as his horse could go, waving something white over his head. It was a pardon come from Dublin for Jack McSparron.
I am glad the pardon came, for he was an heroic youth, rebel though he was.
Ay, cried the old man, he wouldna be an informer. Theres few o his sort left in Ireland now, mores the pity mores the pity!
The fire in his voice told us plainly where his sympathies really were. Not, certainly, with murdered landlords, bailiffs, or non-land-league farmers!
Did Jack live to be an old man?
Ay, did he. He died itll be sixteen year past next Candlemas. Theres a daughter o his married on a farmer not very far from this. The McSparrons in this parish is all proud o being his friends. When ane o them shows himsel a gude comrade or neighbor, the people says, Ay, hes o the blood of Jack McSparron.
Tragedies at Maghera
Mrs. Majilton was in a state of much excitement one day in the summer of 98 because parties of soldiers were passing her house one after another. Her house was close to the high-road, half-way between Feeny and Dungiven, and stood in a comfortable little farmyard. She was a Church Protestant, dreadfully afraid of the rebels, and consequently very glad to see the red-coats in the country. They had been marching past her house all morning, and she had stood at the door with the baby in her arms, wishing them God speed.
The men had exchanged a cheerful greeting with her now and then, and as they went by she caught some of their conversation; the word Maghera was repeated over and over again. They were marching to Maghera; no time must be lost; they could not delay for refreshment or rest. The day wore on, and a party of stragglers stopped at her door, young lads, mere recruits, who had lagged behind the main body, not being able to endure the hardships of their forced march from Londonderry as well as the older men. Their sergeant, a bronzed veteran, asked the good woman to give them a drink of water, for the love of God.
I have sworn at the poor fellows till Im hoarse, maam; but theyre giving up, and I must let them rest a minute.
Mrs. Majilton ran to lay the baby in its cradle; then she opened the barrel, filled a large bowl half full of oatmeal, poured water upon it, and handed it to the men, who sat down in the yard, and passed the bowl from one to another.
Thats both meat and drink, said they, gratefully.
Our orders are to hurry on to Maghera without stopping, for weve got to burn it to the ground, said the sergeant.
God bless me, sir, whats occurring at Maghera?
She knew that Maghera was a country town farther off than Dungiven. Some of her neighbors had been there, but she had never travelled so far herself. The sergeant told her that news had reached Derry that the rebels were in force at Maghera, and were murdering all who refused to join them. There were few newspapers in those days, and no penny post; rumor spread and perhaps exaggerated the evil tidings. It was said that a young girl combing her hair beside her hearth had been shot dead by a party of men who came to look for her father. They looked in at the window, saw her, and murdered her out of revenge because her father had escaped them. And now, concluded the sergeant, our orders are that Maghera is to be destroyed.
Mrs. Majilton, who knew her Bible well, remembered the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah, and of Nineveh that wicked city; and she thought the soldiers were the Lords instruments to execute His judgment upon Maghera.
When the party of recruits got as far as Dungiven they found that counter-orders had come Maghera was not to be burnt after all; but sufficient troops to quiet the country were to be sent on, while the remainder halted at Dungiven. We shall accompany two of the soldiers who pressed forward. As they neared the town, scenes of desolation met them on every hand deserted houses, smouldering thatch, burnt stackyards. They were told that the rebels had taken to the mountains when they heard the troops were coming. The men separated; some explored one road, some another, hoping to inclose the enemy in a net.
Mrs. Majilton, who knew her Bible well, remembered the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah, and of Nineveh that wicked city; and she thought the soldiers were the Lords instruments to execute His judgment upon Maghera.
When the party of recruits got as far as Dungiven they found that counter-orders had come Maghera was not to be burnt after all; but sufficient troops to quiet the country were to be sent on, while the remainder halted at Dungiven. We shall accompany two of the soldiers who pressed forward. As they neared the town, scenes of desolation met them on every hand deserted houses, smouldering thatch, burnt stackyards. They were told that the rebels had taken to the mountains when they heard the troops were coming. The men separated; some explored one road, some another, hoping to inclose the enemy in a net.
As Privates John Buckley and Tom Green advanced up one of these mountain roads they were appalled by the terrible loneliness of the place. Here a farmhouse stood empty, its door hanging off the hinges; there were blackened circles where stacks of corn had been; again they saw a cottage with a smouldering thatch, and no sign of life near, excepting a starved cat that prowled about the door.
The rebels had clearly passed that way; those were the marks they had left behind them. At length, where the lane seemed about to lose itself in a mountain pass, they came to a cottage whose door stood open. It looked like a comfortable small farmers homestead: a pretty garden, gay with common flowers, was at one side of the house; there were laburnums and lilacs just out of blossom; red and white roses in full blossom; tall orange lilies with bursting buds; rows of peas and beans and plots of cabbages. The whole place had a civilized air, and reminded the Englishmen of their own homes. The pretty green railing and rustic gate; the orderly stackyard and offices, gave an impression of neatness, taste, and comfort unusual in that country.
The men went into the kitchen of the farmhouse. There was no fire upon the hearth. The turf had burnt to ashes under a great black pot of potatoes that hung upon the crook, and two children sat disconsolately leaning against each other beside the cold hearth.
Buckley explored the room, and Green the loft; there was no trace of human being to be found; the children were the only inmates of the place.
The eldest child, a little girl of about four years old, with pretty blue eyes and curly hair, looked up curiously, but did not move. Her tiny brother was too languid to raise his head from her shoulder.
Are you alone in the house? asked Green.
Ay, replied the child.
Where are your father and mother?
They are sleeping in the garden; they ha been there this good wee while, answered the little one, fixing her serious eyes upon them. Come, an Ill show you where they are.
She got up, gave her hand confidingly to the man, and led him to the garden, the other soldier following; and behind the cabbages they found a man and woman lying in a heap, stiff and cold, having evidently been piked to death.
Come back to the house, my little dear, cried Green, drawing the poor innocent away from the cruel sight. Her little brother still sat where they had left him, leaning his sick head against the wall. He was very faint and weak.
Have you nothing to eat? asked the men.
My mammy has bread an butter in the kist, but she has the key in her pocket, replied the little girl. They broke open the chest and found the food; but they had arrived too late to save the boy: he died in Buckleys arms before they reached Maghera. Green carried the girl and presented her to his company. Each soldier subscribed toward her maintenance, and she grew up among them, the pet and plaything of all. She accompanied the regiment to England at the close of the rebellion, and nothing further was known of her by her old neighbors.
Micky ODonnels Wake
Wildest of all the wild Donegal coast is the region lying between Fannet Lighthouse and Knockalla Fort. There are impassable bogs and mountain fastnesses which strangers cannot explore, but that are safe resorts for illicit distillers, the blue wreaths of smoke from whose stills may be seen curling against a dark background. In the years 97 and 98 these fastnesses were favorite haunts of the United Irishmen.
Fannet had a particularly bad name in those unsettled times. The Church Protestants were, of course, loyal, but they formed only a handful of the population; and the Presbyterians were, many of them, banded with the rebels. The Fannet landlords raised a company of yeomen, consisting of the Protestants aforesaid, and placed themselves at their head.
Help was at hand. Lord Cavan was sent over from England in command of soldiers; Knockalla Fort was garrisoned; and the yeomanry were called up to receive their arms and ammunition.
You needna be giving the like of us arms, my lord, said old Anthony Gallagher, for the Catholics will take them from us.
Lord Cavan was amused at the fellows outspokenness, and replied that he had come over to make Fannet so quiet that not one of the rebels would venture so much as to speak. The yeomen got their guns and bayonets, and the soldiers were ready to support them. Lord Cavan, a stern and fierce soldier, kept his word; he quieted Fannet so that the Catholics did not dare to speak. The Protestants had been reduced to an abject state of terror before his arrival by the horrible murder of Dr. Hamilton their rector, a zealous magistrate, who was followed to the house of a neighboring clergyman and shot. He went to spend the night with a brother-rector at some distance from Fannet, and the rectory was surrounded by United Irishmen, who clamored that the Doctor should be given up to them.
Those are Fannet men; I know their voices, said he. The door was soon burst open; the attacking party rushed in, found the family in the garrets, and dragged their captive downstairs. He clung with both hands to the banisters, and one of the women servants took a candle and held the flame to his fingers till he was forced to let go his hold. He was taken to the lawn and his brains were blown out.
This atrocity had determined the Government to send troops to Fannet.
It was soon after this that Anthony Gallagher and the troop he served in were at Kerrykeel fair and were attacked by a party of the rebels. The yeomen were commanded to draw their bayonets and beat them off, and all the United Men retreated and got away except a man called Micky ODonnel from Ballywhoriskey, at the Bottom of Fannet. He was found dead on the street, pierced through the heart. Lord Cavan rode up at that moment, followed by men from the Fort. Take that corpse with you, boys, said he, an hang it in chains from the walls of Knockalla Fort. It will be a warning to the rest of the villains. Anthony and two soldiers were left in charge of the corpse, but the villagers assembling in force, there was a rescue, and Micky ODonnel was carried off before the yeomen got back, attracted by the noise of shouting, to protect their comrades. Lord Cavan was in a rage when he heard what had happened, and swore a round oath that that corpse should yet hang in chains from Knockalla Fort as a warning to the rest of Fannet; and he despatched a party to recover it.
It was known that Micky ODonnel belonged to the Bottom of Fannet, so the party set out along the banks of Mulroy, where they fell in with the yeomen, and all went on together. But every house along the road was empty, and there were no men at work in the fields; it was like a country of the dead.
Along the wild Atlantic shore; among the bent-covered sand hills; up to the miserable row of hovels called the town of Shanna, went the soldiers; but still not a human being was to be seen. The whole population had taken to the mountains.