MR O'BRIEN'S ESCAPE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2093, 20 March 1889, Page 2

MR O'BRIEN'S ESCAPE

NOKAH O'NEIU.. The story of Mr O'Brien's escape from Oartlok ia most exciting. 4. correspondent of the Preßß Aaeooiatlon writes: — A correspondent In Dublin who was at Osrrick-on-Sulr on Friday had an interview with one of tbe yonng men who assisted Mr O'Brien to elude the police and get away from tbe town. He gives the following account of the interview:— MR O'BBIBN RUNS. The young man said that while the gallery was being cleared Mr O'Brien ros* from hfs seat qnfokly and got mixed op with the peopla, who were being put oat of Court; and that when Mr Bodkin, Resident Magistrate, called on the police to detain Mr B?ien, Sergeant Brophy made a rash and caught the hon. gentle* 1 man by the throat. As he did so two youDg men of power fal build crushed themselves between the sergeant and his oaptlve with such foroe as to separate them, the sergeant taking sway m his hand Mr O'Brien's neoktle and collar. Mr O'Brien was thos let free at the Ooorthouse door just at the moment the police outside the Courthouse got orders to disperse the crowd, which they did. Mr O'Brien m the darkness got mixed up la the crowd, and ran with It. My Informant, who had followed Mr O'Brien, whispered to the hon . gentleman to follow him, which he confidingly did, and running quickly by the end of the oonvant, eighty yards distant, they dashed . up a narrow dark land by the side of the chapel to a respectable house In a baok street. They whispered to the people, "Mr O'Brien," ss they still fan. "All : right, sir," was the reply. ASYLUM AND TEA In a few seconds, unobserved, they turned Into Miss O'Neill's bakery premises m William street " ftllis O'Neill," wag the explanation, " this Is Mr O'Brien; will you Rive him shelter t The police are on his track." "This way," «he exclaimed, leading the way into the kitoheu. Once leourely there, the yonng fellows who tore Mr O'Brien from the sergeant joined them, and their counsel was taken aa to the coarse to be pursued. Miss O'Neill suggested that be ,'should remain for the night ; but Mr O'Brien replied that be would leave Carriok. "If yon must go," said one of his companions, "you must be disguised. I will get you a slouoh hat (a detoriptlon of soft hat worn by farmers In that part of tbe country), and an old f rlez ) coat, and then you'll look like an old farmer " Mr O'Brien laughingly con. aented to be dressed In habtlments not his own. "There's another thing,"" said one of the young men; "are you game enough, Miss O'Neill, to take Mr O'Brien's arm as he goes through the street ? That would knock the peelers completely off the scant." "I would sacrifice my life to save you, Mr O'Brleo," was the reply. One of the young men left at this polat, and Mr O'Brien sat down and partook of tea m tbe kitchen, DISGUISED AS A DBOVBB. In a short time the young man returned with a soft hat and shabby looking, muob> worn coat, the property of a oattle and pig drover A shawl, such aa country vnnen wear, was prooured for Mist O'Neill, and as Mr O'Brien and bit companion stood m the kitchen ready for flight he laughed heartily, exclaiming, " A autt of ' blarney ' could oot bold a oandle to this. What a pity we haven't a photographer present to take as I" The young men then left to see if the streets were clear. One of them proceeded to the rear of tbe oonvent, saw a force of police stationed »s if suspicion rested there, and on bis return it was decided to go by New* street, Finding no person m William* street, Mr O'Brien, with Miss O'Neill pn his arm, proceeded Into New-street. At this time there was rioting m the direction of Main-street, and the bulk of tbe polioa foroe was stationed m that direction. MB O'BEIEN PRETENDS TO BE DBUOTC. Scarcely had they got thirty yards down the street, which was then m darkness— oare having been taken that the two lampß at the corner of the street ehould not be lighted— when half a dozen police came hurriedly up against them. When about ( ten yards off Miss O'Neill exclaimed, loud" enough for them to hear her fl Can't you? keep steady, or the police will take you ?• and, acting on the suggestion, Mr O'Brien gave a gruff reply, euoh as a man under the iijfluence of driDk might be expected! to make. "You had beter get along: quietly," eaid the sergeant m charge, " or I'll give you a night's lodging m the barracks." Don't mind him," said Miss O'Neill, ".VII take charge of him." "Very well," replied the sergeant, as he and his' men turned up the town. Said Mr O'Brien, "By Jovel Miss O'Neill, that was 'a narrow shave 1" to which she replied, " You played the part splendidly." In the darkness tbey reaohed the Fair Green, where Mr O'Brien was joined by one of the young men before alluded to. The Fair Green is situated on the outskirts of the town, and almost at the end of it runs the Waterford and Limerick railway. Half-way across the green, Bir O'Brien thanked Miss O'Neill and bade her goodbye. He and his male attendant then proceeded into the oountry m the dark*. nets.