THE IRISH REVOLT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11731, 22 June 1916, Page 3

THE IRISH REVOLT.

NOTORIOUS REBELS EXECUTED. PRISON CELL DRAMA. [From Our Correspondent.] LONDON, May 9. Tho full death-roll of the short-lived Sinn Fein revolt in Ireland has yet to he told, but apart from the few rebel leaders who have paid tho extreme penalty for their folly, it seems certain that the toll of dead among soldiers, civilians and revolutionists will not fall short of 300. As regards the treatment of the rebels, tho Government, through Sir John Maxwell, seems to be exercis- I | ' ing o very full measure of clemency. Sentences of death are plentiful, but in most cases the Court Martial's decisions havo been overridden by Sir John and the sentences commuted to terms of ponal servitude. For example, twentyone death sentences were passed in two days by the Court Martial, but in only one case was the extreme pdnalty exacted; namely, that of tho notorious ■'Major" M'Bride, whoso measure of treason to the Empire was indeed full and running over. John M'Brido was the man who organised an " Irish Brigade " on the side of the Boers in the £>outh African war. Whilo he was actually fighting against the British he was nominated as a Parliamentary candidate in South Mayo on the retirement of Mr Davitt, but better counsels prevailed and his namo was withdrawn. After peace was signed he went to Paris, where he was married to Miss Maud Gonne, herself notorious in Irish revolutionary circles. Their period of wedded bliss was short, and presently tho world was not surprised to hear that the lady had divorced M'Bride. He returned to Ireland under the amnesty and was found a post under the Dubliu Corporation. Thus far the only woman dealt with by Court Partial is the notoriety-hunt-ing Countess Constance Markieviez, who was condemned to death, but whose sentence has been commuted to one of penal servitude for life. In all probability, however, the Coipitess will be given her freedom long before oven respectable middle-age claims her for its own. It is to be hoped that . this fanatical creature ' will be allowed to suffer something more than a few years of mere imprisonment in name { for she fully deserves very severe punishment. She was one of tho most active fomenters of and leaders in the rebellion. Dressed as a man, entirely Tn greengreen tunic, green hat with a green feather in it, green trousers, puttees and boots—she was finally surrounded with a body of 120 rebels, who were in possession of. the Royal College of Surgeons. As slie surrendered to the British officer she kissed her revolver hefore handing it to him. Tho Countess is the daughter of Sir Henry William Gore-Booth, of Lissadell. Co. Sligo. She was an art student in Paris when she met Count Markieviez, a Polo, and married him in 1900. She is a splendid horsewoman, and is well known in London society, where slie spent several seasons. She went to Manchester to oppose Mr Winston Churchill, when sho worked with her sister, Miss Eva Gore-Booth, in championing the cause of the barmaids affected by tho Licensing Bill. At that time she told an interviewer that she "believed in Sinn Fein and in liberty and justice for women and for countries. Fair play for everybody all round is what I want." In 1913 she was much to the front in the great labour troubles in Dublin, having become an enthusiastic supporter of the notorious "Jim" Larkin and his following at Liberty Hall In January last her home at Rathmines was raided by the police, when a printing press which had been used for printing pro-German literature was discovered and confiscated. THE PLUNKETT DRAMA. Two dramatic events occurred in connection with tho execution of the rebel leader Joseph Plunkett. The first was his marriage" on the morning of his execution, and the second the arrest of his father and mother, Count and Countess Plunkett. The story of the marriage, which took place in the man's prison cell, is told as follows: "Joseph Plunkett. ■tho rebel leader who was shot' on Thursday morning, was married in prison a few hours before his execution, to Miss Grace Glfford, tho sister of Mrs MacDonagh. tho widow of the rebel MacDonagh, who was tho first to suffer the death penalty in connection with tho insurrection." In tho list of marriages which appeared in the "Irish Times" on Saturday morning there appeared ft tho following notice: —"Plunkett aM Gifford—May 3. 1916, at Dublin, Joseph Plunkett to Grace Gifford." Inquiries show that the wedding ring purchased bv Miss Gilford on Wednesday at a Dublin jeweller's. When showing her some rings the proprietor of the shop noticed that she was deeply agitated, and expressed the hope that she wns not. in any trouble. Miss Gifford broke dpwn, and informed the shopkeeper thru she was the fiancee of Joseph Plunkett, who was under sentence of death, and was to be married to him upon the morning of his execution. The arrest of Count and Count-ess Plunkett took place in Dublin on Saturday. For some years past Count Plunkett, whoso title is a papal one. has been the curator of the- National Museum of Ireland. Ho and his wife, a woman of considerable means, are well-known in Dublin society, and have been prominent workers in local philanthropic causes. The Count lias

also some reputation in artistic • and - literary circles as a connoisseur and "BUSINESS AS USUAL." Mr R-entoul Brown, a student of Trinity College, Dublin, gives an interesting glimpse of the scholastic view of the Sinn Fein revolt. One would have imagined that such things as examinations would have been among the first of the scheduled items of the daily round in Dublin to "go by the board," and especially in a' case, where tho examination was to ba. held in a place to reach which many of the students would have to run risks from the bullets of the rebels and. the soldiery operating against them.. Apparently, however, the examiners of Trinity College looked, upon the insurrection as something which ought not to be allowed to interfere with their appointed task, and _ though it seems many of the examinees exercised a wise discretion, and _ gave a wide berth to the examination hall, there were, it appears, soine who were willing to take the risks of attendanoe on ths off chance that the learned professors would insist ou "business as usual." i_ : Carrving his college gown over lus arm. Mr llentoul Brown proceeded unmolested to that seat of learning. Keciting his experiences m a Dublin newspaper, he says: _ "The gates of tho University are shut. Tho front windows are 'sandbagged.' One can see the muzzles or rifles protruding. I wave the gown at the gat-os. A porter takes notice lam admitted. I meet some friends. Everybody is wondering 1 if the examination will ho held. "VJe find that the examination will take place as usual. Trinity is held by some members of the Officers Training Corps, who happen to be in college in holiday time. Some_ Tommies on leave are gradually filtering in for protection. " Ought I to join the garrison or stand my examination? lam a member of the O.T.C. I decide to try tho examination. I am ready to seize a riflo if the college is attacked. Only seventeen turn up to be examined; 100 might havo been here under normal conditions. Tho examination begins. It is difficult to .fix the mind on logic, astronomy and mathematical physics. Try to fix my mind on the demand of the examiners for grounds of the ancients. During recreation time a fusillade begins. It seems as though the rebels are storming the gates. Wo rush to seize rifles, and wo are told that blanks are being fired to show that Trinity is manned against tho insurgents. "In the evening I left college'by a side gate and made my way back to my lodgings. The rebels could be seen in the College of Surgeons. Tho < Irish Republic-' flag was floating in the breeze. Again on Wednesday morning I made my way to the gates of the "historic University. The place was now crowded with military. Only about half the students of the day before came to be examined. The firing was terrific on this day, and yet examiners worn as exacting as ever in probinsr our knowledge. A Sinn Feiner was lying dead in one of the passages.-, Although the rebellion has brought ruin to homes, people have treated the whole affair with philosophic calm. The spirit of humour has been as keen as ever before."