THE HEROISM OF A PRIEST.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 379, 23 July 1880, Page 11

THE HEROISM OF A PRIEST.

The accounts given iv the daily papers of the heroic part played by the Very Rev. M. Gibney, V.G., in connection with the attack on the outlaws at Glenrowan, is very honourable to the reverend gentleman himself, and reflects the highest credit on the Catholic priesthood. Yet those accounts fall short of the truth. Dr. Gibney, actuated by a high sense of duty, incurred a risk of life which no worldly temptation could have impelled him to take, and for which no temporal recognition could adequately reward him. We have now "received the true stoiy of that act of hip, which so nobly illustrates the devotion by which the piiest of God is actuated when he has reason to hope that a soul in peril may be saved. In the publis id reports there are some errors, which aie not unimportant, inasmuch as they detract from the merit of Father Gibncy's act. But instead of icferring particulaily to these — for which indeed we have no room ia this edition— we shall give the conect statement of the case. Father Gibney was travelling from Kilmoic, en route for Albury, on a mission of mercy, when be 1» aid of the Kelly affair. Perceiving at once that it might be possible for a Catholic clergyman to render a spiritual service at the dreadful encounter, he turned asMe, tn this more urgent work of mercy, to tl c scene of the dreadful tragedy. And rejoice he must that he did so, for he was the means of saving the unfortunate man, Cueiry, from being burnt alive. There were about £00 people on the srround when Father Gibney arrived tlure, and the prevailing impression amongst them was that, when the icverend gentleman advanced to the burning building, tLe outlaws wore still alive, together with the wounded man Cherry. Tbeie seemed to be no escape for the outlaws wish their lives. Die they should by fire inside or outside, and as to the horrible fate that awaited Cherry, there could le no doubt about that. It *as then that Father Gibney dared all to save them, for he must have known that he imperilled his life in the attempt. There was not a man in that crowd willing to accompany him. Not for £10,000 would any man, we believe, have done so ; and this is no wonder, for assuredly not the very highest offer of the kind would have been the least temptation to the brave priebt to do as he did. As other accounts state, when the crowd perceived his determination, they clapped their hands in admiration of his courage. Passing through the houso, the heat he had to endure was intense., and tbe smoke blinding, yet he made his way out through an opposite door at the back, aud, as he emerged safe, the people cheeied him loudly. Having announced that tbe outlaws were dead inside, some people ran towards him, and then— but not till then— did the police enter. They did not enter " at his heels," as has been stated, aud that they did not Inspector Sadleir can testify. The two outlaws, Kelly and Hart, were lying side by side on their backs — with bags for pillows, in such a position as proved to demonstration that each had died by his own hand. Byrne, who was shot from without, lay in that straggling position which plainly indicated that he had had no hand in his own death. — Advocate.

Kereopa drives a buggy, on the side of which his name is paintei in gold letters. At Maco. South Australia, three companies of Chinese fought the Europeans for four days, revolvers being used. M. Larcher, a French colonist from New Caledonia, has taken up a block in the Kaipara district, for the purposes of viae culture and the manufacture of wine. * A miner from the Lake Maponrika district reports that Cunningham and party struck payable gold. The new rush to Long Valley, Lake'Hawea continues to attract attention. The town of Ngapara is making r.ipiil strides.