MICHAEL DWYER, THE '98 LEADER. SOME HAIR-BREADTH ESCAPES.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVI, Issue 29, 24 November 1898, Page 27

MICHAEL DWYER, THE '98 LEADER. SOME HAIR-BREADTH ESCAPES.

IM£me time ago we gave our readers a brief notice of the life of the great leader of the Wicklow insurgents, Michael Dwyer, to whose memory a noble monument has been erected in Sydney. A breezy article in the current number of the Austral Light (Melbourne) gives one of the beat of the brief biographies of the Wicklow outlaw that we have seen. He is described as a man of fine physique, being sft 11 Jin high, and powerfully and symmetrically built. His only defect was the loss of the left thumb, which he had accidentally shot off. The history of his daring adventures and hair-breadth escapes (says the writer in the Austral Light) would fill volumes. The Government left no effort untried, by fair or foul means, to effect his capture or death. A reward was put on his head, and special inducements held out to his comrades to betray him. But in spite of the fiercest persecution, and notwithstanding the magnitude of the reward, not a solitary individual of the peasantry was found to betray him. On the contrary, they kept him informed of the motions of his enemies, as well as amply supplied — of course, in secret — with provisions and ammunition. But though every effort for his capture or death failed, chance sometimes nearly succeeded in doing for his enemies what fear or favour failed to do. The marvellous tact, promptitude, and presence of mind of the insurgent chief brought him, however, safely out of every difficulty. On one of these occasions, as he was on a iourney to see his wife, he was almost captured. With eight comrades he left the safety of the mountains and travelled along the plain. While resting at the house of a Mr. Steele he was informed that his escape was cut off by a large body of soldiers — about 400 in number — who were at that moment surrounding the house. Mr. Steele invited him to the choice of the best horses in his stable, and urged him — a needless injunction — to spare neither whip nor spur, as in their swiftness lay his only chance of escape. The soldiers, well mounted and armed, congratulated themselves at having at last run down their quarry. Their csrtainty of his capture contributed largely to his escape, for, thinking that no human agency could prevent him falling into their hands, they somewhat relaxed their usual caution and expedition. Meanwhile, Dwyer and his men, having jumped on their horses, made a dash for liberty. Along the highway, skirting the base of Kaigeen Hill, they rode with desperate speed. The soldiers, taken by surprise, lost some time before they took up the pursuit. But their horses, being fresh and of excellent breed and quality, soon gained upon the outlaws. Dwyer, seeing the hopelessness of escape at their present rate of progress, whispered to his men to throw themselves off their horses, and jump over the fence that intervened between them and the base of the hill. The order was no sooner given than executed. Indeed, so quickly was it done that the soldiers were unable to sling their carbines. But the insurgents, on the contrary, using the fence a3 a rampart, took deadly and effective aim. From a long course of practice their fire was nearly always sure, and on this ocoasionevery shot found its destined mark. Leaving nine of their comrades dead on the rot'iside, the soldiers retired out of the range of the enemy's fire to devise some means to kill or capture their antagonists, without exposing their own lives to further dangrer. Captain Hume, the officer in command, now rode forward, waviDg a white handkerchief as a flag of truce. ' Are you there, Dwyer V he oried in an authoritative voice. ' I am,' was the reply. ' Then surrender to me, and I promise to use all my influence with the Government to save your life. If you decline there can be no hope for you, as it is impossible you can now escape.' ' But for your father's benevolence and generosity, I would answer you, despite your so-called flag of truce, with a bullet. In respect for your family I now spare your life, but beware of how you cross my path again. As for us we neither give nor expect quarter. Here we Btand until death, in defiance of you all.' The boldness of Dwyer's answer created uncertainty and hesitation among the soldiers. The chieftain and his men availed themselves of this inaction by creeping for a considerable distance along the fence, and then striking boldly for the summit of Kaigeen Hill. The advantage thus gained was greatly counterbalanced by their want of horses and of shelter in the country through which they were now forced to run. The soldiers, delighted at seeing their enemy in the open, gave immediate chase. The outlaws were swift, and, from long practice, durable runners, but with the pursuers so close upon them they could not possibly reach the summit of the

mountain in safety. Fortunately for them, on their route lay the famous rath of Krishuna, and in its immediate vicinity a farmer's residence, the premises of which nearly approached the wall or mound of the rath. Any of these offered a little breathing respite and a chance, if not of escape* of at least' selling their lives "dearly. Accordingly they made for the rath as affording the best ohaticie of refuge, and plunging into the gorse and brushwood, with,whici the place was overgrown, were completely hidden from view. The rath was surrounded and entered from every side, and a storm of bullets fired again and again into the brushwood. The only indication of the presence of the outlaws was the falling of a trooper, dead or wounded, out of his saddle. The brushwood being prickly and closely matted, the horses absolutely refused to enter it, and what with their furious plunging and the deadly fire of the insurgents as shot after shot took effect on the exposed soldiers, the attacking party became utterly disorganised. Meanwhile a heavy fog had set in, and the premises of the farmer took fire — two events most fortunate for the patriots. For in the confusion and the discomfiture of the troopers they crept from their hiding-place, and through the smoke and fog succeeded in escaping unperceived to the mountain. In this encounter they lost one man, while of the 400 who pursued them a little over 300 answered to their names at roll-call. AT ST. KEVIN'S BED. Colonel M'Donald, with a force of Highlanders, pursued him on another occasion to St. Kevin's Bed, one of his retreats, in famed Glendalough. When the Highlanders arrived at the spot where they expected to find him, they saw but an immense rook, rising, at the foot of Lugduff Mountain, dark and preoipitous out of the beautiful lake which, extending a mile along the valley, terminated at their feet at the base of the rook. It seemed absolutely impossible for any human being to climb the rook, even if therew&sa motive, which apparently there was not. A spy acquainted with the locality, now came forward and pointed but a steep, narrow, and scarcely perceptible path — difficult and dangerous of ascent— along the side of the rock. The short sharp crack of a carabine awakened the echoes of the valley, and the spy fell dead, with a bullet through his brain, at the feet of his employers. The highlanders, active, brawny men, and accustomed to mountain climbing, essayed the perilous attempt of taking the insurgent chief, dead or alive, in his stronghold. A dozen of them, in single file, slowly, cautiously, and surely climbed the path -pointed out by the spy. His death or capture seemed now assured, for he could not, without' exposing his body to the fire of their comrades, prevent the advance of the soldiers. The first man arriving at the mouth of the cave paused to adjust his balance before taking the final step which would bring him face to face with the chieftain. Before, however, he could accomplish his purpose he was suddenly seized in the strong, sinewy grasp of his enemy. There was a flash of steel, a groan, and the Highlander fell, a corpse, into the still waters below. The second, man, unconscious of the fate. of his comrade, in due time arrived at the fatal spot. Again was the same thrilling scene enacted. He was seized in the deadly grasp of the chieftain, the dagger penetrated his breast, and. with a groan he tumbled backwards a corpse. The third man met the same fate a* his comrades. Realising the tragic position of his men, and horrified at what he had seen, the colonel shouted at the others to return. He then sent to the nearest military station for a supply of ladders and other scaffolding material, by means of which to storm the outlaw in force. Meanwhile the day was waning and night was slowly closing in. A careful watch was ordered to be kept on the mouth of the cave. Fires were lighted to illumine the face of rock, but the effort was but partially successful. In his anger and anxiety the colonel swore Dwyer would escape in the darkness. A derisive laugh, shouted from the opposite bank of the lake, and echoed and reechoed from the rock and mountains that overhung its peaceful waters, intimated too surely that he had indeed escaped. Creeping in the darkness from his retreat he jumped into the waters beneath — a height of 30ft — and swimming to the opposite shore — a quarter of a mile distant — was, of course, safe from further pursuit. A WRESTLING MATCH. Throughout his adventurous career he never met as good a man as himself, and his associates confidently believed that in Ireland or out of it he had not an equal, much less a superior. His great muscular strength and endurance, his utter ignorance of fear, and his marvellous finesse and presence of mind succeeded in overthrowing every opponent. There was, however, an OrangemaD, named Jack Sutcliffe, in the district who longed to meet him in fair and open combat. Mrs. Dwy er , hearing the Orangeman express the con viotion that he was a better man than the chieftain, conveyed the boast to

her husband. Sutcliffe was a man of gigantic stature — being six feet two incheß in height, or about two inches taller than Dwyer, of great; agility, and a courage and tenacity as impervious as Dwyer's. Learning that Sutcliffe was regaling himself in a public house in Imale, the chieftain presented himself before him. ' Well, Sutcliffe,' said he, ' are you still of the opinion you are a better man than I r 1 1 am,' replied Sutcliffe. • Well then," rejoined Dwyer, ' the conditions being equal, let us now decide the question once and forever.' • All right,' said Sutcliffe, ' I am willing.' The two men, having divested themselves of their outer clothing, faced each other in all the beauty of their ideal manhood. Outside of Imale it would perhaps be impossible to find two such fine types of manly strength and excellence. Sutcliffe had the advantage in size and weight — Dwyer in endurance and activity. The conditions of the fight were that the best man, by any means whatever, could win. For two hours they fought without much advantage on either side. Dwyer at olose quarters had no equal, and of this Sutcliffe knew. He accordingly forced the fighting without giving his adversary the chance of a grapple. But the sharp eye of the chieftain at length perceived a favouring opportunity of which he took advantage. Dropping suddenly on one knee, as quick as thought, he clasped his arms around the waist of his opponent, who just missed what he intended as the finishing stroke, and bounding to his feet he dashed him with all his strength to the ground. Sutcliffe was borne home insensible and never recovered the effects of the fall. A SURPRISE VISIT. The government, realising the intolerable position of being unable to cope with the patriots, determined to starve them into submission. A supreme effort to cut off their supplies was undertaken and carried forward with vigour. Military roads, through the defiles and fortresses of the mountains, were made, and a series of barracks, commanding extensive views of the county, erected on the most favourable sites. At the junction of Grlenmalure and Grl*\n Imale, the largest and strongest was built. Sentinels were posted for miles along the slopes of the mountains, and patrol parties explored every recess within this environment. The circle thus formed would seem to be impenetrable to those within and those without it. Nevertheless the outlaws were neither starved into submission nor curbed in their career. One dark night the chieftain and his men depositedin the newly built barracks at the junction of the glens a large quantity of gunpowder. Much as the military officers knew of Dwyer, it never entered their heads that he could injure the barracks. One morning, a little before daybreak, they were awakened by a terrific explosion. When the day dawned they discovered its origin. A mass of debris was the only indication of the stately building which, but a few hours previous, sentinelled the entrance to the retreats of the brave. The most romantic incident of the chieftain is that in which he was so faithfully served by the brave McAllister. The event related by A. M. Sullivan, is as follows: — ' One day the outlaw chief had been so closely pursued that his little band had to scatier, the more easily to escape, or to distract the pursuers, who, on this occasion, were out in tremendous force Bcouring hill and plain. Some hours after nightfall, Dwyer accompanied by only four of his party (and fully believing that he had successfully eluded his foes), entered a peasant's cottage in the wild and picturesque solitude of Imaal. He was, of course, joyously welcomed ; and he and his tired companions soon tasted such humble hospitality as the poor mountaineer's hut could afford. Then they gave themselves to repose. But the outlawed patriot had not shaken the foe from his track that evening. He had been traced to the mountain hut with sleuth-hound patience and certainty ; and now, while be slept in fancied security, the little sheeling was being stealthily surrounded by the soldiery ! Some stir on the outside, some chance rattle of a musket, or clank of a sabre, awakened one of the sleepers within. A glance through a door chink soon revealed all ; and Dwyer, at the first whisper springing to his feet, found that after nearly five years of proud defiance and successful struggle, he was at length in the toils ! Presently the officer in command outside knocked at the door "in the name of the king." Dwyer answered, demanding his business. The officer said he knew Michael Dwyer the outlaw was inside. " Yes," said Dwyer, " I am the man." " Then," rejoined the officer, " as I desire to avoid useless bloodshed, surrender. This house is surrounded ; we must take you, alive or dead." "If you are averse to unnecessary bloodshed," said Dwyer, " first let the poor man whose house this is, and his innocent wife and children, pass through. I came into this house unbidden, unexpectedly. They are guiltless. Let them go free, and then I shall consider your proposition as regards myself." The officer assented. The poor cottager, his wife, and children were passed through. " Now, then," cried the officer, " surrender in the name of the King." "Never!" shouted Dwyer; "we defy you in the name of Ireland." The hills echoed to the deafening peals that followed on this response. For nearly an hour Dwyer and his four companions defended the sheeling. keeping their foes at bay. But by this time one of them lay mortally wounded. Soon a shout of 'savage joy from the eoldiery outside was followed by a lurid glare all around. They had set the cabin on fire over the heads of the doomed outlaws I Then spoke up Dwyer's wounded companion, Alexander M'Allister : "My death is near ; my hour is come. Even if the way was clear there is no hope for me. Promise to do as I direct and I will save you all." Then the poor fellow desired them to prop him up, gun in hand, immediately 'inside the door. " Now," continued he, " they are expecting you to rush out, and they have their rifles levelled at

the door. Fling it open. Seeing me, they will all fire at me. Do you then quickly dash out through the smoke, before they can load again 1' They did as the dying hero bade them. The flung the door aside. There was an instantaneous volley, and the brave M'Allister fell pierced by 50 bullets. Quick as lightning Dwyer and his three companions dashed through the smoke. He alone succeeded in breaking through the encircling soldiers ; and, once outside, in the darkness, on those trackless hills he was loßt to all pursuit 1'