ATTITUDE OF THE PRIESTS.

155

of this scene? What were they there for? Was it to control the fury of the mob, or to dissuade the people from the contemplated violence? Certainly not. The priests were

there to encourage them up to the moment when we might turn to defend ourselves and retaliate upon our aggressors, when their custom was to step in and preach moderation to us, and then write to the press, to the Government, and to their representatives in Parliament regarding the "brutal and unprovoked onslaught" of her Majesty's servants upon the poor peaceable people"!

66

After this somewhat tumultuous scene, we resumed our march, and passed on into the mountainous country we had to traverse before reaching Kilfinane. Having proceeded about two miles, and being all tired, we came to a halt at a convenient spot. Before long, a party of seven or eight men was seen approaching. On reaching us, one of them announced himself as the treasurer or secretary of the local Land League, and, ad

156

SUBMISSION OF THE LEAGUERS.

dressing the sheriff, said he thought some

terms might be come to. properly replied that the

The sheriff very

only terms on

which the cattle could be given up were payment in full of all rent due and costs up to the moment; but that under any circumstances he would deal only with the owners or their lawful representatives, and not with any one on the part of the Land League. In the end I need not say that every penny was paid, and we reached Kilfinane late at night, every one very much wearied. I protected the sheriff in the collection of many thousands of pounds due for rent during the last half of the year 1881, and never but in one instance, in which everything had been removed from the farm, did he fail to recover the full amount due, together with costs, which averaged about 25 per cent of the debt. In many cases the costs much exceeded this figure.

The Government now added to my district the whole of the tract of country extending

RAISING THE ALARM.

157

from Kilfinane to the county of Tipperary on one side, and to the Galtee Mountains on the other. The peasantry are fine able men, but in these days were wild to an extraordinary degree. They had been led away like their neighbours by the Land League, and not being under much supervision, became very daring in their lawlessness. Whenever we appeared on the confines of their beautiful valley, we were hooted from every field and hamlet, and the chapel bells for miles round gave warning to the people, who could not tell whether the sheriff was with us or not. I suppose, however, those having access to the bells thought it advisable under any circumstances to put the country far and wide on the alert. Once the bells began to ring, we could see for miles round the cattle being driven off the owners' lands; for it was well known that as a rule the sheriff only seized thereon, the risk being great of otherwise making mistakes, which entailed trouble and litigation.

The leaders of the Ballylanders riot were of

158 ESTABLISHING ORDER IN BALLYLANDERS.

I

course arrested and dealt with under the ordinary law aș in other cases; but some time elapsed before this newly acquired district was got into a state approaching order. was accused of instituting a "reign of terror," because warrants were issued, still under the ordinary law, for the arrest of all the principal promoters of disorder, most of whom, to avoid arrest, absconded and left the country. As it seemed to me desirable that they should have the opportunity of taking this course if they wished to do so, the police were instructed to make no secret of the names of those persons for whose arrest they held warrants, and to give them the opportunity of absconding, if it was likely to be taken advantage of. The constabulary had very difficult duties to perform in this wild. locality; a night patrol was even fired upon, and the men met with insult and attack on all occasions offering any chance to the people for indulging in such pastimes. The assertion. of the law, however, aided by constant super

vision, did not fail to produce a palpably good effect.

In the neighbourhood of the Galtees, notwithstanding the examples made in the adjoining parishes, the people were still defiant, resolute, and lawless. At the foot of the mountains, near the village of Anglesborough, is a very charmingly situated shooting-box, known by the name of Massy Lodge, the property of Lord Massy. Early on the 12th of August 1881, Mr Townsend, the nephew of Mr W. Townsend, the agent, with two officers of the 48th, left Kilfinane, to shoot grouse on the moors. Intending to remain the night, they put up their horse and trap at Massy Lodge, which is twelve or fourteen miles from Kilfinane and six or eight from Mitchelstown, over the mountains. After shooting all day and making a very good bag, they returned to the Lodge to dine and sleep, intending to start back to Kilfinane the next morning early. In the middle of the night, however, they were roused by shouts