160

SIEGE OF MASSY LODGE.

66

and yells outside the house, and on going to the window, saw a mob of people below hooting and threatening them. The gentlemen got their guns, and said they would fire if any attempt was made to enter the house. After dancing a war dance," the people apparently dispersed; but next morning, on going outside, the gentlemen found the harness cut up into small pieces and laid upon the doorstep. The mob, on trying to force the door of the stables, fortunately frightened the horse, which, breaking loose, dashed out into the woods and thus saved its life. On the 13th, as the sportsmen did not return, we began to get anxious about them. On the 14th, about noon, I received a cipher telegram from Mitchelstown, which had been so badly transmitted that it was almost unintelligible. We, however, after much trouble, managed to interpret two or three words, which were sufficient to lead us to suppose that the telegram was from the sportsmen, who were evidently in serious difficulties. Taking Captain

A RELIEF PARTY.

161

1

Bell and thirty men of the 48th, with thirty of the Royal Irish Constabulary, in three service-waggons, we were soon on the road to their relief. Until we had entered the valley lying between Ballylanders and the mountains, we met with no opposition. When about six miles from our destination, however, the chapel bells began as usual to ring, and the people to collect in groups hooting us. Not knowing how urgently relief might be necessary, we pushed on at a good trot, but were brought to a provoking standstill by a stone wall built right across the road. The men had to get down and clear a passage, which took a little time. A mile further on was another wall of the same kind, and within a quarter of a mile of the Lodge gate was yet another, of larger dimensions and built of much bigger stones. On turning into the gate, we found the avenue blocked by trees cut down, and placed, some across the road, and some with the branches outwards. With the assistance of the several teams of waggon-horses,

L

162

THE SIEGE RAISED.

these were soon dragged away and the road cleared. The besieged party was uncommonly glad to see us arriving, being very doubtful if the message sent had ever reached me. It was late when we got back to Kilfinane, as we found all the walls rebuilt to bar our road, and as it got dark, we did not know what further pitfalls might be laid for us. All this was "constitutional agitation"! We had to pass through the town of Ballylanders on our return march, and the altered bearing of the people was remarkable. We were quite unmolested.

No rent had yet been paid in this out-ofthe-way part of the country. The sheriff had made several raids, but the distances were so great that it was found that but little work could be got through in the day. It was therefore determined to organise an expedition for the protection of the sheriff in collecting the large arrears due, and to remain out for a week, or as long as might be necessary for the purpose. Our intention was, of

ANOTHER EXPEDITION.

163

course, kept a secret. At about two o'clock, one dark September morning, we started from Kilfinane. The expedition consisted of sixty men of the 48th, under Captain Bell, sixty men of the Royal Irish Constabulary, thirty horses, and six army service-waggons, carrying the bedding, food, and necessaries for the week, the sub-sheriff, with about ten subordinates, Mr Townsend the agent, and my personal escort. Had we gone by Ballylanders our passing would have become known, and bells and horns would have roused the country long before our destination was reached. It was therefore necessary to make a considerable detour of some sixteen miles, going into the county Cork to within a couple of miles of Mitchelstown, and then turning back by a sort of pass through the Galtees, from which we emerged at about daylight. The farms upon which the sheriff intended to make seizures extended along the foot of the mountains on the Limerick side. We saw but two men astir, and they were together. On per

ceiving us, they made off as quickly as they could run to give the alarm, but were speedily overtaken, and prevented carrying out their design. The cattle, in herds of from twenty to thirty, could be seen browsing on the various farms, but there was no other sign of life. Leaving the horses and noisy waggons behind us, we marched along a road running parallel with the base of the hills, the sheriff entering upon the lands of successive farms, and going through the form of seizing herd after herd. In charge of each he placed a bailiff, to protect whom we left a small mixed force of constabulary and soldiers. When some eight herds had thus been seized, word was quietly passed along the line to close on the centre. The village of Anglesborough formed the centre, and in it was soon concentrated the whole of our force (including the waggons and horses) guarding the sheriff, who had in his possession about 200 head of prime cattle. This portion of the day's work was completed before the people became aware of what had happened.