MCSWEENEY’S FUNERAL.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 November 1920, Page 2

MCSWEENEY’S FUNERAL.

| 1 AUSTRALIAN * N.Z CABLE ASSOCIATION] 1 LONDON, Oct. 30. 1 The city of Dublin obseved a day of mourning for the late Lord Mayor McSweeney, of Cork. There was a large force of military in the streets to prevent any processions being held. There , was much irritation when the steamer arrived at Dublin without the coffin of McSweeney. Miss McSweeney states that she and her sister clung to the coffin of their late brother at Holyhead. They were both forcibly removed from the coffin • Rev. Father Walsh states that the relatives of the deceased and others present joined hands at Holyhead and encircled the coffin. They were removed. This was the occasion for cries of j “bodysnatchers.” j LONDON, Oct. 31. j Owing to the refusal of the Queenstown pilots to assist the Government ■ steamer, the latter landed the body of . McSweeney at Queenstown. | LONDON, Oct; 30. I The Government special steamer, bringing the remains of the late Lord Mayor of Cork from Holyhead, has reached Cork. The pilots at Cork re- . fused to bring the steamer up the | river. The Harbour Master had. to i berth her. The Sinn Feiners refused to accept custody of the remains in the absence : of the relatives of McSweeney. j All work and business in Cork City lias been suspended. LONDON, Oct. 31. j Three volunteers in civilian clothes j are guarding MeSweeney’s coffin. The I volunteers are marshalling the queues j and maintaining order. Archbishop i Cashel, Bishops Kerry, and Killaloe announced they are attending the funeral. The authorites prior to the postponement had prohibited the wearing of Republican Army uniforms, armlets or badges, and stated they would not permit Republican flags except on the ■coffin. Whenever the funeral occurs, troops will be posted along the.route. They will not interfere with the general mourners or obsequies, provided the aforesaid conditions are observed. They are also instructed to avoid everything which might he construed into provoca. tion. '

FURTHER DETAILS. / LONDON, Oct. 30. The Irish railwaymen refused to take any military guards in the train along with McSweeney’s coffin. An admiralty tug conveyed the body j to Cork, LONDON, Oct. 31. When the harbour pilots at Cork refused to handle the steamer “Rathmore,” the sailors transferred McSweeney’s coffin to a Government tug. As the tug left the Quay a crowd of two thousand people fell on their knees and recited prayers for the dead. They were led by the Bishop of Cloyne. The tug arrived at the Cork Customhouse Pier at four. Enormous crowds of people lined the quays and bridges. No effort was made however ,to remove the body from the ship in the absence of the relatives. Tluj coffin remained on the' deck of the “Ruthmore” under a tarpaulm, being surrounded by wreaths. Neither the military nor the civil authorities chose to do anything until . the relatives of McSweeney should arrive in a train from Dublin. However, several lorry loads of armed soldiers came to guard the vesSelagainst any possible Sinn Fein rush. It was nine o’clock at night when the remains were transferred to the pier ,where the relatives took charge. The coffin was then borne upon the shoulders of the IrislrWolunteers to the Cork City Hall, where if will lay in State, until Sunday morning. On Sunday the body will be removed to the Cork Cathedral. It is stated that apparently the relations of McSweeney would have continued to defy the authorities, but they were informed that unless the coffin was removed from the ship at nine p.m., it would be taken a.nd buried at the Military Barracks. LONDON, Oct. 31. Following on his attendance at McSweeney’s funeral, Archbishop Mannix ' has returned to Portsmouth, where he - lias made a prolonged stay with Bishop Cotter ever since the reception remdered him there on the 23rd. of last month (Sept). Dr Mannix has not yet made definite arrangements to' visit Rome or to return to Australia. (Received This Day at 8,a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 30. Many thousand filed past McSweeney’s coffin in the City Hall, Cork. The waiting queue extended for two hundred yards. Business was entirely suspended. The funeral was postponed until Monday to enable relatives to appeal against the military decision that the procession of mourners must not exceed a quarter of a mile.