DESPERATE EVICTION SCENE. A STUBBORN DEFENCE. Riot Act Read.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 348, 6 March 1889, Page 4

DESPERATE EVICTION SCENE. A STUBBORN DEFENCE. Riot Act Read.

A special correspondent), telegraphing from Falcarragh, says: — A series of very exciting scenes characterised the oponing day's piocoedings in the eviction campaign in the Olphert estate, county Donegal. The police and military force, 200 strong, marched out from Falcarragh at nine o'clock on Wednesday, protecting a party of eight emergency men, and Mr Hewson, agent of the landlord, Mr Wybrants Olphert, D.L. A halt was called at Bodlani, two miles off, opposite the house ot a blacksmith named Patrick O'Donnell. Tho house, which adjoined tho forgo, was prepared in a most ingenious way tor defence. Tho doorways and lower windows were built up, and loopholes constructed in three sides of tho house. A week's provisions wore laid in, together with heaps of stones, pitchforks, etc. The bailiffs, on attempting to make a hole in tho gable, were assailed with stones and a shower of slates, which came off the roof. Evidently at least ton persons were inside, and a fierce fusilade was kept up for about an hour. Finally, the bailiffs began to throw stones back whenever a chance of striking anyone presented itself. An enormous crowd ot peasants had assembled in front, and a? each volley of stonos was discharged from within ringing cheers weve given. Father McFadden, of (hvoedore, and Father Stephens, both of them recently released from prison, and Mr John Kelly, an organiser of the National League, were amongst those present. After longcontinued delay, the authoiities decided to force an entrance at the point of the bayonet, if nocessary. A ladder was placed against tho front wall, and Sergoant McCombe ascended. JFe was, however, thrust back by pitchforks, one of which stabbed him on the cheek, and another on tho log. He was aho struck on tho head by a heavy stone, and, falling to the giound, was put off duty. The resident magistrate now had a conference with tho county inspector, after which the Eiot Act was read. But this solemn proceeding was recehed with ringing cheeis, and hostilities continued with undhnieihed \igour. The bailiffs again and again rushed to the assault, endeavouring to protect themseheewith an impiovised shield made of a mattress nailed to a pole, but were as often forced hack, Ladder after ladder was knocked down by the defenders, and a cart, which was wheeled up to afford cover to tho besiegers, was piactically put out of action by a fierce and incessant fusilade, which rendered the approach to it very dangerous. Tho resident magistrate was evidently reluctant to give firing orders, and several times he appealed to the paiish priests and curates present to say the one word which he told them would arrest bloodshed. Father McFadden declined to interfere, saying that nothing had been done to justify the e\treme measures threatened, and that the resident magistrate would be held responsible for any harm done to the people. Major Minds, the officer in charge of the troops, replied that the fact that a policeman had been stabbed was sufllcent justification even for ordering the soldiers to fhc, if that should have been necessary to secure the arrest of those inside, all of whom had been guilty of felony. Further parley appearing to be futile, the resident magistrate handed to Major Minds a warrant formally calling upon him to aid the civil power by firing into the house. The major promptly ordered two riflemen to prepare to load, and they were in the ace of inserting cartridges in their rifles when Father Stephens mo^edforward andadvised the little gariisoPi to surrender. The jjriest's advice was followed immediately and without) que&tion, and eight or ten men slowly descended a ladder, amid tho enthusiastic cheers of the spectators, and were taken into custody. They will be prosecuted for resisting the course of justice, and for riot. Further exciting scenes arc expected, as many evictions have 3 T et to be earned out. Tho twelve prisoners apprehended for the riot in the house of Patrick O'Donnell, at Bedlam, on the Olphert estate, on Wednesday, were brought at midnight before Mr Beresford, KM. , who remanded them to Londonderry Gaol until the 13th inst., when they will be brought befoie the Crimes Act Court. They left Falcarragh at 1 a.m., handcuffed, on six cars, with an escoit ot eighteen police. The exictions were resumed on Thuisday. The prisoners reached Deny at 3.30 on Thui>d ay afternoon, and were conveyed to the county prison amid a scene of excitement, ciowds chceiino while the cars weie driven through the streets. Some of the piisoncrs cheered in lush tor tho Plan of Campaign.