The Irish Afghan.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3174, 22 April 1879, Page 2

The Irish Afghan.

In Saturday's issue we published an extract l'rona a Home exchange 1 giving some particulars relative to one O'Donuell, a gigantic Irish soldier who; ihortlylafter the Indian Mutiny deserted from the British Army, and isrriow an officer in the service of the Ameer of Afghanistan. On the Thames we have several old soldiers who served in, India about that time, and - were well acquainted ...with Sergt. O'Donnell. One of them informed our reporter that he had known O'Donnell very intimately, and if he had been anything of a scholar he would; have* written and contradicted the, itaitiment that he was a deserter. Our^ reporter questioned the man, and froni the story of the latter it appears that in 1856, O'Donnell, then a young. man* was a soldier in the 87th (Faugh-a-ballas.) He stood 6 feet 2 inches in his stockings, and was considered the strongest ■ Man in the army; throwing every Hindoo wrestler pitted against him. Wrestlers from all pai ts of the country were brought to contend with him, but were all van* quished by, the Irish giant, who would not unfrequently hold such a tight grip on their arms that they fainted with pain. O'Donnell was twice a sergeant, but through t .king a drop too much of the "cratur" was deprived of his stripes. The occasion which led to his entering the service of the Ameerl was described to our representative as follows:—" In '56 the regiment was at Jumrood, near Fei* shaur, at the mouth of the Fyber Pass, and one day General Sir John Lawrence was holding a durbar or korero with the Ameer. After the important' business was disposed of, the conversation ! turned on more trivial matters, and O'Donnell's great strength was mentioned to t\& somewhat incredulous Afghan monarch. Sir John ordered, O'Donnell to be sept for, wh^ he surprised the Ameer by lifting a peny on to his shoulders, and pc forming other herculean feats. The ups'iot of this was that the Ameer offered to take the Irishman into his service and make a .Major of him. O'Donoell taing a groat favorite with the officers and men, they raised a subscription for the purpose of buying him out. This .would have been done hrd not the terrible Indian Mutiny broken out shortly after and O'Donnell could not obtain his discharge. He served with great b: avery all through the Mutiny and when it wpb quelled obtained his well, earned discharge.' He was no deserter, , but as loyal an Irish soldier as came from Connty Kilkenny/i)