The Station; The Party Fight And Funeral; The Lough Derg Pilgrim: Traits And Stories Of The Irish Peasantry, The Works of; William Carleton, Volume ThreeCarleton, William
General
The Station; The Party Fight And Funeral; The Lough Derg Pilgrim: Traits And Stories Of The Irish Peasantry, The Works of; William Carleton, Volume Three
Carleton, William
Ireland -- Social life and customs -- Fiction
“This circumstance imparted, of course, fiercer hatred to both
parties,--triumph inspiring the one, a thirst for vengeance nerving the
other. Kelly inflicted tremendous punishment in every direction; for
scarcely a blow fell from him which did not bring a man to the ground.
It absolutely resembled a military engagement, for the number of
combatants amounted at least to four thousand men. In many places the
street was covered with small pools and clots of blood, which flowed
from those who lay insensible--while others were borne away
bleeding, groaning, or staggering, having been battered into a total
unconsciousness of the scene about them.
“At length the Orangemen gave way, and their enemies, yelling with
madness and revenge, began to beat them with unrestrained fury. The
former, finding that they could not resist the impetuous tide which
burst upon them, fled back past the church, and stopped not until they
had reached an elevation, on which lay two or three heaps of stones,
that had been collected for the purpose of paving the streets. Here they
made a stand, and commenced a vigorous discharge of them against their
pursuers. This checked the latter; and the others, seeing them hesitate
and likely to retreat from the missiles, pelted them with such effect,
that the tables became turned, and the Ribbonmen made a speedy flight
back into the town.
“In the meantime several Orangemen had gone into Sherlock's, where a
considerable number of arms had been deposited, with an intention of
resorting to them in case of a defeat at the cudgels. These now came
out, and met the Ribbonmen on their flight from those who were pelting
them with the stones. A dreadful scene ensued. The Ribbonmen, who had
the advantage in numbers, finding themselves intercepted before by
those who had arms, and pursued behind by those who had recourse to the
stones, fought with uncommon bravery and desperation. Kelly, who was
furious, but still collected and decisive, shouted out in Irish, lest
the opposite party might understand him, 'Let every two men seize upon
one of those who have the arms.'
“This was attempted, and effected with partial success; and I have no
doubt but the Orangemen would have been ultimately beaten and deprived
of their weapons, were it not that many of them, who had got their
pistols out of Sherlock's, discharged them among their enemies, and
wounded several. The Catholics could not stand this; but wishing to
retaliate as effectually as possible, lifted stones wherever they could
find them, and kept up the fight at a distance, as they retreated. On
both sides, wherever a solitary foe was caught straggling from the rest,
he was instantly punished with a most cruel and blood-thirsty spirit.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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