The Sinn Fein Rebellion as I Saw It

Each story keeps the passage it was read from. Open one to read it as the scan has it, and, where the companion has written its own telling, that too. The passages are read off photographs of the page by machine, so a word here and there comes out wrong; they are kept as the reading produced them, so you can check any of them against the scan.

1. Proclamation of the Irish Republic posted at the GPO

   General Post Office · site · Dublin · 1916

   The Provisional Government's proclamation declaring the Irish Republic was posted outside the General Post Office, asserting Ireland's sovereign right to independence and signed by the seven leaders of the rebellion.

   Read the passage

   Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

   WE DECLARE the right of the people of Ireland to the ownership of Ireland, and to the unfettered control of Irish destinies, to be sovereign and indefeasible. The long usurpation of that right by a foreign people and Government has not extinguished the right, nor can it ever be extinguished except by the destruction of the Irish people. In every generation the Irish people have asserted their right to national freedom and sovereignty; six times during the past three hundred years they have asserted it in arms. Standing on that fundamental right and again asserting it in arms in the face of the world, we hereby proclaim the Irish Republic as a Sovereign Independent State, and we pledge our lives and the lives of our comrades-in-arms to the cause of its freedom, of its welfare, and of its exaltation among the nations.

   THE IRISH REPUBLIC is entitled to, and HEREBY CLAIMS, the allegiance of every Irishman and Irishwoman. The Republic guarantees religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens, and declares its resolve to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole nation and of all its parts, cherishing all the children of the Nation equally, and oblivious of the differences carefully fostered by an Alien Government, which have divided a minority from the majority in the past.

   Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 6

   As the companion tells it

   This is the General Post Office on O'Connell Street in Dublin, where the Provisional Government posted the Proclamation of the Irish Republic in 1916. The seven leaders of the rebellion signed it. The proclamation declared the right of the people of Ireland to the ownership of Ireland and to the unfettered control of Irish destinies, calling that right sovereign and indefeasible. It said the long usurpation of that right by a foreign people and government had not extinguished it, nor could it ever be extinguished except by the destruction of the Irish people. In every generation, it said, the Irish people have asserted their right to national freedom and sovereignty, and six times during the past 300 years they have asserted it in arms. Standing on that fundamental right and again asserting it in arms, the proclamation announced the Irish Republic as a sovereign independent state. It pledged the lives of the signatories and their comrades-in-arms to the cause of its freedom, welfare, and exaltation among the nations. The Republic claimed the allegiance of every Irishman and Irishwoman. It guaranteed religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all citizens. It declared its resolve to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole nation, cherishing all the children of the nation equally, and oblivious of the differences carefully fostered by an alien government, which had divided a minority from the majority in the past.

2. Pearse's final dispatch from GPO headquarters before surrender

   General Post Office · site · Dublin · 1916

   From the besieged General Post Office, Pearse issued a dispatch praising the gallantry of the rebel forces during four days of fighting under bombardment, naming the wounded Connolly as guiding the resistance, shortly before the unconditional surrender.

   Read the passage

   Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

   We are busy completing arrangements for the final defence of Headquarters and are determined to hold it while the buildings last.

   I desire now, lest I may not have an opportunity later, to pay homage to the gallantry of the soldiers of Irish Freedom who have during the past four days been writing with fire and steel the most glorious chapter in the later history of Ireland. Justice can never be done to their heroism, to their discipline, to their gay and unconquerable spirit in the midst of peril and death.

   Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 7

   As the companion tells it

   The General Post Office in Dublin is where Pearse wrote his final dispatch in 1916. From besieged headquarters he said they were determined to hold it while the buildings lasted. He paid homage to the soldiers of Irish Freedom who during four days had been writing with fire and steel the most glorious chapter in the later history of Ireland. Justice could never be done to their heroism, their discipline, their gay and unconquerable spirit in the midst of peril and death. The wounded Connolly was guiding resistance before unconditional surrender.

3. Woman shot dead looting in Grafton Street

   Grafton Street · street · Dublin · 1916

   During the looting near Grafton Street, a woman was seen hanging out of a window dropping loot to a friend when she was shot through the head by a sniper; her body was later collected by a hand-cart while looting resumed.

   Read the passage

   Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

   Yesterday afternoon, when the firing in Grafton Street was over, the mob appeared and looted the shops, clearing the great provision shops and others. From the back of this hotel you look down on an alley that connects with Grafton Street,--and at the corner, the shop front in Grafton Street, but with a side entrance into this lane, is a very large and high-class fruiterer. From the windows we watched the proceedings, and I never saw anything so brazen! The mob were chiefly women and children, with a sprinkling of men. They swarmed in and out of the side door bearing huge consignments of bananas, the great bunches on the stalk, to which the children attached a cord and ran away dragging it along. Other boys had big orange boxes which they filled with tinned and bottled fruits. Women with their skirts held up received showers of apples and oranges and all kinds of fruit which were thrown from the upper windows by their pals; and ankle-deep on the ground lay all the pink and white and silver paper and paper shavings used for packing choice fruits. It was an amazing sight, and nothing daunted these people. Higher up at another shop we were told a woman was hanging out of a window dropping down loot to a friend, when she was shot through the head by a sniper, probably our man; the body dropped into the street and the mob cleared. In a few minutes a hand-cart appeared and gathered up the body, and instantly all the mob swarmed back to continue the joyful proceedings!

   H. and Lord S. were sitting at the window for a few minutes yesterday when the fruit shop was being looted, and saw one of the funniest sights they had ever seen. A very fat, very blousy old woman emerged from the side street and staggered on to the pavement laden with far more loot than she could carry. In her arms she had an orange box full of fruit, and under her shawl she had a great bundle tied up which kept slipping down. Having reached the pavement, she put down her box and sat on it, and from her bundle rolled forth many tins of fruit. These she surveyed ruefully, calling on the Almighty and all the saints to help her!! From these she solemnly made her selection, which she bound up in her bundle and hoisted, with many groans and lamentations, on her back and made off with, casting back many longing looks at the pile of things left on the pavement, which were speedily disposed of by small boys.

   Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 2

   As the companion tells it

   In 1916, during the rising in Dublin, Grafton Street became a scene of looting once the firing there was over. The mob appeared and cleared the great provision shops and others. From the windows of a hotel whose back looked down on an alley connecting to Grafton Street, the writer watched it all. The mob were chiefly women and children, with a sprinkling of men. They swarmed in and out of the side door of a large fruiterer, bearing huge consignments of bananas, the great bunches on the stalk, to which children attached a cord and dragged them away. Boys filled big orange boxes with tinned and bottled fruits. Women with their skirts held up received showers of apples and oranges thrown from the upper windows by their pals. Ankle-deep on the ground lay the pink and white and silver paper used for packing choice fruits. Nothing daunted these people. Higher up at another shop, a woman was hanging out of a window dropping down loot to a friend, when she was shot through the head by a sniper. The body dropped into the street and the mob cleared. In a few minutes a hand-cart appeared and gathered up the body, and instantly the mob swarmed back to continue the proceedings. Later, a very fat old woman emerged from the side street laden with more loot than she could carry, an orange box full of fruit in her arms and a bundle under her shawl that kept slipping down. She sat on her box on the pavement and from the bundle rolled many tins of fruit. She surveyed them ruefully, calling on the Almighty and all the saints to help her, then made her selection, hoisted the bundle on her back, and made off casting longing looks at what she left behind.

4. Heroic telephone girls hold the Exchange under fire

   Crown Alley · street · Dublin · 1916

   The Telephone Exchange in Crown Alley was besieged by Sinn Féin attempts to capture it, with shots entering the switch-room and eight snipers shot on nearby buildings. Twenty telephone girls stayed at their posts continuously since Tuesday, sleeping in a cellar, keeping the whole service running.

   Read the passage

   Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

   Here I must tell you how absolutely heroic the telephone staff have been at the Exchange. It is in a building a considerable distance from the G.P.O., and the Sinn Feiners have made great efforts to capture it. The girls have been surrounded by firing; shots have several times come into the switch-room, where the men took down the boards from the back of the switch-boards and arranged them as shelters over the girls' heads to protect them from bullets and broken glass. Eight snipers have been shot on buildings commanding the Exchange, and one of the guard was killed yesterday; and these twenty girls have never failed. They have been on duty since Tuesday, sleeping when possible in a cellar and with indifferent food, and have cheerfully and devotedly stuck to their post, doing the work of forty. Only those on duty on the outbreak of the rebellion could remain; those in their homes could never get back, so with the aid of the men who take the night duty these girls have kept the whole service going. All telegrams have had to be sent by 'phone as far as the railway termini, and they have simply saved the situation. It has been magnificent!

   The shooting is by no means over, as many of the Sinn Fein strongholds refuse to surrender. Jacob's biscuit factory is very strongly held, and when the rebels were called on to surrender they refused unless they were allowed to march out carrying their arms!

   Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 3

   As the companion tells it

   During Easter week 1916, the Telephone Exchange in Crown Alley became a story of courage under fire. The building stood a considerable distance from the G.P.O., and the Sinn Féin rebels made great efforts to capture it. The telephone girls were surrounded by firing. Shots came several times into the switch-room, where the men took down the boards from the back of the switch-boards and arranged them as shelters over the girls' heads to protect them from bullets and broken glass. Eight snipers were shot on buildings commanding the Exchange, and one of the guard was killed. Twenty girls never failed. They had been on duty since Tuesday, sleeping when possible in a cellar, with indifferent food. They cheerfully and devotedly stuck to their post, doing the work of forty. Only those on duty at the outbreak of the rebellion could remain. Those in their homes could never get back. With the aid of the men who take the night duty, these girls kept the whole service going. All telegrams had to be sent by phone as far as the railway termini, and they simply saved the situation. The shooting was by no means over. Many of the Sinn Féin strongholds refused to surrender. Jacob's biscuit factory was very strongly held, and when the rebels were called on to surrender they refused unless they were allowed to march out carrying their arms.

5. Old woman's warning saves the Telephone Exchange

   Crown Alley · street · Dublin · 1916

   H. learned that when rebels marched a detachment to take the Crown Alley Telephone Exchange, an old woman rushed at them warning the place was crammed with military, causing them to retreat; troops arrived hours later and secured it, saving the whole communications situation.

   Read the passage

   Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

   Yesterday H. visited the Telephone Exchange, and a point was cleared up that has mystified everyone; and that is why, when the rebels on Easter Monday took every building of importance and every strategic position, did they overlook the Telephone Exchange? Had they taken it we should have been absolutely powerless, unable to send messages or telegrams for troops. The exchange is situated in Crown Alley, off Dame Street, and the superintendent told H. an extraordinary story. It seems when the rebels had taken the G.P.O. they marched a detachment to take the exchange, when just as they were turning into Crown Alley an old woman rushed towards them with arms held up calling out, "Go back, boys, go back; the place is crammed with military"; and supposing it to be in the hands of our troops they turned back. This was at noon. At 5 p.m. our troops arrived and took it over.

   This saved the whole situation. Whether the woman was on our side or whether she thought she had seen soldiers will never be known.

   Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 3

   As the companion tells it

   This is the Telephone Exchange on Crown Alley, off Dame Street in Dublin. On Easter Monday, 1916, the rebels took every building of importance and every strategic position, and the question that mystified everyone was why they overlooked this exchange. Had they taken it, the authorities would have been absolutely powerless, unable to send messages or telegrams for troops. The superintendent told H. what happened. After the rebels took the General Post Office, they marched a detachment to take the exchange. Just as they were turning into Crown Alley, an old woman rushed towards them with arms held up, calling out, "Go back, boys, go back; the place is crammed with military." Supposing it to be in the hands of the troops, they turned back. This was at noon. At 5 in the afternoon the troops arrived and took it over. This saved the whole situation. Whether the woman was on the side of the troops or whether she thought she had seen soldiers will never be known.

6. Sherwood Foresters ambushed at Ballsbridge

   near Ballsbridge · townland · Dublin · 1916

   Troops landed at Kingstown were cheered by the population, but on marching into Dublin the Sherwood Foresters came under sudden and devastating cross-fire from Sinn Fein-occupied houses at Ballsbridge, suffering many casualties before they could return fire.

   Read the passage

   Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

   Lord S. tells me that 30,000 troops were landed at Kingstown this morning, and we hear they are amazed at their reception, as they had been told that they were going to quell a rebellion in Ireland, and lo! on their arrival at Kingstown the whole population turned out to cheer them, giving them food, cigarettes, chocolate, and everything the hospitable inhabitants could provide, so that the puzzled troops asked plaintively: "Who then are we going to fight, and where is the rebellion?" However, they were quickly disillusioned, for in marching into Dublin, when they reached Ballsbridge they came within range of several houses occupied by Sinn Feiners, and without a word of warning the battalion of Sherwood Foresters came under terrible cross-fire and were just shot down, unable to return a single shot. I have not heard how many casualties occurred, but two or three officers and many men were killed and a number wounded. So surely soon we must be relieved.

   _Thursday, April 27th._

   Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 1

   As the companion tells it

   Somewhere around here, in 1916, the Sherwood Foresters walked into an ambush. They had landed at Kingstown that morning, part of 30,000 troops brought in to put down the rebellion. The troops were baffled by their welcome. The whole population turned out to cheer them, giving them food, cigarettes, chocolate, everything the people could provide. The soldiers asked plaintively: "Who then are we going to fight, and where is the rebellion?" They were quickly disillusioned. Marching into Dublin, when they reached Ballsbridge, they came within range of several houses occupied by Sinn Feiners. Without a word of warning the battalion came under terrible cross-fire. They were just shot down, unable to return a single shot. Two or three officers and many men were killed, and a number wounded. This was Thursday, April 27th.

7. Surrender of Jacob's, Boland's and College of Surgeons

   Grafton Street · street · Dublin · 1916

   Three rebel strongholds surrendered on the same afternoon: Jacob's factory, Boland's Mill, and the College of Surgeons on St. Stephen's Green, from which 160 men marched down Grafton Street under guard.

   Read the passage

   Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

   I had no time to continue this yesterday, but during the afternoon three of the rebel strongholds surrendered--Jacob's, Boland's, and the College of Surgeons on St. Stephen's Green. From this last building 160 men surrendered and were marched down Grafton Street. It is said that among them was Countess Markievicz, dressed in a man's uniform. It is also said that the military made her take down the green republican flag flying over the building herself and replace it by a white one: when she surrendered she took off her bandolier and kissed it and her revolver before handing them to the officer. She has been one of the most dangerous of the leaders, and I hope will be treated with the same severity as the men. People who saw them marched down Grafton Street said they held themselves erect, and looked absolutely defiant!

   _2 p.m._

   Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 3

   As the companion tells it

   The surrender of Jacob's, Boland's and the College of Surgeons took place on one afternoon in 1916. Three rebel strongholds gave themselves up: Jacob's factory, Boland's Mill, and the College of Surgeons on St. Stephen's Green. From that last building 160 men surrendered and were marched down Grafton Street. Among them, it is said, was Countess Markievicz, dressed in a man's uniform. The military made her take down the green republican flag flying over the building herself and replace it with a white one. When she surrendered she took off her bandolier and kissed it, and kissed her revolver, before handing them to the officer. She had been one of the most dangerous of the leaders. People who saw the men marched down Grafton Street said they held themselves erect and looked, in the words of the source, absolutely defiant.

8. Ruins of the GPO surveyed after the fire

   General Post Office · site · Dublin · 1916

   The narrator walked round the gutted GPO with H. and officials, describing total desolation comparable to Ypres or Louvain, with the safe still visible in the wall and molten lead debris scattered about.

   Read the passage

   Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

   I have just returned from walking round the G.P.O. and Sackville Street with H. and some of the officials. It passes all my powers of description, only one word describes it, "Desolation." If you look at pictures of Yprès or Louvain after the bombardment it will give you some idea of the scene.

   We looked up through the windows of the G.P.O. and saw the safe that was in H.'s room still in the wall, and the door does not appear to have been opened or the safe touched, but the whole place has been such an inferno one would think the door must have been red-hot. Among all the _débris_ the fire was still smouldering, and we could not penetrate inside. I picked up a great lump of molten metal, a fantastic shape with bits of glass embedded in it. It is bright like silver, but they tell me it is lead. It is quite curious. Do you realise, G., that out of all H.'s library he now does not possess a single book, except one volume of his Dante, and I not even a silver teaspoon!!

   Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 3

   As the companion tells it

   The General Post Office on Sackville Street in Dublin stood gutted after the fighting of 1916. One word describes what remained: "desolation." Pictures of Ypres or Louvain after bombardment give some idea of the scene. The narrator walked round the ruins with H. and some of the officials, looking up through the windows. The safe that had been in H.'s room was still in the wall, its door apparently untouched. The whole place had been such an inferno that the door must have been red-hot. Among the debris the fire was still smouldering, and they could not penetrate inside. The narrator picked up a great lump of molten metal, a fantastic shape with bits of glass embedded in it, bright like silver, but lead. Out of all H.'s library he did not possess a single book except one volume of his Dante, and the narrator not even a silver teaspoon.

9. Last shots fired in Dawson Street

   Dawson Street · street · Dublin · 1916

   On the final night, firing broke out just outside the hotel targeting the Sinn Fein Volunteers' offices at the bottom of Dawson Street, forcing the narrator's party to shelter on the stairs; it proved to be the last shots of the rebellion.

   Read the passage

   Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

   Since then we have not heard a shot fired; and it would seem that as we were present at the first shots fired in Sackville Street on Easter Monday so we have been present at the last fired eight days later in Dawson Street.

   Out of all the novel experiences of the last eight days two things strike me very forcibly. The first is that, under circumstances that might well have tried the nerves of the strongest, there has been no trace of fear or panic among the people in the hotel, either among the guests or staff. Anxiety for absent friends of whom no tidings could be heard, though living only in the next square, one both felt and heard; but of fear for their own personal safety I have seen not one trace, and the noise of battle after the first two days seemed to produce nothing but boredom. The other is a total absence of thankfulness at our own escape.

   Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 3

   As the companion tells it

   8 days after Easter Monday 1916, the last shots of the rebellion were fired in Dawson Street. Firing outside the hotel targeted the Sinn Fein Volunteers' offices at the bottom of the street, and the party sheltered on the stairs. They had been present at the first shots in Sackville Street on Easter Monday, and now at the last, 8 days later. 2 things from all the novel experiences of those 8 days struck forcibly. Under circumstances that might have tried the nerves of the strongest, there was no trace of fear or panic among people in the hotel, guests or staff. There was anxiety for absent friends of whom no tidings could be heard, though living only in the next square. But of fear for their own personal safety, not one trace, and the noise of battle after the first 2 days produced nothing but boredom. The other was a total absence of thankfulness at their own escape.

10. Looting of the fruiterer's shop off Grafton Street

    Grafton Street · street · Dublin · 1916

    After firing ceased in Grafton Street, a mob of mostly women and children looted a large fruiterer's shop with a side entrance onto the lane behind the hotel, carrying off bananas, fruit and tinned goods in a chaotic scene.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    Yesterday afternoon, when the firing in Grafton Street was over, the mob appeared and looted the shops, clearing the great provision shops and others. From the back of this hotel you look down on an alley that connects with Grafton Street,--and at the corner, the shop front in Grafton Street, but with a side entrance into this lane, is a very large and high-class fruiterer. From the windows we watched the proceedings, and I never saw anything so brazen! The mob were chiefly women and children, with a sprinkling of men. They swarmed in and out of the side door bearing huge consignments of bananas, the great bunches on the stalk, to which the children attached a cord and ran away dragging it along. Other boys had big orange boxes which they filled with tinned and bottled fruits. Women with their skirts held up received showers of apples and oranges and all kinds of fruit which were thrown from the upper windows by their pals; and ankle-deep on the ground lay all the pink and white and silver paper and paper shavings used for packing choice fruits. It was an amazing sight, and nothing daunted these people. Higher up at another shop we were told a woman was hanging out of a window dropping down loot to a friend, when she was shot through the head by a sniper, probably our man; the body dropped into the street and the mob cleared. In a few minutes a hand-cart appeared and gathered up the body, and instantly all the mob swarmed back to continue the joyful proceedings!

    H. and Lord S. were sitting at the window for a few minutes yesterday when the fruit shop was being looted, and saw one of the funniest sights they had ever seen. A very fat, very blousy old woman emerged from the side street and staggered on to the pavement laden with far more loot than she could carry. In her arms she had an orange box full of fruit, and under her shawl she had a great bundle tied up which kept slipping down. Having reached the pavement, she put down her box and sat on it, and from her bundle rolled forth many tins of fruit. These she surveyed ruefully, calling on the Almighty and all the saints to help her!! From these she solemnly made her selection, which she bound up in her bundle and hoisted, with many groans and lamentations, on her back and made off with, casting back many longing looks at the pile of things left on the pavement, which were speedily disposed of by small boys.

    Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 2

    As the companion tells it

    A large, high-class fruiterer's on Grafton Street, Dublin, with a side entrance into a lane behind a hotel. In 1916, after firing in Grafton Street ceased, a mob looted the shops. From the hotel windows, the author watched. The mob were chiefly women and children, with a sprinkling of men. They swarmed in and out of the side door bearing huge consignments of bananas, great bunches on the stalk, to which children tied a cord and dragged along. Boys filled big orange boxes with tinned and bottled fruits. Women held up their skirts and received showers of apples, oranges and all kinds of fruit thrown from upper windows by their pals. Ankle-deep on the ground lay pink and white and silver paper and paper shavings used for packing choice fruits. Nothing daunted these people. Higher up at another shop, a woman hanging out of a window dropping loot to a friend was shot through the head by a sniper. The body dropped into the street and the mob cleared. A hand-cart gathered up the body, and instantly the mob swarmed back to continue the proceedings. H and Lord S saw a very fat, blousy old woman emerge from the side street and stagger onto the pavement laden with far more loot than she could carry. In her arms she had an orange box full of fruit, and under her shawl a great bundle which kept slipping down. She put down her box and sat on it, and from her bundle rolled forth many tins of fruit. She surveyed them ruefully, calling on the Almighty and all the saints to help her. She made her selection, bound it up, hoisted it on her back with groans and lamentations, and made off, casting longing looks at the pile left on the pavement, which small boys speedily disposed of.

11. Doctor stopped at gunpoint in Nassau Street

    Nassau Street · street · Dublin · 1916

    Dr W. was stopped in Nassau Street by rebels who ordered him out of his car at gunpoint; being in civilian clothes he was allowed to proceed and went on to find men shot at the Shelbourne Hotel.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    The first thing Dr. W. heard of the outbreak was a 'phone message telling him to go at once to the Shelbourne as a man had been shot. He supposed it was a case of suicide, so jumped into his car and went off, fortunately in mufti. In Nassau Street his car was stopped and he was ordered to get out by rebels. He attempted to argue, and was told if he did not obey instantly he would be shot. Had he been in uniform he would have been shot at sight. As a civilian doctor they allowed him to go, and he took his bag and ran. He found three men shot in the Shelbourne, and a boy was shot as he reached the door.

    _Wednesday, April 26th, 9.30 a.m._

    Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 1

    As the companion tells it

    This is Nassau Street in Dublin. On Wednesday, April 26th, 1916, at 9.30 in the morning, Dr. W. got a phone message telling him to go at once to the Shelbourne Hotel because a man had been shot. He supposed it was a suicide, so he jumped into his car and went off, fortunately in civilian clothes. In Nassau Street, rebels stopped his car and ordered him to get out. He tried to argue. They told him if he did not obey instantly he would be shot. Had he been in uniform he would have been shot at sight. As a civilian doctor they let him go. He took his bag and ran. At the Shelbourne he found three men shot, and a boy was shot as he reached the door.

12. Excavation of the burnt GPO reveals looted safe and destroyed possessions

    General Post Office · site · Dublin · 1916

    Excavation of H.'s room in the ruined GPO revealed that rebels had broken into the safe and stolen jewellery and F.'s field-glasses and commission, while books were reduced to ash-like layers and silver melted into unrecognisable lumps.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    With this has gone our last hope of any salvage from the wreck of our property. Dillon's "perfect gentlemen," of whom he expressed himself so proud in the House the other night, had evidently broken open H.'s great official desk, and found the key of the safe and abstracted my jewel-case, F.'s field-glasses and several other of his much-prized possessions, and then locked the safe again. The only document they stole from among the official documents was F.'s commission. Why, we cannot imagine, unless the fact that it bore the King's signature made it worthy of special insult and desecration.

    H. was very sad when he told me, but I think I am past caring about any possessions now. F. and all his precious things are gone. Nothing else seems worth considering. Perhaps some day we may pluck up heart to collect things again around us, but at present one can only feel, "Let the dead bury the dead."

    Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 4

    As the companion tells it

    In 1916, the General Post Office in Dublin stood in ruins. When the wreckage of H.'s room was cleared, it showed what had happened. The men Dillon had called "perfect gentlemen" in the House had broken open H.'s great official desk, found the key to the safe, and taken the jewel-case, F.'s field-glasses, and several other prized possessions. They locked the safe again. The only official document they stole was F.'s commission, perhaps because it bore the King's signature, making it worthy of special insult. H. was very sad when he told the narrator, who wrote of being past caring about possessions. F. and all his precious things were gone. Nothing else seemed worth considering. The words that remained were, "Let the dead bury the dead."

13. Celbridge Abbey offered as refuge, linked to Swift and Grattan

    Celbridge Abbey · townland · Kildare · 1916

    The O'B.'s offered their house, Celbridge Abbey, as a retreat for several weeks; the narrator notes it was the historic home of Swift's 'Vanessa' and later of the orator Henry Grattan.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    To-day Mr. O'B. brought his wife to see me, and they have offered us their lovely house, Celbridge Abbey, about ten miles from Dublin, for five or six weeks from June 1st as they are going abroad again, and they thought we should like it for a change. We are more than grateful, as all our plans for going to Greystones for June and July are knocked on the head; but to Celbridge there is a good train service, and H. can come into Dublin every day, while I can revel in the lovely garden and grounds and recover in the peace and quiet my lost powers of sleep. What a kind thought it is, and how welcome at such a time! Celbridge Abbey was the home of Swift's "Vanessa," and later of Grattan, Ireland's greatest orator, so is a most interesting and historical place.

    _17th._

    Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 4

    As the companion tells it

    Somewhere close to Celbridge Abbey, a house was offered as a refuge in the summer of 1916. Mr. O'B. and his wife brought the offer to the narrator in May. They were going abroad again, and thought the family would like the place for a change. The family accepted with more than gratitude, as their plans for Greystones in June and July had been knocked on the head. There was a good train service to Dublin, so H. could come into the city every day, while the narrator could revel in the garden and grounds and recover, in peace and quiet, lost powers of sleep. The narrator calls it a kind thought, welcome at such a time. Celbridge Abbey was the home of Swift's Vanessa, and later of Grattan, Ireland's greatest orator.

14. Martial Law proclaimed across Ireland

    Dublin · city · Dublin · 1916

    Lord Lieutenant Wimborne issued a proclamation from Dublin declaring all of Ireland under Martial Law for one month, citing armed resistance to Crown authority, deaths, injuries, and property damage caused by the rebellion.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    DO HEREBY PROCLAIM that, from and after the date of this Proclamation, and for the period of one month thereafter (unless otherwise ordered), that part of the United Kingdom called Ireland is under and subject to Martial Law.

    AND I DO HEREBY call on all loyal and well-affected subjects of the Crown to aid in upholding and maintaining the peace of this Realm and the Supremacy and authority of the Crown, and to obey and conform to all Orders and Regulations of the Military Authority. And I warn all peaceable and law-abiding subjects in Ireland of the danger of frequenting, or being in, any place in or in the vicinity of which His Majesty's Forces are engaged in the suppression of disorder.

    Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 5

    As the companion tells it

    In 1916, from Dublin, Lord Lieutenant Wimborne issued a proclamation putting all of Ireland under Martial Law for one month. The proclamation cited armed resistance to the authority of the Crown, along with deaths, injuries, and damage to property caused by the rebellion. It called on all loyal subjects to aid in upholding the peace and the supremacy of the Crown, and to obey and conform to all orders and regulations of the Military Authority. It also warned peaceable and law-abiding subjects in Ireland of the danger of frequenting, or being in, any place where His Majesty's Forces were engaged in the suppression of disorder. The proclamation declared that Ireland was under Martial Law unless otherwise ordered.

15. Sinn Fein review held in College Green

    near College Green · street · Dublin · 1916

    The Irish Volunteers held a large armed review of several battalions in College Green, holding up the trams for about an hour. Protests against this open display went unheeded by the authorities.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    During the past six months the body has grown enormously, as many as seven hundred recruits being enlisted on one night, and of course doing enormous harm to recruiting for the Army. On St. Patrick's Day they held a large review of several battalions, armed, and the trams were all held up for about an hour in College Green. Up to the last moment there was hope that this would be stopped, but protests were like a voice crying in the wilderness. Another time they held a full dress rehearsal of what has actually taken place when they "took" the Castle, St. Stephen's Green, and various buildings. About a month ago one of their meetings in the country was broken up and the two leaders arrested and deported to England. A huge meeting of protest was held at the Mansion House, almost opposite this hotel, and attended by the Volunteers, all armed, who marched in procession. After the meeting they marched down Grafton Street, singing "Die Wacht am Rhein" and revolutionary songs; a slight disturbance with the police took place and some shots were fired. People began to ask anxiously what next? but the Government looked on and smiled and H. tore his hair.

    On Saturday we were going to tea with friends at Bray, when just as we were starting H. got an "official" from the Castle, so I went alone and he went to the Castle. News had come that a boat had been taken off the Kerry coast, landing ammunition, and a very important arrest had been made. Easter Sunday passed off in absolute calm, and yesterday (Easter Monday) morning H. said he had a lot of letters to write and he would go and write them at his club, almost next door to the Sackville Street G.P.O. He found he wanted to answer some letters that were in his desk at the G.P.O., so he walked over to his room and was just sitting down when his 'phone went, an urgent message to go at once to the Castle.

    Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 1

    As the companion tells it

    Somewhere about College Green, in 1916, the Irish Volunteers held a large armed review. The body had grown enormously over the previous six months, with as many as 700 recruits enlisted on a single night, and the author notes it was doing enormous harm to recruiting for the Army. On St. Patrick's Day, several battalions of Volunteers gathered here, armed, and the trams were all held up for about an hour. Up to the last moment there was hope that this open display would be stopped, but protests were, in the author's words, like a voice crying in the wilderness. The authorities did nothing. The Volunteers had also held a full dress rehearsal of what later actually took place, when they took the Castle, St. Stephen's Green, and various buildings. About a month before, one of their meetings in the country was broken up and two leaders were arrested and deported to England. A huge meeting of protest was held at the Mansion House, attended by armed Volunteers who marched in procession. After the meeting they marched down Grafton Street, singing Die Wacht am Rhein and revolutionary songs. A slight disturbance with the police took place and some shots were fired. People began to ask anxiously what next, but the Government looked on and smiled. Then news came that a boat had been taken off the Kerry coast, landing ammunition, and a very important arrest had been made. Easter Sunday passed in absolute calm. On Easter Monday, the author's companion H. went to his club, almost next door to the Sackville Street GPO, walked over to his room there, and was just sitting down when his phone went. It was an urgent message to go at once to the Castle.

16. GPO reduced to a shell after the fire

    General Post Office · site · Dublin · 1916

    Staff who visited the ruins reported nothing left of the GPO but the four outside walls and portico, comparing the devastation to a burned city in France.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    The staff have just returned. They are quite unnerved by what they have seen; they report nothing left of the G.P.O. but the four outside walls and portico, so we have lost everything. They say it is like a burned city in France.

    _May 1st, 11 a.m._

    Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 3

    As the companion tells it

    On May 1st, 1916, at eleven in the morning, staff returned from the General Post Office in Dublin and were quite unnerved by what they saw. They reported nothing left but the four outside walls and portico. Everything was lost. They said it was like a burned city in France.

17. Rebels surrender unconditionally

    Dublin · city · Dublin · 1916

    Sir M. N. telephoned to announce the rebels had surrendered unconditionally, though firing continued in parts of the town, marking the close of the rebellion.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    Sir M. N. has just rung up to say the rebels have surrendered unconditionally. We have no details, and the firing continues in various parts of the town. But if the leaders have surrendered it can only be a question of a few hours before peace is restored, and we can go forth and look on the wreck and desolation of this great city.

    So ends, we hope, this appalling chapter in the history of Ireland--days of horror and slaughter comparable only to the Indian Mutiny. This seems a suitable place, dear G., to end this letter, and I hope to start a happier one to-morrow.

    Project Gutenberg #43470, Chapter 2

    As the companion tells it

    Dublin in 1916 was where the Easter Rising came to its close. Sir M. N. telephoned to say the rebels had surrendered unconditionally, though firing still continued in various parts of the town. If the leaders had surrendered, it could only be a question of a few hours before peace was restored, and people could go forth and look on the wreck and desolation of this great city. The writer called it an appalling chapter in the history of Ireland, days of horror and slaughter comparable only to the Indian Mutiny, and hoped to start a happier letter tomorrow.