72 A LIFE'S WORK IN IRELAND. 



it was known that one of the defenders was absent 

 in Cork, and whilst the other was at tea with the 

 two wives, the Fenians invaded the tower, and cap- 

 tured it without resistance. They retired in due 

 course, carrying off a very few old muskets. 



It was known that the Cork police had a sort of 

 parade every morning at half-past nine, at their chief 

 barrack, when all the men were present before going 

 on duty for the day. So one morning, as a gunmaker 

 was opening his shop and arranging his window, very 

 few people being in the street at that hour, some men 

 walked in, fastened the door, put a pistol to the shop- 

 man's head, threatening to kill him if he resisted; 

 swept into bags such arms, revolvers, etc., as suited 

 their purpose ; walked off, and dived into low back 

 streets in the neighbourhood, where all traces of them 

 were lost. 



The Corporation had a little store in a lonely 

 place outside the town, where the shopkeepers kept 

 their gunpowder, for fear of explosions, bringing it 

 into the town in small quantities for sale. This was 

 broken into at night, and some powder stolen. 



A gentleman who had been in the army, and 

 lived a mile or two from Cork, was known to be 

 paralysed, and to keep arms, so it was thought both 

 safe and glorious to attack him. He was in his 

 sitting-room, unable to move from his chair, but 

 hearing the noise, and being suspicious, he told his 

 wife to give him his pistols, and on the men coming 



