Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 155, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 June 1916 — GIRL'S DIARY SHOWS HOW IRISH REVOLT SPREAD REIGN OF TERROR [ARTICLE]

GIRL'S DIARY SHOWS HOW IRISH REVOLT SPREAD REIGN OF TERROR

Miss Dora Bing, Once a New Jersey Resident, Surrounded by Bombardment and Street Fighting, Describes Her ExperienceFeared for Safety of Mother During the Rebellion, but Was Unable to Go to Her.

New Brunswick, N. J. —Miss Dora Bing, once a New Brunswick girl, granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Bing of this place, was within two miles of the center of fighting in Ireland when the revolt was at Its height. Her experiences are set forth in the following extracts from her diary: “On Thursday evening previous to Easter dad and mother set oft for Killarney, leaving us alone. We had a Jolly time on the whole, and on Easter Monday, knowing dad would be home in the evening, we thought we would Wind up one holiday by a visit to the movies. On Monday afternoon, at about two o’clock, we set out and caught a tramcar at the foot of the road. It cost twopence to go to town, and we had paid our money when, at Haddington road, about half way, the conductor came along and told us to get out, that the train was going no -farther. “Out we got and started walking, wondering whether the lines were ken or the electric power cut ofT. We had not proceeded far when we met a woman who lived right opposite here. She was in a great state of excitement. She Baid: ‘My dear children, you’re not dreaming of proceeding farther. The town is in an uproar. The Sinn Fein volunteers are out, armed with rifles, machine guns and heaven knows what. Men are being shot and several have been killed.’ We didn’t wait to hear any more, but turned back. She went with us. She had been in town and had to walk out again. “When we got to the spot where we had left the train we were shown a house at the comer of the road, and on the roof of the house was a sniper, who was shooting all the soldiers that came along. As the house is within a stone’s throw of one of the biggest barracks, Dt was a bit serious, was It not? We then thought we were a great deal too near for the air to be really healthy, and made tracks for home. “About six o’clock In the evening Uncle Jack arrived home. He was absolutely exhausted. I forgot to tell you it was a scorchingly hot day and exceedingly dusty. He had left here by train about half-past one and arrived at the Phoenix park about halfpast twelve. He was quietly reading when he heard a most fearful roar, and, inquiring, was told tne volunteers had attacked the magazine in the park. He thought it was time to quit and got to the park gates. No trains, but lots of bullets whizzing around. “Well, It would take a book and an experienced writer to tell you how he got over the barricades, hid up sidestreets and dodged bullets. As a straight walk it is easily six or seven

about two thousand English soldiers march past the end of the road. Very hot day, and they had crossed from England the previous night and had marched from Kingstown that morning, about three miles; a very hot day, and the soldiers were very tired and hot. Had passed about one-half mile away. Heard afterward that the troops had been caught in an ambush a short distance away and had been fired on from front and back. Terrible loss of life. Still no mall, wires or telephones. Few newspapers, and a charge of sixpence to read them, VSl®fch sounds like a page out of a story of ‘ye goode olde days.’ “Thursday.—Dad, Uncle Jack, Margaret, Jim and I walked to some friends about one-fourth mile away, that is, within a very short distance of activities. Talked to the soldiers, who are very nice, polite fellows, and who are greatly astonished at and very grateful for kindness of people around, who loaded them with food and tea and cigarettes. Fearful firing all day, and a man in the medical service told us the number of killed and wounded is terrible, which, Judging by the noise, we can well believe. Saw a fearful blaze in the sky from our bedroom window and heard next day that the greater part of Sackville street had been gutted. Martial law at 7:30, and aftter that hour everybody must stay indoors. We did. Still no news of the outside world, and very worried about mother. Provisions Run Low.

“Also, provisions were getting scarce, but managed to get six pounds of beef and a steak with great difficulty. No butter and no bacon to be had for any price. Mother had stored plenty of canned goods, and I was very thankful to have them; also seven pounds of flour and about twenty pounds ofv tea and about a similar quantity of sugar. Good old mother! We often teased her about emergency stock, but we won’t be able to thank her enough now. Decided that dry bread is not palatable. “Friday.—Went to see our friends again, passing provision shops on the way, and saw great crowds of people standing waiting to get in, as into a theater. Saw about eighteen prisoners, very dirty, miserable-looking specimens, one or two slightly wounded. Very amusing to watch ladies and gentlemen hurrying to and fro with loaves of bread, jugs -of milk, etc., and huge parcels not even wrapped up, but tied together anyhow. “In the afternoon went to the end of our road and cheered about ten thousand soldiers, infantry and cavalry, passing on their way to the firing line. Many heavy guns, and saw field kitchens for the first time, very weird-looking affairs. Still no news of outside, but a friend crossing to England took two wires across to send from the other side. Another big fire in town, and sky all lit up. Terrible fighting round about, especially at night. “Saturday.—Home all morning, and in the afternoon were stopped at the railway station by sentries with bayonets, who would not allow us to proceed farther. Helped to give the soldiers tea and amused ourselves by watching people trying to get home. They were not allowed to pass until identified. Very funny. Some got excited and indignant. More firing, very near at hand all night. “Sunday.—Woke to find a sentry with a bayonet outside the gate of our house. Great excitement, and on going out in the road found sentries every few yards up the road. Allowed to walk about ope hundred yards,

miles from the Gates home, but if all his side-trackings, etc., were included, it would take about ten miles. He had tramped all this amid any amount of firing. Talk about limp rags—when he got home he was, as I believe you say. some rag. We were glad to see him, I can tell you. Get News of Rebels. "Before we went to bed news came that the rebels had command of the general post office, the Westland Row railway station, the Kingsbridge railway station (at which all trains from Killamey and the South arrive), had ripped up tramway and railway wires, and had Intrenched themselves at St. Stephen's green, right in the heart of the city. We went to bed in a very shaky state of mind, wondering how mother and dad were faring, and hoping they had heard of the trouble soon enough to prevent their leaving Killarney. "Tuesday.—Awoke to. the pip-pip of bullets about one-half mile away. Spent the day in an awful state, listening to shots every few minutes. Neighbors exceedingly kind and came to ask us around if we were afraid. No mails, no newspapers and no news except rumors of a hair-raising description. At night, about half-past seven, a fearful bombardment by heavy guns, not very far away. Heard afterward that a gunboat had steamed' tsp the Liffey and had bombarded Liberty hall, the headquarters of the volunteers, also heard that the flag of the Irish Republic is floating over the post office and that the rebels had issued a proclamation calling on all loyal Irishmen to take up arms and fight to rid the country of alien people—lreland for the Irish.

“At half-past eight I went crazy. Dad had come home. Had left Killarney at half-past two, with no word of the trouble, and had left mother there for a few days longer. Train stopped at Limerick Junction and took passengers on for the night. Next morning still no trains to Dublin, so my bright dad, the man from Cook’s, took a train to Waterford, whence he came home on a different line and got through the city in wonderful safety. “He wrote to mother from Limerick telling her there were rumors of serious trouble in Dublin, and that she must on no account come up until sent for. We went to bed to the sound of heavy firing. Decided that when I am in need of music to send me to sleep I will not requisition any artillery. "Wednesday.*—More firing. Watched i'

which is very funny and not &« *ll nice. "Of course, could not go to church. Oreat shooting seemed very near. A house near us searched, and two Sinn Feiners and a quantity of ammunition found. Oreat excitement. Jim and Margaret make friends with sentry outside gate, and give Jim his badge. Gave him tea, etc. “In the afternoon not allowed outside the garden gate, and as Jim and Margaret stood there just after tea-~ ■plp-pip,’ and a bullet went past their heads, which hastened their steps indoors in a great state of fright. After this much shooting round about. They seemed to store up their energy until ordinary people are trying to sleep. Horrible roar at night, and noise seems to come along the road and also in the back garden. I found out next day that two snipers were caught on the roofs of houses near by, which accounted for much. Went to bed feeling very shaky. Rumors said the majority of the rebels in town had surrendered, which, in view of the great noise near at hand, we found hard to believe. Firing Continues After Week. “Monday.—The trouble has lasted a whole week, and the firing still continues, but nearer town, I am thankful to say. Went for a walk in the afternoon, the sentries having been removed. Went to our friends as before, and found them terribly frightened-. Houses near by had been shelled and a lot of fighting had taken place around their house. :'Sentries~stiil posted lit w number of roads, and no one allowed into town without a military permit Firing gradually decreasing, but broke out again at night as usual. Rumors of rebels’ surrender confirmed, and we seem to be near the end. Still no mail. “Tuesday.—A newspaper at last, but only four pages and cost twopence. At about eleven o’clock at night a great lot of firing broke out very near at hand and continued till twelve, when, being used-to-sueh we fell asleep. Still no trains, and great food famine In the city. We have no meat, but otherwise are very fortunate in the food line. I forgot to say that the sqjdiers came around Tuesday and ordered us to get all the bread we could, as flour and yeast were running short. No women were allowed beyond the station, so dad started off with a linen bag to get loaves from a bakery about one-half mile away. After great difficulty he got, with three other men, as far as the bakery and bought 45 loaves at nine cents each, which is very dear. There were riots around the bakery and people were there from all parts of the city, very hungry. “Wednesday.—Dad determined to go to town and got a pass for the purpose from headquarters. Uncle Jack went with him, and both came home very upset at the dreadful sights they had seen. Pools of blood along the road and In town. The ruin Is terrible. Nearly all Sackville street is burnt down, including Uncle Jack’s office, which means that at the age of sixty he will have to start life again. His is only one of dozens of cases, and so far the misery and distress among workmen and shophands is awful. Uncle Jack is very cut up, and when he saw the office and hundreds of pounds’ worth of valuable machinery wrecked he nearly cried. “Our friends next door also have lost their office, but as they are very wealthy they will not feel it so much. The general post office was opened, having undergone very extensive alterations, only about a month ago, but all that is left now is the empty shell, the four walls and no roof. A new theater, opened just over a year ago, is also in ruins, also one of biggest drygoods stores. It is impossible to tell on paper the awful destruction that these lunatics have wrought, as if there were not sufficient blood being shed in the world at present without their miserable efforts to add to it. “Trains and trams are beginning to run within a very limited, area and business is quite at a standstill. No mail as yet or wires, and newspapers cost twopence each still. “This is Thursday, and I have finished my tale. It was very exciting while it lasted, and now we are to taste the sorrow of it. Dad has gone to town again to try to get to Kingsbridge, to let mother know that she may come up again. I couldn’t begin to tell you how glad I’ll be to see her again and to have her back safe and sound. I am dreadfully afraid she will have been worrying herself crazy, for if the reality was bad enough the rumors were ten times worse.

"As one old man remarked, ‘Glory be to God! ..They’ve fine weather for their fighting! ’ So they had, for it has been just perfect spring weather for a fortnight past, with the most beautiful sunshine. At times it has been very hot. “Dad is going to cable Uncle Andrew, and no doubt you will have received the news from him long before this arrives, but I have done my best to tell you of the state of excitement in which our lives have been spent for the last week or more. Thank God, it is all over now, the "reign of terror’ is finished. I am thankful, too, that mother has been spared it all.”