Own Scottish Borderers.  With this force of soldiers and police Mr. Harrel proceeded to a point on the road from Howth to Dublin and blocked the way.  When the body of Volunteers reached him, he demanded the surrender of their rifles.  This was refused.  He then ordered the police to disarm the men.  A scuffle followed, in which nineteen rifles were seized.  Some of the Volunteers without orders fired revolvers, and by this firing two soldiers were slightly wounded.  One Volunteer received a slight bayonet wound.

Then there was a stop and a parley, and the Volunteer leaders threatened to distribute ammunition.  While the parley lasted the Volunteers in rear of the column dispersed, carrying their rifles, leaving only a couple of ranks drawn across the road in front, who blocked the view.  When Mr. Harrel perceived what was happening, he ordered the soldiers to march back to Dublin and took the police with him.

By this time wild rumours had spread through the city, and on the way back the troops were mobbed.  They were pelted with every kind of missile and many were hurt, though none seriously; and it understates the truth to say that they were in no danger.  They had their bayonets, and from time to time made thrusts at their assailants.  At last, on the quays, at a place called Bachelor’s Walk, the company was halted, and the officer in command intended, if necessary, to give an order for a few individual men to fire over the heads of the crowd.  But the troops had lost their temper, and without order given a considerable number fired into the crowd.  Three persons were killed and some thirty injured.

The first that I knew of these events was on the Monday, when I got the paper at a station in Gloucestershire, on my way to the House.  The railway-carriage was full of casual English people, and I have never heard so much indignant comment on any piece of news.  “Why should they shoot the people in Dublin when they let the Ulstermen do what they like?” That was the burden of it.  It is easy to guess what was felt and thought and said in Dublin and throughout Ireland.

What Redmond said in the House of Commons is characteristic of his attitude.  He demanded that full judicial and military inquiry into the action of the troops should be held, and that proper punishment should be inflicted on those found guilty.

“But,” he said, “really the responsibility rests upon those who requisitioned the troops under these circumstances.  So far as the troops are concerned, I deplore more than I can say that this has occurred—­this incident calculated to breed bad blood between the Irish people and the troops.  I deplore that.  I hope that our people will not be so unjust as to hold the troops generally responsible for what, no doubt, taking it at its worst, was the offence of a limited number of men.”