The Wearing of the Green | Page 6

appearance
of the demonstration was here far greater than at any other portion of
the city. Both sides of the street, and as far as Carlisle-bridge, were
lined with cabs and carriages filled with spectators who were prevented
by the bitter inclemency of the day from taking an active part in the

proceedings. The procession was here grandly imposing, and after
Larkin's hearse were no less than nine carriages, and several cabs. It is
stated that Mrs. Luby and Miss Mulcahy occupied one of the vehicles,
and relatives of others now in confinement were alleged to have been
present. One circumstance, which was generally remarked as having
great significance, was the presence in one line of ten soldiers of the
86th Regiment. They were dressed in their great overcoats, which they
wore open so as to show the scarlet tunic. These men may have been on
leave, inasmuch as the great military force were confined to barracks,
and kept under arms from six o'clock, a.m. The cavalry were in
readiness for action, if necessary. Mounted military and police orderlies
were stationed at various points of the city to convey any requisite
intelligence to the authorities, and the constabulary at the depot,
Phoenix Park, were also prepared, if their services should be required.
At the police stations throughout the city large numbers of men were
kept all day under arms. It is pleasant to state that no interference was
necessary, as the great demonstration terminated without the slightest
disturbance. The public houses generally remained closed until five
o'clock, and the sobriety of the crowds was the subject of the general
comment.
From an early hour in the morning every possible position along the
quays that afforded a good view of the procession was taken advantage
of, and, despite the inclemency of the weather, the parapets of the
various bridges, commencing at Capel-street, were crowded with
adventurous youths, who seemed to think nothing of the risks they ran
in comparison with the opportunities they had of seeing the great sight
in all its splendour. From eleven until twelve o'clock the greatest efforts
were made to secure good places The side walks were crowded and
impassable. The lower windows of the houses were made the most of
by men who clutched the shutters and bars, whilst the upper windows
were, as a general rule, filled with the fair sex, and it is almost
unnecessary to add that almost every man, woman, and child displayed
some emblem suitable to the occasion. Indeed, the originality of the
designs was a striking feature. The women wore green ribbons and
veils, and many entire dresses of the favourite colour. The numerous
windows of the Four Courts accommodated hundreds of ladies, and we

may mention that within the building were two pieces of artillery, a
plentiful supply of rockets, and a number of policemen. It was arranged
that the rockets should be fired from the roof in case military assistance
was required. Contrary to the general expectation, the head of the
procession appeared at Essex-bridge shortly before twelve o'clock. As
it was expected to leave Beresford-place about that time, and as such
gigantic arrangements are seldom carried out punctually, the thousands
of people who congregated in this locality were pleasantly disappointed
when a society band turned the corner of Mary-street and came towards
the quays, with the processionists marching in slow and regular time.
The order that prevailed was almost marvellous--not a sound was heard
but the mournful strains of the music, and the prevalent feeling was
expressed, no doubt, by one or two of the processionists, who said in
answer to an inquiry, "We will be our own police to-day." They
certainly were their own police, for those who carried white wands did
not spare themselves in their endeavours to maintain order in the ranks.
As we have mentioned already, the first part of the procession reached
Capel-street shortly before twelve o'clock, and some idea of the extent
of the demonstration may be formed from the fact that the hearses did
not come in view until a quarter-past one o'clock. They appeared at
intervals of a quarter of an hour, and were received by a general cry of
"hush." The number of fine, well-dressed young women in the
procession here was the subject of general remark, whilst the
assemblage of boys astonished all who witnessed it on account of its
extent. The variety of the tokens of mourning, too, was remarkable.
Numbers of the women carried laurel branches in addition to green
ribbons and veils, and many of the men wore shamrocks in their hats.
The procession passed along the quays as far as King's-bridge, and it
there crossed and passed up Stevens'-lane. The windows of all the
houses en route were crowded chiefly with women, and the railings