Such were the days of an anxious week. None knew what to believe,
what to trust, or what to distrust. Work was impossible. Sleep even
was almost impossible. We could but drift about and wait, when to do
so seemed almost like a tragic cowardice. What proved finally to be
well-grounded of the rumours that flew were disbelieved. What proved
to be false were the only matters in which any reliance was placed.
None doubted, for instance, that Cork and Limerick were “up,” or that
Wexford County was in a blaze, or that Ballina, quite near home, had
captured Killala Bay. None placed much reliance in the rumours of
fierce fighting round Boland’s Mill and Jacob’s Factory. None doubted
that Athlone Bridge had been blown up and that the Galway boys were
retreating from the town, contesting every foot of the way against
a large English force. None believed in the landing and capture of
Casement.
One of the county papers published a special edition on Thursday
recording all the rumours. “The Mayo News,” however, refused in its
edition on the Saturday to print or give ordinary circulation to any
rumours, and advised its readers to wait patiently until some reliable
news was to hand. The question of food had become a matter of alarm,
for now that the Rising had lasted a week, it might well last much
longer, with strange results to follow. And a good part of one’s
efforts were occupied with discovering where flour was available.
Then on the Monday came news that Padraic Pearse had surrendered,
and that the Commandants under him were accepting the order, though
reluctantly. The first week’s strain was released, but the mood of
the people began to make a slow change, such a change as Pearse had
foreseen. Already in the first week that change has appeared; but
the news now told of defeat, an ancient tale in Ireland, full of old
honour. On Tuesday the mail was resumed. Papers came and were passed
eagerly from hand to hand. The people were afraid, but sullen. Martial
law gave unlimited power to the peelers, who continued in bands of
three and four with carbines slung over their shoulders along the
roads; but the Rising was already beginning to take its place among
Ireland’s tragic efforts for freedom. The causes were not known; men
had, in fact, ceased to wonder whether it had been a planned Rising
or a provoked resistance. The outstanding fact was its utter failure;
and that became its greatest success, for so it became kneaded into a
history never very far from an Irishman’s emotional consciousness. And
when the further news came that a large part of the city of Dublin was
in ruins as the effect of artillery fire, and when steadily through the
week the tale came of execution succeeding to execution, the sullenness
changed to exasperation. Even those who during the Rising had been
whole-hearted in their denunciation of it, became bitter of speech.
Not the least cause inducing this were the wholesale arrests that were
being reported from all over the country. I had already been warned,
many months previously, that my arrest had been determined for the very
first chance I gave certain persons at Dublin Castle. The warning had
come through a friendly channel, and I had accepted it as a compliment
to my intrusions in public affairs. But now the case was different,
for one’s political opponents were clothed with unlimited power.
Moreover, there was another thing that gave me reason to fear.
* * * * *
Yet when that week was passed, and the greater part of the next, I
began to think that my schedule would never be called, in spite of the
fact that each day’s paper recorded a general sweep-up all through the
country. On May 10, I went to bed late as usual. I had been setting
potatoes all day, and had been working making a precis of State Papers
till late at night. I retired at about two o’clock in the morning. As I
turned into bed, a strong presentiment came on me suddenly, almost like
an oppression, that I was to be arrested the following morning. It was
so strong that I thought to wake my wife; but, feeling ashamed of it, I
lay wakeful and wondering.