William Farrell
who wrote Carlow ‘98 describes a
bloody scene which took place in Carlow barracks during the ten days
following the battle of Carlow: among the other various scenes of blood
that took place . . . was one of a very singular description. It
happened to a young man of the name of John Dowling of Graigue, Carlow.
His father was a respectable man in the tanning and currying trade, but
he was not regularly bred to it himself, except he might do a little for
his amusement.
He was brought to the triangle and severely flogged in order to
extort information from him, but neither hopes, fears, rewards or
punishments’ could compel him to give it. He was at length taken down,
and naked and bloody as he was, a gentleman or one who held the rank of
a gentleman.
Arundel Caulfield Best Esq., who was present, as an
additional punishment for his obstinacy struck him a violent blow with a
stick. Dowling instantly made a sudden rush and endeavoured to wrest a
sword from the next person to him, to drive it through his body but was
prevented. It is very extraordinary he was not put to death for it on
the spot, but wonderful are the ways of Providence . . . he was sent off
to the jail and put down in the dungeon. In the evening Dowling was sent
for again. He was not ready in a moment… as he was endeavouring to get
some of his clothes on, and they again shouted . . . ‘why don’t you make
haste? Go down and drag the scoundrel up!’ ‘I’m coming’ said Dowling
meeting him. ‘Oh don’t drag me, don’t drag me! I’m not able to go
faster’ said he in such dying tones, joined to his emaciated appearance
that the savage hearts of his enemies were softened and they let him
take time . . . he looked up at the windows and called out to us all ‘Oh
boys pray for me’. We could see him nearly the whole way from the upper
windows.
But what was our astonishment in a very short time after to
hear that as soon as he got to the back-yard, he was liberated and sent
home. The reason, I suppose, was that they had no information against
him and that they flogged him just on chance . . . But blessed be
Providence that … not a man of them that I know of, Mr. Best included,
but have gone down to their silent graves while John Dowling is alive
and well today and all this in the course of forty-three poor years.
PATRICK HACKETT
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