s would be flying about, quite indifferent as to whom they would
hit. The opposing political sides had one great end in view, and that was
to break each other's heads, and they deeply resented anybody else
attempting to interfere with that playful form of amusement, so that
oftentimes both sides would turn their attention on the police and
soldiers, causing us quite considerable inconvenience. However, I must
say this, that on no occasion when I was on duty at such so-called
political meetings and elections did the situation become so aggravated
as to necessitate the use of their arms by the soldiers.

Still, we did go home sometimes with a sore head, and I received my first
wound from a piece of road metal hurled at me from quite a short distance
by a great, strapping, fine Irishwoman. This occurred at Belfast some
time after the affair at Limerick. As far as I remember there was to be a
Catholic procession from somewhere near the Customs House through the
principal streets to the Catholic cathedral. The city authorities and the
police were notified and fully expected quite high old times as regarded
street fighting. They had been advised by those who were carrying out the
procession that the Catholics fully intended to reach the cathedral, even
if it took them a week and they had to walk over the bodies of whoever
tried to stop them, They knew whom they meant all right. The Orangemen
had also informed the authorities that they had very rooted objections to
this procession and that they were determined that that procession was
not to get to the cathedral without some efforts of resistance on their
part. Consequently the authorities requested military assistance, and
further stated that they thought it would be necessary to have on hand,
or close to, a sufficient number of soldiers to preserve the peace. So
the scene was set for a pretty disputation. Many police were in
attendance, and the soldiers were principally utilized out of view, as
far as possible, in the side streets debouching on the route of the
procession. It was hoped by these means to prevent sudden rushes by these
side streets taking the procession at a disadvantage on the flank.

I was detailed to take charge of a dozen cavalrymen and was allotted my
own little side street. We waited for some three or four hours before the
procession as such, or what was left of it, seemed to be approaching our
way. It is difficult to describe the noises that filled the a