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Full Title
In times of peril : leaves from the diary of Nurse Linda Kearns from Easter week, 1916, to Mountjoy, 1921 / edited by Annie M.P. Smithson.
Author
Kearns, Linda.
Contributor
Smithson, Annie M.P. De Valera, Eamon, 1882-1975.
Date Added
4 February 2016
Format
Book
Language
English
Publish Date
1922
Publisher
Dublin : Talbot Press ; London : T. Fisher Unwin Ltd.,
Source
Joseph McGarrity Books.
Topic
Kearns, Linda. Prisoners > Ireland > Diaries. Nurses > Biography. Ireland > History > Easter Rising, 1916.
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OCR
18 IN TIMES OF EERIL.
bench and stone floor, and it was most bitterly cold
on that November night.
But even here I was not left long in peace. The
tormentors brought one of my late companions past
my door, and then fired several shots, to make me
think that he was killed. Then they consulted out-
side my door in loud voices as to whether they
would “shoot the girl next, or do for one of the
other fellows first.” This went on for some time for
my benefit, to terrify me, as I knew. But it was
trying on the nerves, especially as I knew well that
they could shoot me with impunity if they took the
notion to do so at any time. Then I was questioned,
threatened, and finally offered bribes. They came
in groups of three or four to question me, and to
see if they could identify me; and during all
this time they called me all sorts of names--I was
a “murderer,” and a “ driver of murderers!” One
often hears and reads of nights of horror; well, I can
say truthfully that I have passed through one. At
seven a.m. next morning I was brought to the day-
room and again questioned. I asked for my over-
coat and rug, but they refused to return them to
me.
We were then brought to Sligo Jail. While I
was waiting for a wardress to come and take me
to the female part of the prison, I was put into the
office in charge of a policeman. That man did all
in his power to annoy me, calling me names, and
amusing himself by taking accurate aim at my head
with his rifle. Fortunately for me there was a
warder in the office also, or else I might have been
another unfortunate who was “ shot while trying to
escape!”