Larne Gun-Running...concluded

Report from The Belfast Evening Telegraph, April 25th, 1914

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DONAGHADEE LANDING.

VOLUNTEERS SEIZE THE QUAY.

TRAGIC END OF COASTGUARD.

Donaghadee was also embraced in the sphere of the movements of Volunteers last night, or rather in the early hours of this morning. The local force assembled for drill in the evening, and were afterwards dismissed. When midnight was approaching they were suddenly called out, and, reinforced by contingents from Newtownards, Comber, Ballywalter, and Herdstown they took possession of the quay, preventing all access to it.

About 3 a.m. a steamer berthed, and immediately all was bustle and activity.

Motor cars and carts were drawn up one after the other alongside the vessel, the services of a steam crane on the quay were requisitioned, and packages representing, it is said about 70 tons of rifles and ammunition were discharged into the waiting conveyances, which, under strong guards, proceeded at once to distribute their loads at the destinations assigned to them. The police and coastguards were powerless, and could only look helplessly on.

A very sad incident is reported. One of the coastguards named Painter was hastening to make a report to his senior officer when he dropped dead, heart failure being the apparent cause. He was a married man with two children, and had not long been stationed at Donaghadee.

END OF THIS REPORT

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