Mr.O'Brien immediately rushed between the people and the window, on one of which he jumped up, and once more demanded the officer to surrender.

But the order to fire had been given and executed with deadly effect.

Two men fell dead, and several were badly wounded.

The crowd fell back; but Mr.O'Brien remained still in front of the house.
There were several windows in front and two small ones only in the rear; parallel with the rear was a barn, in which there were two still smaller windows.Messrs.Stephens and MacManus took possession of this house, and, placing three or four sure marksmen inside for the purpose of taking down any of the police who should appear at the back windows, they proposed to burn the house in which the police took shelter.

They carried bundles of hay and placed them against the back door and roof.
The police seized on Mrs.M'Cormick's children, and held them up to the windows, to terrify or appease the people.