THE EPISODE OF MOUNTJOY II ' Sta,—The notice by Mr. Edward
Carson of Mr. Ervine's book Craigavon : Ulsterman, in the Spectator of September 16th, gives the impression that the success of the gun-running exploit was mainly due to the efforts of the subject of the biography. In his book, Ulster's Stand for Union, published in 1922, Mr. Ronald McNeill, afterwards Lord Cushcndun, dealing at length with the thrilling enterprise, declares that Major Fred. H. Crawford (afterwards Colonel) was the head and front of the compli- cated series of events, and the man whose efforts brought them to a success- ful issue. The major was a red-hot Ulsterman, a hero-worshipper of the great Carson (who a:ways received a king's welcome when he visited Ulster), an intrepid leader of any hope, forlorn or otherwise, audacious and resourceful, ingenious and stubborn, ready to give his life in the furtherance of this deed of high emprise.
Mr. McNcill's lengthy description of •the initiation of the project, the elaborate arrar.gments attaching thereto, the trials and difficulties which the promoter and his assistants triumphantly surmounted, is a most stirring record. The adventure well deserves the lavish praise bestowed upon it when the chronicler wrote: "Fred Crawford, with the able and zealous help of Andrew Agnew, had accomplished the difficult and dangerous task he had undertaken, and a service had been rendered to Ulster not unworthy to rank beside the breaking of the boom by the first and more renowned ' Mountjoy '."
Sir Edward, afterwards Lord Carson, was the leader in the general cam- paign, and it could not possibly be disparagement to him and his adjutant, later made Lord Craigavon, who was only second in the affections of the Ulster people, to point out that Major Crawford bore the burden and the heat of the day in the undertaking alluded to. Their fame is secure. The claim that Major Crawford was the moving spirit in all that appertained to the gun-running and its crowning success has never been challenged, and it seems rather a pity that the whole-souled endeavours of this high- principled and intrepid man should have been overlooked in the notice by Mr. Edward' Carson which was read by, no doubt, thousands of your
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