The Cork Examiner - November 1847

(150 Years Ago Today)

November 1, 1847
STATE OF THE COUNTRY.

THE Skibbereen Workhouse, built for 800, is shut-- holding 1340 paupers within its walls-- and incapable of building any more. The beggary of that vast and deplorable district must look elsewhere. It will incresae four-fold in a few months-- and where shall it look? Unless Pestilence shall diminish the occupants of the Skibbereen Workhouse, the besieging paupers cannot get a meal of stirabout out of it. These last therefore must look to the death of their fellow-creatures as something to their benefit. It is an awful thing to force on the mob a disrespect for life. Who knows where it may end?

. . . The Rev. Mr. HARRINGTON of Beerhaven, has informed us of the miserable and ominous state of the people there. As in Skibbereen the Workhouse accommodation is stretched to near its utmost-- and must soon cease. In Bantry and Killarney the story is the same. The Boards of Guardians are in a state of apprehension all over the country, particularly the coast country. We pronounce again and again-- and those that have ears to hear let them hear! -- that the winter of 1847-8 will be worse than that of 1846-7. To what is this country to be driven?

November 3, 1847
FEVER COMMITTEE-- YESTERDAY.

JAMES ROCHE, Esq., J.P., in the chair.
IN reply to a communication forwarded to Government by this committee, the Secretary read a letter from the Office of the Board of Health, authorising the committee to continue as a committee for fever purposes, with the same powers as heretofore.

Dr. Lyons said he was anxious to ascertain whether the Fever Committee had powers for cleansing and other purposes?

The Archdeacon replied that the act distinctly specified they were empowered with such authority.

The Secretary observed there was distinct intimation that the Board of Guardians had no power for cleansing or interments other than of the paupers remaining in their own hospitals.

In reference to the sanitory condition of the city, Dr. Jeffreys stated that there was an evident increase of fever, but a diminution of dysentery.

The Committee shortly after adjourned.

November 5, 1847
MURDER OF MAJOR MAHON.

We have to record another bloody deed, the result of the agrarian war which is still being waged in all its horrors between Irishmen for the soil of Ireland. The murder of Major Mahon speaks as eloquently as the great meeting at Kilmacthomas did for the establishment of tenant right. The murderous "clearances" of landlords-- the still more bloody "clearances" of landlords wrought by peasants-- alike proclaim the necessity of legislative interference to put an end to such criminal mutual extermination. One day we record the havoc of the landlords of West Carbery, the next we are called upon to record the havoc of the peasants of Roscommon! Where is all this to end?

Major Mahon, whose murder is the latest stain upon Ireland, was returning home about twenty minutes past six o'clock in the evening of Monday, from a meeting of the Board of Guardians of the Roscommon Union, when he was shot dead by an assassin, about four miles from Strokestown. There were two persons engaged i nthe nurder, according to our informants. Both fired. One piece missed fire, but the other proved fatal, lodging a heavily loaded discharge in the breast. The victim exclaimed "Oh, God," and spoke no more.

Major Mahon was formerly in the 9th Dragoons, now Lancers, and succeeded to the inheritance of the late Lord Hartland's estates about two years ago, the rental being about £10,000. The people were said to be displeased with him for two reasons. The first was his refusal to continue the conacre system, the second was his clearing away what he deemed the surplus population. --He chartered two vessels to America and freighted them with his evicted tenantry. In every other relation of life Major Mahon was, we believe, much respected. We understand that the Dean of St. Patrick's, Dublin, who lately married the daughter of Major Mahon, sole heiress of her father's property, now succeeds to him in the possession of the Hartland estates. --Freeman.

November 8, 1847
MORE TURNIP JUSTICE.

INNISCARRA, Nov. 5, 1847.-- Will you believe me when I have to inform you that a poor woman from the Parish of Inniscarra, who through hunger, happened to pluck up a single turnip in the noon day, from one of the fields of Sir George Colthurst of Ardrum, was summoned to appear before the Bench of Magistrates assembled at the Blarney Petty Sessions on Tuesday last, and fined for such trifling offence in the round sum of 20s. by the worthy magistrates.

Mr. St. John Jeffreys was one of the presiding Magistrates. --Correspondent.

November 10, 1847
GROWTH OF INDIAN CORN IN IRELAND.

A trial has been made to bring maize or Indian corn to maturity in this part of Ireland, but with only partial success. Four extensive drills of different varieties of that grain, were planted in the garden of the proprietors of this paper, about the last week in April-- the aspect was good and the ground rich and dry-- the plot well sheltered. It was upwards of a month before the blade appeared, though the grain had been steeped before it was planted. By the middle of July the entire crop had attained a considerable height, and early in August one of the drills came into flower, and the cobs of corn (two and three on each,) soon after appeared on the stalk, continuing to enlarge as long as the weather kept warm. It was allowed to remain in the ground until last week.

In some of the cobs (which were eight or nine inches long, and three in circumference) the corn was fully formed, but still soft, from the want of sufficient sun and heat to bring it out of the thick coating of leaves in which the cobs are enveloped. None of the other three varieties were more than in flower when their growth was arrested by the cold October weather. The variety which had so far advanced to maturity is red, of the smallest size, and nearly round-- the only kind which, it would appear, there is the least chance of raising in Ireland, under any treatment. --Tyrone Constitution.

November 12, 1847
TO THE EDITOR OF THE CORK EXAMINER.

Droumtariff, Nov. 8, 1847.

SIR-- On Friday last, the day for distributing a scanty ration, a large body of those who have been looked upon as "able-bodied," but who are now in reality infirm from hunger, assembled around the issue-shop, in the vain hope that a few "crumbs" might remain for them. Their hope was vain. Even some of those who were legally entitled to relief, did not get it; owing to the parsimonious economy of the Board of Poor-law Guardians in not passing the Relieving Officer's estimate for the current fortnight.

On the relieving officer announcing to them that he had no more meat for the present, no one can describe their consternation. They were struck dumb for a moment. Soon after they burst forth into a cry which continued for several minutes; when, as if by common instinct, they proceeded to the residence of their parish priest, the Rev. Mr. Tuomy. There again they renewed their wailings with redoubled earnestness. These unusual sounds at such a late hour in the night (between 7 and 8 o'clock), at first startled the rev. gentleman. But on a moment's reflection he judged the cause and proceeded forthwith to the door. There he saw numbers of his parishioners of all ages assembled, with the tears rolling down their emaciated cheeks, asking for bread. He could not be otherwise than deeply affected, and he divided amongst them his last shilling.

O! how sad and sickening to the feeling heart must not such a scene be?

Hunger is not the only affliction which excites our sympathy; fever and dysentery, its usual concomitants, are fast settling in.

I am aware that within this week, the Rev. Mr. Tuomy had to administer the last rites of the church to a dying person in a miserable hovel (there being no vacancy in the fever hospitals) where there were three different families, without a human being to attend them, lying in fever.

In thus giving a faint idea of the miseries of the poor in this district, I trust that the eyes of the "powers that be," may be sooner or later opened to the miseries which surround us. --I have the honour to be, your obedient servant,

TELL TRUTH.

November 15, 1847
MEASURES OF COERCION.

The Dublin correspondent of the Morning Chronicle says:--

The alarming state of crime and disorganization in some of the southern and western counties has caused the government to adopt some very decided measures. The military force and the constabulary are to be augmented, and a vigilant system of patrolling is to be established.

It is the general impression that the government have determined to bring forward, early in the approaching session, a very stringent arms bill, and that one of its leading provisions will be a severe penalty on any person possessing fire-arms without a licence.

Military Officers, stationed in the disturbed counties, are to be invested with the commission of the peace, in order to facilitate the operations against the lawless bands that infest those districts.

November 17, 1847
EVICTIONS AT KILMOE.

A CORRESPONDENT furnishes us with the particulars and a list of evictions, which have lately taken place at the townlands of Corrigeenour, Oghminna, Thoor, and Gurthnagosshal. We have no space to print the letter of our correspondent, it is the same old story-- the miserable story which almost every locality in this most wretched island has to tell, but we give his list of the persons evicted in the above townlands.

EVICTIONS AT CORRIGEENGOUR. Charley Regan, 7 in family, possession given.

John Coghlan, 5 in family, possession given to the Agent.

OGHMINNA John Mehegan, 3 in family, no possession given until the rent was forgiven.

Mick. Regan, 3 in family, no possession given, house pulled down.

THOOR Widow Mahony, 5 in family, possession given.

Widow Leary, 1 in family, possession given.

Poll Supple, 5 in family, possession given.

GURTHNAGOSSHAL Curly Harrington, 11 in family, possession given to the Agent.

November 22, 1847
DEATHS OF EMIGRANTS AT GROSSE ISLE.

WE take the following list of deaths of parties belonging to Cork from the Quebec Morning Chronicle of Oct. 28.

From the 3rd to the 9th October-- Mary Kelleher, 18, Saguenay; Pat Daily, 7, Albion; John Taylor, 61, Maria Somes, Eliza Taylor, 22, do.; Ann Lynch, 50, Asia, Marg. Taylor, 24, Maria Somes; Elizabeth Hickey, 5, do.

From the 10th to the 16th October-- John Donaho, 27, Saguenay; Mich. Murphy, 24, Avon.

A Return of Money and Effects left by Emigrants who died without relatives, at Grosse Isle, from the 16th May to the 21st October, contains the following respecting passengers from vessels that sailed from Cork:--

Denis Courtenay, Agnes, 4s. 6d.; Francis Mournie, Bee, 1s; Charles McKenzie, Gilmour, 10s.; Pat Crowly, £2, £1 note brother James, Ballanally, county Cork; John Berry, Free Briton, 16s.; James Dwyer, Wakefield, 14s.; John Regan, Jessie, £3 in £1 notes, Son, Bantry, county Cork; Michael Greenock, do., 2s. 6d.; And. Shannon, Lady Flora Hasting, 2-1/2d.; Martin Sullivan, Sir H. Pottinger, 8s.; Michael Sullivan, do., £4 10s., mother, Mary, Tiernatialta, Casson, county Kerry; Peter Walsh, Free Trader, £1 6s.; Mary Flanagan, Ganges, £1; George Gordon, Saguenay, 9s.; Denis Burns, Covenanter, 2s. 6-1/2d.; Ellen Curtain, Saguenay, 12s. 6d.; Catherine Casey, Covenanter, £1; Johanna Laughlin, do., 8s. 6d.; Anthony Manley, Ganges, £1 0s. 9d.; Michael Murphy, Avon, £1 2s. 6d.; Cornelius Jeffy, Free Trader, 18s.; Honora Callacher, Sir H. Pottinger, £1 10s. 1-1/2 d.; Alexander Sutherland, Agnes, £2, seaman; E. Connell and sisters, Urania, £4 13s. 1/2 d.; sent to the Rev. Mr. Dugas; Ann Mylan, Free Trader, 4s., do.; Rd. Mehan, Covenanter, £3 sent to the Rev. B. McGauran; John Brien, Avon, £5 to be sent to Mr. Buchanan, for orphan children; Sarah Hayes, Jessie, £8, do.

November 24, 1847
SANITARY CONDITIONS OF THE CITY.

A MEETING of the Magistrates, Officers of health and Churchwardens of the City was held yesterday at 2 o'clock, at the Cork Institute, the MAYOR in the Chair, for the purpose of making arrangements to improve the sanitory state of the city. The Chairman having represented the state of the city as being very bad, proceeded to say that, not alone was disease on the increase, but also crime, by reason of the renewed influx of country paupers into the city-- three fourths of whom, failing in procuring charity, took to dishonest and disreputable occupations. In this statement several magistrates, Capt. White and Mr. Roche amongst the rest, fully concurred.

It was finally resolved, after a short conversation, to reorganise the "special constables," with a view to protect the city from the incursions of hordes of rural paupers, now daily taking place, and also to reconstitute the Committee of Health, as it consisted in the course of last summer, the funds to meet the expenses to be obtained under the Fever Act; and the Committee to meet weekly, at the Mayor's office, as formerly. The meeting then adjourned.

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