Awful Casualty
Donemana, Co. Tyrone - One of those visitations which are of a rare occurence visited the town on the 11th Aug. At twenty minutes past twelve o'clock, cries of fire resounded through the whole town. The house of John DONAGHY, shoemaker, was found to be all on fire and the residents there all asleep. It was found advisable to break open the door and by that means enter the house. Sub-constable WALSH and Sub-constable's HARVEY. KELLY and O'NEILL entered and rescued from death, DONAGHY, his wife, Catherine DONAGHY, his sons, James, Patrick and Hugh and also his daughter Ellen, and afterwards brought therefrom the charred remains of his daughter, Catherine. Dr. BAIRD of Killens was promptly on the ground but life was found extinct. The mother suffered the effects of the smoke as did also the father and the son James, who slept in a bed beside the fire. Two milch cows and pony valued at 16£ and a pig at 2£ 5s. were found to be burnt to a cinder, as also all the property in the house. The poor family are now left destitute of even necessary clothing. They are stopping at Mr. James BROWN's who, with his usual kindness of heart who spontaneously offered them bed, board and lodgings,until something could be done for them by public sympathy. Too much praise cannot be given to the inhabitants of Donemana for the manner in which they acted through this trying scene. but more particularly to constable M'CARBRY and the men under his command, John O"NEILL, N. T. KILLENS, and Mr. BROWN, hotel-keeper, Donemana. An inquest was held before the coroner, and several witnesses were examined. Mr. John O'NEILL gave evidence of having experienced the smell of fire, and after in vain, endeavouring to awaken the inmates, ran to the police barrack, where sub - constable O'NEILL was the first to answer him. Other witnesses were examined including Mrs. DONAGHY who was nearly frantic for the loss of her daughter, about 7 years of age. It was stated that no candle had been struck up near any bed, but it transpired that DONAGHY was in the habit of burning the refuse of flax which he kept under the bed of the deceased and that his wife had cautioned him in the danger of that course. The jury found that the deceased had come by her death by suffocation in consequence of the burning the refuse of flax under the bed in which she slept. The event had produced a deep sensation here. Belfast Newsletter 21 Oct.1893 Cheers Teena [email protected] http://cotyrone.com/ _______________________________________________ [email protected] UlsterAncestry Mailing List Searchable Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ http://lists.cotyrone.com/mailman/listinfo/ulsterancestry Website: https://cotyrone.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CoTyroneIrelandGenealogy/
