continuing.... 10 Jan. 1846 Letter to the Editor of the Sentinel Sir- Though the excitement consequent on the potato disease has considerably decreased, perhaps you may not think the following practical remarks unworthy a place in your influential journal.
I had nearly 300 barrels pitted and covered with clay in the usual way. On trying them a few weeks after, I found them fast decaying. I then had them picked and removed to the houses, spreading them thinly on every floor that could possibly be spared, turning them over with a wooden shovel twice week and latterly, as they became dry, once a week. This has had the effect of arresting the disease.Those that were sound continue so and have every appearance of keeping the usual length of time. I am convinced that the usual deep covering of clay over the pits is a very bad thing this season and the farmers who adhere to the old practice of covering their pits in that way will, in short time, have very few potatoes left for any purpose. I grew a few acres on a bog last season and I have not been able to discover one tainted potato in them. I had them put in narrow pits and thatched with straw, which I consider the safest method of keeping any kind of potatoes this season. It admits a free circulation of air and at the same time, if properly thatched, will completely defend them from frost or rain. I think one of the safest plans will be to plant at least one-third of next year’s crop immediately. It will afford two chances viz; you have the benefit of the first bud of the potato, which is always the most vigorous and should the seed fail, there will be sufficient time for replanting, as any defect the seed will be quite apparent before the usual time of planting. Should these few lines be any use in securing what remains of the present potato crop, or directing attention to prepare in time for next season’s, my object will attained. l remain, Mr. Editor, your very obedient servant. K. W. (The above remarks are from the pen of highly scientific farmer, steward to a large land proprietor in the county of Donegal. We are aware that the plan adopted by him has been carried out by 2 gentlemen in this neighbourhood and with complete success, scarcely an unsound potato being in their pits.) Death from Poison On the night of Thursday the 8th instant, the widow of the late James CARLIN, bellman of the town Strabane, put a period on her existence. In the early part of the day she called at the shop of Mr. M'KEE, grocer and druggist, for a pennyworth of arsenic, which he refused to give her; she, however, subsequently procured it from an apothecary in town, on the allegation of wanting it for the purpose of killing rats and, as he had given her a like quantity about fortnight before and had known her for a long period, he had no hesitation in selling it to her on this occasion. After she had used it at night, she told the people in the house where she lodged what she had done, and wished them send for Dr. MITCHELL. They, however, did not believe her, conceiving that she was sick from drinking ardent spirits to which she was much addicted, but on observing her very ill about 10 o'clock, p.m., Dr. MITCHELL was sent for and promptly attended. It was however, then too late, as on his arrival,he found her quite dead. She was in indigent circumstances and being past the prime of life, it might have had a bad effect on her mind. Her husband died within the last 3 weeks. Londonderry Sentinel 16 Mar. 1846 The Emigrant Maiden She hath left behind her the smiles and tears, The sunshine and the showers, And all the things of her infant years, In this land of sweets and flowers, she had swept by the blushing coral’s home. By the sea-bird's rocky cave; As a colder sky now hangs its dome O’er the Emigrant Maiden’s grave. Oh! ask not why she left the land Which is called the brave and free; When poverty took her by the hand. It led her across the sea. She dreamt that wealth and joy were far Beyond the Atlantic wave, And the soft pure light of her morning star Is set in a foreign grave. Enniskillen Chronicle and Erne Packet 31 Aug.1846 parliament A petition to government from the magistrates, clergy and landholders of the Counties Tyrone and Fermanagh on the subject of apprehended distress from deficiency of the potato and oat crops is in course of signature and among suggestions towards the alleviation of the wants of the lower order, directs her Majesty’s advisers to an existing evil, likely materially to aggravate that distress - the immense number of dogs throughout Ireland on food, on which the poor subsist - and prays for the introduction of a tax on dogs thus supported. At a time like the present, every possible saving of food should be effected and this suggestion, therefore, would, if acted on, be of advantage. The Earl of RODEN brought before their lordships, the state of the potato crop failure and the deficiency in the oat crop also. His Lordship referred to the coast Fisheries and suggested that facilities be set on foot for their encouragement and the transfer of supplies to the interior of the country. His lordship also expressed a hope that in the present deep distress those having property in Ireland would come to it and reside and encourage and assist their dependants. Enniskillen Chronicle and Erne Packet 9 Nov. 1846 County of Monaghan The Northern Standard says - Will it be believed that upwards of 5,000 persons in the barony of Monaghan alone, have sought employment upon public works and such is the state of destitution, notwithstanding the severity of the scrutiny, that the above number appears upon the relief lists passed and admitted, as totally destitute and fit objects for charitable relief. This is a terrible and startling fact. How are those 5,000 to be provided for until next August. There are yet fully 1,000 more to be admitted, making 6,000 human brings, with families dependent upon their labour for support, for in very few instances, have 2 members of one family been admitted. Six thousand pounds have been already assessed, but how long will that pay 6,000 labourers at an average from 1s. to 1s. 4d. day, deducting the expense of implements, overseers and other incidental expenditures, certainly not for nearly a month when the whole body gets to work. If they were at work now, it would not last a fortnight. It is therefore necessary that preparations be at once made for presentment sessions for allocating money to draining labour, that no more of the wealth of the country be expended upon roads. If the gentry wait until this £6,000 is spent and the people thrown in a body out of work, peace cannot be preserved without extreme measures, and to meet the immediate pressure, more money must be granted for wasteful labour. County of Cavan At the Ballieborough relief committee on Monday, John YOUNG Esq. M.P., presiding, the following resolution was adopted; That as the danger of disturbance is imminent, for the people are starving and as great delay has occurred in setting the people to work, more than month having elapsed since the extraordinary presentment sessions were held and no sufficient relief having yet been afforded and as much of the delay appears to be attributable to the meagre and insufficient staff employed by government and to the want of a sufficient number of competent persons to make sections and line off the works proposed to be executed, the committee consider the appointment of several additional engineers, or competent assistant engineers, absolutely necessary in this barony, in order that greater facilities and adequate employment may be afforded. The committee select the following, from a number of similar occurrences, to show the extent of destitution and distress existing at present. On this morning, when the small number to whom tickets have as yet been given went to work, a large multitude assembled to prevent them, and would have driven them from the ground but for the Rev. Mr. FOY'S interference and it is quite certain that the peace of this hitherto quiet county cannot be preserved if all the people are not employed forthwith. 7 Dec. 1846 .... in consequence of the present crowded state of the Enniskillen graveyard, a motion was made by Stewart BETTY Esq. at the workhouse on Tuesday last, for having part of the yard at the Poor-house appropriated for the burial of the pauper poor and a letter from the Rev. Mr. MAUDE, rector of Enniskillen, made known to the board the willingness of the Lord Bishop of Clogher, to attend and consecrate the part selected for that purpose. Price of Food Notwithstanding the great influx of provisions from the trans- Atlantic world into the English markets of late, our market has felt no material change. On the contrary, every thing may be said to be selling at starvation prices and the meal mongers calculate on higher prices still. Ulster canal boats arrive from Belfast twice every week, laden with Indian corn, we may say exclusively and yet there is not the slightest symptom of any decrease in the price of this article. The Company’s boats are so engrossed by the meal-mongers of this district, that the respectable merchants and traders are beginning to exclaim against the disappointments they have experienced. Return of destitute labourers employed under the Board of Works, in the county of Cavan Castleraghan Virginia district - 442 Ballyjamesduff district -1,060 Mullagh district - 771 Clonkee - 1,520 Tullygarvey - 1,922 Upper Loughtee Cavan District - 1,261 Stradone district - 592 Ballyhaise district - 342 Clonmahon Crossdoney district - 1,153 Drumlumman district 751 Mount Nugent district - 640 Lower Loughtee 1,537 Tullyhaw Ballyconneil district - 1,441 Swanlinbar district - 375 Enniskillen Chronicle and Erne Packet 25 May 1847 Death by Starvation - A young woman named Mary Anne ACHESON of the parish of Killeshandra, county Cavan, was found dead on the road side, a few perches from the hut in which she lived, on Monday se’nnight and horrible to relate her body was dreadfully mutilated by dogs. An inquest was held and a verdict returned of “Death by starvation." Suicide in Rural District - On the 14th instant, a poor labourer named WILLIAMSON, living at Bawn, near Carranteel county Tyrone, committed suicide by hanging himself. Nothing has transpired which might be supposed as a cause for the committal of the deed, unless the extreme poverty of the man, who has left a wife and family to deplore his untimely end. At an inquest on the body, a verdict in accordance with these facts was returned. Using Threatening Language - On Sunday last, two fellows named John QUIN and James STEWART were brought before Wm. PATON Esq. J.P., for having used threatening language to the town beadles and after being examined were both committed to take their trial for vagrancy at the Quarter sessions. One of the vags (vagrants?) was of a party for whom Mr. MAGOWAN lately paid 11s. to have them removed from Armagh to their own locality. We hope the assistant Barrister may teach them how to conduct themselves in future. Charlemont Relief Committee - The Charlemont relief committee have given notice that they will not, in future, dispense relief to any persons whose houses are not thoroughly purified and whitewashed, for which purpose lime is gratuitously supplied. None will receive relief who do not come with cleanly persons. They have further given notice that they are authorised by Act 10, Vic., chap. 22, sec. 9, "to direct that all streets, lanes, and courts, and all houses and all rooms therein, and all yards, gardens, or places belonging to such houses, shall be cleansed and purified and that all nuisances prejudicial to health, shall be removed therefrom." They, therefore, request that all manure-heaps, cess pools, and other nuisances forthwith be removed to a sufficient distance from the dwellings, and from the public and bye-roads. If this be not done, measures will be adopted by the committee and its officers to enforce the same and any person obstructing the parties they employ, will subject themselves to a penalty of £5, or 1 month imprisonment in gaol. Fever of a very malignant type still continues to progress in Moy, Charlemont, and their vicinities. The chief symptoms are total prostration of thought; great stupor, with coldness of the hands and feet; and a black and fetid purging of which the sick are insensible. A short but formidable catalogue. Death by Whiskey - On Wednesday, the 19th inst. an inquest was held at Aughnacloy, before Edward MOORE Esq. J.P., on the body of William ARMSTRONG, an itinerant hat-dresser, who had been journeying through town. On a post mortem examination on the body by Dr. SCOTT, it was discovered that there was no food in the stomach, and that death was caused by taking some strong drink, while the body was in a weak state, brought about the exertion of traveling and want of sufficient food for some time previous. In accordance with these facts, the jury returned a verdict of "Death by taking spirituous liquour while weak from want of food." Armagh Guardian 10 Jul. 1847 Emigration The demand is stronger than ever for the attention of Government to the condition of the emigrant-ships. We admit that since the public notice was called to this subject an increased inspection has been ordered and a better class of ships has been employed. Still there is another point, of not less importance, which requires immediate remedy. It is the qualification of the captains of those vessels. Within about six weeks, on one track, the neighbourhood of the St. Lawrence, no less than four emigrant ships have been cast away. The ships were sound, the voyage was prosperous, no vessel foundered at sea, but from the moment they came in sight of landm all was destruction. The Carrick, a brig between 200 and 300 tons burden, on the 19th May encountered a gale At 2 in the next morning, she ran upon a dangerous shoal and in 2 hours she was no more. Out of 200 emigrants on board, the tremendous portion of 178 were drowned. Another emigrant ship, the Imogen, 348 tons burden, on the 20th of May, ran ashore in thick fog. She had 175 emigrants on board, who were fortunately saved. Another, the Zenobia, was lost on the same shore. She had 300 emigrants on board. Another, the Miracle, was lost, with sixty of her passengers. Another instance of calamity arises from disease. The ship Loosthunke, from Dublin to Quebec, put into Miramichi on the 10th of June, having lost 117 passengers by fever, and in want of medical assistance and fresh provisions; the remainder of the emigrants, 300, were more or less attacked and the crew were disabled. The fever appears to have broken out on board before the vessel departure from Dublin. On the arrival of the vessel, the passengers were landed at the quarantine station, and 40 more deaths had occurred since the arrival, and many more were expected. We take this account, of course, as it comes from Quebec and we cannot sufficiently express our astonishment at the particulars. In the first place, that 467 human beings should be crowded on board any transport vessel for a voyage across the Atlantic, and, in the next, that the vessel should have been suffered to sail when the fever had actually broken out on board. The consequence is the loss of 157 lives already. Surely this might have been prevented by the exercise of a rational superintendence on the part of the Government officers. In the wrecked vessels 138 lives were lost. If those statements are true, they call imperiously for the most immediate and active supervision. There has been some late attempt at the examination of the captains of merchant ships and transports, but must not only be persevered in, but it must be made strict and indispensable. No captain should be suffered to command anything beyond a coasting sloop until he had been of a certain number of year’s standing as mate, could give certificates of steadiness and sobriety, and could also go through a strict nautical examination. The merchant service would also derive signal advantage from a college for practical instruction in navigation, where young men intended for the merchant service should have a sound education in all matters related to seamanship, should acquire some knowledge of ship-building, the general management of a ship afloat, and the conduct of a ship’s discipline. Ship-building, the management of the steam-engine, and the theory of steam, might be added to the necessary knowledge of maritime science. Geography and astronomy, courses of lectures on the principles of commerce, the products of ditferent countries, the habits of those countries and their languages, might complete the round of their practical knowledge; while, if the college should be situated on the Thames, practical navigation would be easy of access, and ought to be diligently employed. Thus, in the course of a few years, the merchant service would have a trusty and intelligent race to whom the command of their vessel might be safely given. A superior order of persons would be brought into the service, and the expense of an education of this kind would be amply repaid, alike to the individual, the merchant and the community. Coleraine Chronicle 12 Jul. 1847 The provincial journals contain the most cheering intelligence of the progress of the crops. A gentleman who has been making an official tour in the north and north-west, embracing Londonderry, Donegal, Tyrone, Armagh, and other counties, reports that the system of husbandry has improved to a degree scarcely credible. Green cropping has increased an extent really wonderful and the face of the country presents an aspect totally different from its appearance in any previous year. The flax crops in Ulster are much more limited in breadth, wheat, oats, barley, rye and turnips and other green crops, are cultivated to a vast extent, and promise to be a very abundant produce. In several counties, a large portion of the soil may pass out of the hands of its present holders, but the ground-work of permanent agricultural improvement has been established and the country itself must experience the benefits of the change. Regarding the potato crop there are statements of disease in isolated cases, but the alarm has altogether ceased and the new potatos, good in quality, are daily becoming cheaper and more plentiful. At meeting of the Chemico-Agricultural Society of Ulster various statements were read relative to the potato crop. They were of a conflicting character, some insisting that the blight had re-appeared, while others repudiated its existence. Dr. KIRKPATRICK, principal of the Templemoyle School, heard nothing of the infection in his neighhourhood, while another doctor had seen several instances of disease, especially in the produce of french seed, Mr. ANDREWS, of Comber, an eminent agriculturist, stated the results of his observation, that in the tender descriptions there had commenced a discolouration in the stem and that, notwithstanding the progress lately made by the more forward shoots, the plants to which he referred had made no progress. He did not undertake to say that it was the disease of last year, though there had been unmistakable cases of that description in his neighbourhood. Dr. HODGES, an able agricultural chemist, confirmed the views of Mr. ANDREWS Bell's Weekly Messenger 14 Aug. 1847 Agricultural intelligence Hint to Potato Growers Those who are now digging new potatoes should, after raising the stalk, take off only the large potatoes and immediately put back the stalk into the ground, leaving on it the small potatoes not then worth removing; these small tubers will then continue to grow, so that none will be allowed to go to waste. Potato Blight It appears from the observations of most parties interested in the matter, that the potato blight commences at the time of flowering or of perfecting the fruit. Is it not probable, presuming this to be the case, that this may arise from the energies of the plant being exhausted in the endeavour to form and ripen its seed, and if so, is it not a fair experiment to remove the flower-head altogether from the plant, or, if too late for this, the young Potato-apple. I would strongly recommend this to the attention of all the cultivators of the potato both here and in Ireland and Scotland. Lancaster Gazette Stay safe! Teena -- www.cotyrone.com http://lists.cotyrone.com/mailman/listinfo/ulsterancestry https://www.facebook.com/groups/CoTyroneIrelandGenealogy/ _______________________________________________ [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/
