The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-06-05
FROM ANNALS OF THE FAMINE IN
IRELAND.'
BY MRS. A. NICHOLSON.

| 1t was on the evening Of December Z
when about stepping into the train, al
Kingston, tor Dublin, heard policeman
relating 10 bystander case Of famine al
the South. The poiatoe, knew, was part
" destroyed; but never thought that actua
famine would be the result. The facts
were SO appalling, that had they not come
from policeman, who, it should be said
are in general, men Of veracity, my mind
would have doubted; and when he added
that, IL got this information from friend
who was present in the court, and VIII
wrote the circumstances to me-" all queries
we're removed.
A mao had died Of hunger, and his wild
ow had gone into the plowed field Of her
sndlord to try to pick few potatoes iu
The ridge which might be remaining since
harvest; she found few-the landlord saw
lher-sent magistrate to the cabin, VIII
found three children in state of starvation
and nothing in the cabin but the pot which
was over the fire. He demanded of her to
show him the potatoes-she hesitated; he
Inquired what she had 10 the pot-she was
silent; he looked in and saw dog, with the
handful Of potatoes she had gathered from
he field. The sight ofthe wretched cabin,
and still more, the despairing looks Of the
wreiched mother and the famished children
crouched in fear in dark corner, so touch.
ed the heart Of the magistrate, that he took
the pot from the FIRE, bade the woman fol.
low him, and they went to the court room
together. He presented the pot, contain
ing the dog and the handful Of potatoes, tc
the astonishcd Judge. He called the wo
man-interrogated her kindly. She told
him they sat n their desolate cabin two en-.
tire dsvs without ea,ing any thing, before
she killed the half famished dog; that she
did 40, think she was stealing, to glenn af
ter the harvest was gathered. The Judge
gave her f3 from his own purse; told her
when she had used that to come again tc
him.
j This was a compassionate Judge-and
would to God Ireland could boast Of many
such.
MAN sTARvING.
/ The first starving person that saw wa:
la few days after the story of,he woman anc
dog had been related. A servan, in ths
house where was stopping, at Kingston
said that the milk. woman wished me to see
a man near by, that was in state of actua
starvation; aud he was going out to attempt
to work on the Queens highway; little
labor was beginning opposite the hou e
and fifteen-pence a day stimulated this
poor man, who had seven to support, biz
rent TO pay and fuel to bny. He had been
sick with fever; the clothes Of his family
that would fetch any price, had been pawn,
ed or sold, and all were starving together
He staggered with his spade TO the work
the overseer objected; but he enireated Il
be allowed to try. The servant went on,
and asked him to step into the kitchen: and
reader, if YOU have never seen starving
human being may you never. ln my child
hood had been frightened with the stories
Of ghosts, and had seen actual skeletons,
but Imagination had coma short Of the sight
Of this man. And here, to those who have
never watched the progress of protracted
hunger. il might be proper to say, that per.
sons will live for months, and pass through
different stages, and life will struggle on tt
maintain her lawful hold, ifoccasonal scan.
ty supplies are given, till the walking skele.
ton is reduced TO state OF inanitv-he sees
yom NOT, he heeds you not, neither does he
beg. The first stage is some what clamerou;
will not easv be put off; the next is patient
passive stupidity; and the last is idiocv.-
In the second stage they will stand at the
window for hours, without asking charity,
giving vacant stare, and not until peremp-
torily driven away will they move. In the
asst stage. the head bends forward, and
they walk with long strides, and pass you
unheedingly. The man before mentioned
was emaciated TO the last degree; he was
tall, his eyes prominent, his skin shrivelled
his manner cringing and chldlike; and
the impression then and there made, never
has, nor never can he effaced; it was The
first. and the beginning Of those dreadful
days in reserve. He had his breakfast, and
was told to come in at four and get his din
ner. The family we're from home; the ser
want had an Irish heart, consequently my
endeavors were all seconded. Often has
she taken the loaf allowed for her board
wages, Ohat is so much allowed weekly for
food.) and sliced nearly the whole away
denying herself for the suffering around her.
II must be mentioned that laborers for the
public on roads, seldom or never ale more
thnn twice dav, at ten nnd four. Their
food was the pota,oe and oatmeal strahont,
and butiermilk, the luxury which was seldom
enio, ed This mnn was fed on Indian
meal, Cruel. but'ermlk or new milk and
bread in the morning; stirahont, buttermiik
and bread at four. Workmen are not paid
=, night on the public works, they must
wait week; and il they commence labor
lin a state of hunger, they often die before
the week expires; MANY have heen carried
home to their wre,ched cabins some dead
land others wing, who had fallen down with
The spade in their hand. The next day af
ter the wre,ched man was fed, another, in
like condition. at work in the same plsre,
was called in and fed. he afterwards died
when The labor was finished and he could
re, no more work. The first man gradual
iv gained strength. and oil fnr him was en-
couraging; when mv purse became low :