The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-04-20
FRIGHTFUL DESTITUTIoN IN IRE
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The Catholic clergy of Donegal, some time ago.
issued appeal on behalf of the peasantry of GER
tain parts of that country, amongst whom, they
alleged great destitution and distress existed In
consequence of the truth of their statements hav-
ing been questioned, special reporter, at the
request of the relief committee has been sent down
by the propretors of the Dublin Evening Post to
make investigation on the spot and in communi-
cation to that paper of Tuesday, the 10th, we find
the result ofhis visit and inquiries
Gweedore and Cloughaniely the districts in ques-
ton, embracing territory of mountain and bog,
with occasional strip of land lying the north
west of Donegal. The weather at the time Of the
visit very severe, and the ground covered with
snow. On reaching the scene of dcstitution, says
the reporter, 81 perceived perhaps one hundred or
one hundred and fifty persons, male and female,
waiting with petitions and memorials in hand,
to be presented for relief. OF these the majority
were matrons, barefooted and without stockings,
and some of those who possessed the luxury Of
stockings had not shoes or brogans. The bare
limbs of these women appeared to be swollen and
covered with chilblains."
He visited some Of their houses-if houses they
can be called Here is description ID entered
one on all fours through hole in the wall, and /
there found an aged matron. Father Doherty
preceded and led the way, or 1 dare say should
have been denied admittance to that abode of mise
ry and destitutiOn. She was seated before O FIRE
on the hearth, the turf of which had been dug by
the male members of the family. There was no
window or aperture to admit the light of day, save
the hole by which l entered. There, and else
where, there no time to be lost. The inquiry
was proceeded with by Father Doherty, who show
ed me the bed on which some of the family lay,
and here is true description:
"The head of the bed was in the corner, few
sods of earth at the head and foot to support it q
board for the side, with few sticks thrown across,
one end inserted in the wall, and the other end
supported by stones and turf. There was no bed
tick, no clothing, with the exception of q woolen
rag, which could not bear the name of blanket, nor
was it sufficient in size for single grown adult,
certainly not fit to cover person of full growth.
Here in this hovel, unfit for the habitation of
single human creature, there were seven persons
Of their food he says-"In another house we
asked what their food was, and they exhibited a
metal pot which contained the meal for the family.
This chopped or pounded potatoes in pulp,
and with this pu p re-heated, and with some sea-
weed which they exhibited in wooden vessel,
called noggin, they made their dinner and supper
in one meal"
The two following pictures of distress, he says,
apply to hundreds Of cases 1.-The day was awful
ly severe and all who could remain inside doors
without the pressing necessity of going abroad were
huddled about the fire. In one of these domicils
there was female, and she was one OF many In
the fifteen or twenty houses explored in this
part of the Gweedore She was about sixteen, and
when called upon by Father Dougherty to come
forward, she advanced with air of confidence,
perfectly unconscious of her gracefulncss and
beauty of her form This poor helpless child was
not clad, unless you could call shapeess garment,
thrown over without inner covering clothing.
"But in this house there was another female,
older than the one whom have just now intro
duced. The girl was about twenty, or thereabouts
This poor creature had neither shoe nor stocking,
and avoiding the presence of strangers she shrunk
away back into the obscure corner in the dark,
from which she had been reluctantly drawn by the
priest she revered.
In conclusion, the report states-"What have
now said of few cases might apply to all have
seen of deplorable distress in this district Of the
Gweedore. But l informed by many that
there more miserable and desolate in the more
remote and isolated parts of Gweedore."