Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-03-11
MOrfester bully SPY.
A Southern IrIshman.
EVANSVILLE, WoRcEsrER. Mari


paper seems to be particularly proud of being
able TO announce TO the world that a country.
man OF their own was the original owner of
the steamship Sumter-"the terror of the
north" as he calls her. Now, sir, l myself
have few words to say about this Every
superior-intellectual gentleman,
which MY be interesting to you. l think
will be able to prove, to your entire satisfac-
ton, that the ship and her present occupation
agree exactly with the precedents OF her first
master. l, also, am Kilyleagh man, and l
am personally acquainted with Captain James
Britain Mcconnell. l knew him before he
emigrated to this country, and l was most
intimately acquainted with his parents, as
lived In the same house with them ten years !;
and as they were not very remarkable for
possessing Il superabundance of Intelligence
they frequently got Inc to read their letters,
and occasionally to answer them. In this way
CLEANED considerable information concerning
the ''persevering" James but since l came
to this country myself | have heard stories
about him too horrible to mention, and which
would be deemed incredible even by the most
credulous.
But here permit me to say a few words about
his percentage (Which by the way is rather
doubttul). His alher's name-or, at least, he
whom tue world called his tather-was George
Mcconnell His mothers maiden name was
Martha Britain, or "Matty Brittle" for short
His father was sergeant in the North Down
shire Irish militia, but being good blacksmith,
and other Influences, i'll the shape ot a
pretty but not over chaste wlfe-he was pro-
NOTED to regimental armorer; a post which
he occupied till the regiment was disbanded,
some forty years ago. His mother did the
officers washing, and according to the stories
OF sergeant major Guinea, and quarteTmaster
sergeant M'Govern, she was very prouse in
the distribution of her favors among the COM
missioned officers. But be this as it may,
many hard fought battle bis mother and Ia
Their has had about who his real-not apparent
male progentor was The old man would
sometimes designate each particular member
of his family III the following style:-
James b. (he whom the editor of the Bel
fast Weekly News delights to honor is Capt.
Howe's; he'll be hung yet. William, he's
Lieut. Somebody's; he's a id rascal.
Frank, he's Major So-and Sos; he'll go to
hill. But Susan is my own girl; yes, she's
mine, she's good girl Gentleman Arthur,
he's Howe and ID bad one at that
ami Maria, she's Howe, too"
Then he would soliloquize in the following
strain Poor Big Bug, The always called
himself Big Bug when in trouble,) you have
had hard life you have had to maintain six
of family and only one of them your own.
Poor old Big Bug wish you were dead"
One day his very loving spouse and her duti-
full son "Gentleman Arthur" knocked the OBJ
streperous "Bg Bug" down with poker, and
then put fms to the proceedings on that par.
ticular occasion by knocking one of his eyes
out. Poor old "Big Bug" pitied him from
my heart when l saw his eye lying out on his
cheek and he bleeding like sheep, bat still
insensible from the blow which he received
from the poker.
But you will ask, what has this to do with
the owner of the Sumpter? l say nothing
more than to show you the hotbed in which
such precious plant was nurtured-tIe
school where his young ideas were taught how
to shoot-the fountain of superior inteli
gence" from whence he imbibed such amaz-
ingly large draughts.
MIR. James B. Mcconnell, the original own
err of the pratica steamship Sumter, emigrat
ed to America more than twenty years ago.
He made the sea his profession. He soon be-
came mate, and then captain, and finally own.
er of a schooner trading between Havana and
New Orleans. About this time read letter
from him to his mother, which stated that he
was engaged in the cigar trade, and that lie
was making lots of money, and that he hoped
soon to be able to purchase brig, when lie
would be enabled to embark in more lucra
tive business. What that more lucrative bust.
ness was you will have an opportunity to Judge
for yourself. A few years after this he came
to Kilyleagh, and married f1sherman's
daughter by the name of Euphemia McCan.
1t was commonly reported a neighbours hen
roost furnished part of the wedding repast
Mr.. james Shaw, the lawful owner of tile oc.
cupants OF said roost reported as follows -
"About II o'clock the night previous TO the
celebration of the nuptials, sundry unearthly
screams, and divers sounds like loosened sails
Tapping in the wind, proceeded from the vi
cinty of the house; and in the morning, 10
his sorrow, he found that two Of its latest
'feathered tenants had disappeared" My
friend Shaw always persists in saying they
went to furnish variation to the proverbial
potatoes, buttermilk, and poteen, which are
always had in such abundance at an Irishman's
wedding. Nobody imputed the theft to the
captain, but they Gid to his brother, Gentle
man Arthur"
remember hearing the captain talk about
America, and of somebody asking him if he
was not Yankee now, as lie said lie had been
naturazed. He looked quite indignant at
this question, and answered rather sharply
that to call man Yankee in New. Orleans
was to insult him. He said the Yankees were
the meanest men on earth, and that they
lived chiefly in the New England states. He
stopped but short time in Ireland after being
married. just long enough to spend the honey
moon.
Shortly after his arrival in New Orleans
with his wife he embarked in the slave trade.
He ran successfully three cargoes Of slaves
from the coast of Africa to Cuba, and then
brought them in small lots to the United
States. A schoolmate of mine, by the name
of Robert Harvey, who came to America
with Capt. Mcconnell after his marriage, told
me ali about it. He (Hanvey) had been twice
with him to the coast of Africa. Harvey was
drowned shortly afterward by falling over
board into the Mississippi river at New Or.
leans.
The following is one of the many stories
told ME by Haney :--On one occasion, when
sailing up a river on the coast Of Guinea,
hunting for slaves, they went into hut where
negro family lived, and that the woman,
who seemed to be the mother OF the family
was giving birth to a child at the time.
Mcdonnell ordered them to drive the cusses
out. but some OF them, more humane than the
resi-. wanted to wait little "Wait be id"
cried their fiend OF captain, taking hold OF
the child by the feet and dashng its brains
out against the wall of the hut then, chain
ing the rest together, drove them before him,
at the same time dragging the poor debilita"
ted mother after him, much in the way boy
would his sled down to tie boat. Such was
the business by which he amassed the wealth
that enabled him to build the Sumter ! ask
you could a ship purchased by such i'll gotten
gold come to a good end !? / think not. l
think il the editor of the Belfast Weekly
News knew James r. MpCOnneII nR I do he