The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-02-12
RENIaHTEp HTBERNrANs-
An Adventure on the western Coast o
Ireland.

antry are early on the scent TO glea1
this strange harvest. The courage o
the fishermen in assisting the crew e
escape from their reef-toFn vessel, an6
] finding for them comfort when rescued
is unparalleled in any of the eoasi
/ countries.
The resources of their cabins are a.
she disposal of the shipwrecked sailors
and, as they generally express It, I'll
''share and share alike" have known
/ in my own experience, of more cases
of unreeorded and unreBarded heroisn
/ among those poor fishermen than the
book devoted TO the recital of such ex.
| plOits contains. Z, A people whose every
hour is one of toll in wrestling from the
| sea at best a miserable livelihood. 8
task in which young and old, irrespec.
tive OF sex, are engaged, have no time
for the acquisition of the most ordinary
education. Few can read or write, and
the class of which speak live beyond
the pale of newspaper literature. OF
the most stirring events of the times
they have no knowledge. They do not
enjoy the elective franchise, and there.
fore have no interest in the county
elections. The advent of a shoal Of
herrings is to them OF more Importance
than wars or aceessions and thus we'd
ded to their old traditions, a life OF
unusual toll and danger is passed.
Everything IN and pertaining to the
sea is utilized. The weed or kali, which
after high winds is cast ashore in
large masses, is gathered up and piled
IN heaps for manuring purposes. OF
this occupation shall speak more full
ly hereafter, and shall confine myself
to the history of one incident of ship
wreck, which though ridiculous in one
sense, is, on the other hand, a painful
illustration of the Ignorance of those
western fishermen.
It's blowing a hard gale of wind,
sir, remarked the signal man of the
coast-guard station, as 1 walked home
ward by his post, on clustering even
ing in October.
"Aye, indC ed it is, Donaghue Have
any vessels been signalled from Hag's
Head p
ST have had nothing from the men
there, sir; but Considine, who lives
closely 10y the point, told me he saw a
brig elose-hauled, beating out sea-
ward. :"
Among these coast-guatds Ihad many
friends. AS they were all old sailors,
any one who followed blue water was
taken at once into their confidence.
I had hardly reached my bedroom and
secnred my window-shutters against
the fury of the wind, which was rising
rapidly, when the hall door bell was
rnng. As the servants were all in bed,
and I suspected the summons might be
from my friends, the coast guards, I
slipped on a dressing-gown and opened
the door. DOnRghue, the signal man,
wrapped IN a monkey jacket and inter
minable neck muffier, stood outside.
'Step in out of the breeze, Donag-
hue what's up now?" I asked.
A vessel ashore, sir, he answered,
''and firing guns of distress. She is
on the BaIlyvaughan reef, and ] have
the gig outside for you, if you'd like to
come along. The captain and the rest
of the men are already on theway."
After seating the coast guard in the
dlning-rooEl, with q decanter of whisky
and bundle of cigars for his amuse-
ment, while got into my hard-weather
clothes, ran up stairs and in a few
was ready Tor the road.
The grandeur of that midnight ride
I shall never forget. The sky was Gov
cred with dark, sullen clouds, through /
Which the moon shone at intervals. /
Our road lay within a few yards of a /
bold bluff, some seven hundred feet /
above the sea, and the roar of the surf |
beneath sounded like the peals of a |
whole round of artillery. Distant and |
faint at first, b It as we proceeded grow |
ing clearer, rang the guns OF the stran- |
led vessel.
s'She must be ship of war;" re-
marked Donaghue. No merchant yes
sci carries such heavy metal. Notice /
how regular they are discharged.
els there any chance OF her working /
of ?"
g None in the world, sir. The Bal
lyvaughan reef keeps s. tight hold OF 1
any craft that gets into its clutches.
BalIyveughan is a small fishing village /
and inhabited by the sturdy but ignOr- |
ant class ] referred to IN the introduc- !
tion to this sketch. When We drove
along the single and only row of cabins /
that stand a few hundred yards from
the beach, We were somewhat surprised !
that none of the people were abroad
sfThis is strange" I said to my COM /
panion. ' These people generally are 1
the first to scent a shipwreck, and the I
first on shore to render assistance or /
pick up the drifting goods which old 1
Father Neptune may send them
'''I,is rather curiOus-but here comes |
Capt. Wells with the men.
Ia the few minutes Of moonlight that
we could perceive the dark
outline Of the vessel, and the fash Of a
gun st that moment shoWed her lying
on her beam ends, with the seas break
ing heavily over her.
"Where are the fishermen, captainG ? |
1 said, as that individual hurried To-
ward us.
at CAN'T tell what's the matter with
I l. 8 ~ IN
the village. but cannot get q soul out.
"T'il try them, said ]. There's
one fellow here whom they call in the
Irish Mihaul Tabae, beeaise he's 50
fond of his pine, and his cabin lies Just
opposite US.
Jumping from the gig, I approached
AIihaul's dwelling. Through the inks
Of the rndely constructed docE ] oJuid
zee the glare Of the rush light inqide.
I Knocked and shouted Come out,
man there's ship en- the
rocks. Come ont and lend q hand.
:" The devil step you viii stir from
this cabin to night" muttered female
Aoice, soto U0ee inside.
Let me out, tell you; It's the
young master himself
a. Never an out youIl so while that
murders going on. Who'd take care Of
rs II you were gone =
"Coms cut, Mihaul," I repeated I;
q what are the women holding you back
forT
Oh, master, master, don't ask him,
and he wid big family don't ask bin,
master, dear" implored ons Of the
women. ''Oh, but this IS the uniueky
night for Us al, aud the ould boy fy
away wid Hoehe FOR bosbering Baily.
vaaRhan Eid his soldiers. lis little
love the Engiish. but what wiil We do
Uhen they both get at us
'tIn ake name :. I God. Z cFiesis what
do you think is the matter2 There Is
ship on the reef here, and We 'Eant all
the hands We can muster.
- Matter enough. vas the reply
didn't We hear them bSE guns, AID
don't we know ahs Frineh is iandinEg
Oh. master dear, leave a alone IN our
cabin, and LET Bonsparie get his sol
diers cut BY himself Sure Aihaut's
neck wouldn't be safe Il be Vas ever
seen IN company sith oen BgnapaEte
-o1ld Napoleon himself"
nov began 70 comprehend the state
oF the e-aee The lrrrfzpsus II tha hum.