Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-10-10


Nae coffin for his corSe,'"
When little Eileen caught these dread
full words she became iriehtentd anC
ran TO the door. The sky was rs cleal
as ever, except directly above the oSiel
island on Tanney Tough, where n heavy
cloud seemed To hang; while white
crested waves, driven by the wind
washed over the upturned boat, which
dashed, rudderleSs, up and down upor
the rocky point Of the island.
1t was strange sight: the furiou,
storm was confined to that one spot
while on all other sides the landscape
lay glowing in August sunshine.
My daddy's boats lost. He'll w
drowned said the child, returning &c
Betty's side, and beginning to cry.
"Hurrah! hurrah!' cried the witch:
"NSe candle At his head,
Nae priest BESIDE his bed
The awfulneSS of the partial storm
had struck others besides little Eileen
Three or four people in the village
street had seen the Tough become lash
eh into fury i'll moment, and had also
watched the boat being overturned;
and AS quickly rs possible another
boat was launched and the bodies of
Doolan and Deyenny were sought for.
Jack Devenny was brought To shore,
and afte restorativeS ha d been used,
he recovered consciousness.
where's Tam were the first words
he said.
1--WE Gamma get him, was the reply
and Toms widow rung her hands and
sobbed bitterly.
They'll no got him, chuckled Betty
from her post OF observation at her
cabin door on the hill overhanging
Tamney Tough:
Nae winding-shect, uae hearsc.
Nae coffin for his CorSc'
One or two of the searchers over
heard her, and they shook their fists i'll
her face with rage.
All that day and all the next day
they sought, but Tom Doolan's body
could not be found 1t was, indeed,
never found, ana the lake was regard
ed with superstitious horror for years.
But to return to the witch. Little
Eileen was an intelligent child, and she
told Der father how Betty had babe her
watch the dish i'll the tub of water,
while she had been muttering low to
herself, how it had turned round and
round, sinking at last to the bottom;
and how Betty had exclaimed; GAY
that's yer fathers boat, an Tom Doolan
the thief an villain, II be drowned"
Devenny was not quite so unnamed
by suuerstitious dread as his neighbors
besides which, he was sorry for the
loss of his comrade. and he determined
that his death should be avenged.
Feeling his way very cautiously, he
found couple of fitting accomplices
among the kneeling crowd i'll the chapel
yard next Sunday, and he settled with
them what was to be the witch's fate.
One night, when all was silent in the
village OF Tammey, the three men stole
out of Devennys cottage, and coasted
the reedy edge of the Tough, i'll whose
gloomy depths poor Doolan was lying
No candle, or priest, or wake, or burial
had the poor fellow had, and they
shuddered rs they passed his unknown
grave, crossing themselves piously,
and think of his wandering soul. The
watcr-hens were disturbed by their
stealthy tread, and flock of plover flew
overhead, ultering their wild, almost
human, cries. On they went, cautiously
mounting the hill, and pausing several
times to listen before they reached the
witch's door. The reason for this caution
was that, Donegal being in disturbed
state, parties of yeomanry secured the
country every night, and apprehended
anybody whom they found abroad after
nine o'clock. All lights were to be ex
tinguished at that hour, SO Betty's dip
candle had long been out, and no
glimmer appeared at her single tiny
window.
"Where's the kale stake asked one
of the men. They climbed upon the
roof, stopped up the chimney, and then
putting the cabbage stalk into the
heyhole, blew clouds Of sulphur through
it into the cabin.
"Well smoke her the way his reyer-
ence smoked the bees" said they,
stationng themselves at the key-hole in
turn and they did not desist from their
labor until dawn appeared.
So they smothered the witch, she was
cold and dead next day when the door
was opened; and as they were no cor
oner's inquests in those days, her being
found dead excited but little attention.
Indeed, at the time of the Union, Ire
land was in so disorganized state that
the death Of one old woman in her bed
was but little noticed. The manner OF
her end was known to her old neigh
bors around Tamney Tough; but il was
never spoken OF except in whispers
though years afterward parents pointed
to the ruined wall-steads upon the hill
side, and told their little children what
the witch's fate had been. The writer
was told the story by All old man whose
mother had lived in Tamney at the
time.
On our venturing to doubt the exist.
ence of witches at the present day he
declared there was then August, 1877
to his certain knowledge, witch living
close to his own farm; and he pointed
out pretty, fair-haired woman, moth
er Of large family, who has only one
COW, yet sells quantities Of butter.
She has slight figure, as well as blue
eyes and hAxen hair, and we thought
her pleasa sight as she tripped along
the Tamney roa 10 market, followed
D., ~ l,tgIa oromd IF u,hifa. n aad ad