Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-10-01
An Irish Chapel Submerged and Five
Persons Drowned.

A DUBLIN special to the London
DIHg NcWS says Details have reached
Dublin of the terrible catastrophe in a
Roman Catholic chapel at Gweedore,
County Donegal. The church is situat-
ed in a deep ravine between two granite
cliffs, which rise as perpendicularly
from the base to the top as the side
walls of the chapel, and are almost as
high as the latter. The sacristy side
faces the sea to the west. Between the
side walls and this cliff an openeing of
about six feet had been cut out of the
rock to give walking-space round the
outside of the chapel to the southwest
side. The glen opens up toward the
hills, but is not so deep at any place as
where the chapel is built. In the mid
die of this glen a stream flows, though
no great body of water fills up its bed,
except in the winter time, when it is fed
by mountain torrents. This brook flows
down under the south aisle of the chapel,
provision being made for its passage by
an archway under the walls and floor of
the chapel. 1t divides the chapel yard
into two sections to the bridge below on
the country road, where it disgorges un-
der three arches. The upper parapet
wall of this bridge forms part of the in
closure of st. Mary's Chapel. When
the tides are high the water of the sea
passes through this bridge and through
the arch under the chapel for some dis
tance. The peculiar site of the chapel
is attributed to the difficulty in getting
land for the purpose. From 10 O'Clock
on Sunday morning rain fell in torrents,
accompanied by terrific thunder and
lightning. The stream came down
from the mountain sides into the basin
of the rivulet, covered the crops with
debris, washed away bridge north of
and near the Gweedore Hotel, and car
ried granite boulders, over ton weight,
for fully mile down its bed. On reach
ing the high walls surrounding the
chapel yard, the impetuous torrent bore
down all before it, and entered the
chapel by the west gable door. The
scared looks of the people, as il at some
unusual thing passing along the floor
toward the altar, first attracted the atten-
ton of the Rev. James Alacfadden, parish
priest, who was in the act of administer
ing communion. The priest and people
preserved order, but the unceasing roar
of the torrent outside induced the pas
tor to ascend a few steps of the altar,
when, on looking down the aisle, he saw
the water, which had burst open the
massive door, rushing inward. He de-
posted the chalice containing the sacra-
ment in the tabernacle and locked the
door. Then, turning to the people,
who were up to their waists in water, he
directed and beckoned them to make
their way out, or escape as best they
could, divesting himself of his vest
ments. The water had now reached to
his knees, and seeing no other means of
safety he assembled the top of the altar,
and made way from thence to the rere-
dos behind it, and by the aid of board
crossed over the vestry to the chancel
window, which he ascended to safe
hight by breaking the panes, inhicting
a severe cut on his hand. BY this time
the water had closed the eastern door
and then burst it and the dOor-case out
ward, carrying with it several persons,
including Sub-Constable Martin, who at
the risk of his life, after several at
tempts, succeeded, with the aid of a
| civilian, In saving a woman being borne
out along with him. The water then
carried away the remaining boundary.
wall and a bridge sixty yards lower
down. Meantime, with the water eight
feet deep, a terrible scene was occurring
inside the chapel. The seats, bound to-
gether at the bottom, became floating
RATS of which all who could availed
themselves to save their lives. A large
block of fir-woOd carried in by the wa
ter kept ahoat all who could sit on and
cling to it. Others were saved by get
ting hold of a suspended lamp-clfain
and'by grasping the window-cords and
breaking the glass. A man named Gal
laher, with ropes and garments, pulled
others up to the gallery. Sub -Consta-
BILE MahOney and others placed ladders
from the rocks outside to the windows,
and by this means many escaped. The
interior of the chapel was almost de-
stroyed, and outside every thing was
carried away except the solid rock.
There were about 400 people in the
chapel. Five dead bodies have been re-
covered, and no more are missing.
James Ferry, aged 16, was found dead
at the vestry door, which had closed on
his arm, preventing his egress. The
others who lost their lives are Neil Doh
erty, Connell Boyle, aged 20; Grace
McGarVan, aged 45 (all married), and
! Henry Gallaher, aged 16,