The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-09-08
4 Flood That Swept Through an
Irish Chapel,

I. .ADta tttt<t ssb
Irish Chapel,
LoND0a, August 31.-Thc Dublin
correspondent ofthe Nacs of the 10Th
furnishes the following details OF the
disaster at Gweedore:
Details have reached Dublin Of Il
terrible catastrophe in Roman
Catholic chapel at GWe .op, County
Donegal The churl4 Is situated
in a rayine, between two granite
cliffs. which rise perpentIicularly
from the base to the top as straight
as the side walls Of the chapel and
almost rs high rs the latter. The
sacristy side faces the sea to the
west. Between the side walls and
the cliff an opening Of about six feet
had been cut oUt of the rock to get a
walking space around the outside Of
the chapel to the southeast side
The glen opens up toward the hills,
but it is not SO deep at any place as
where the chapel IS built. In the
middle Of the glen a stream flows,
though no great body of water fills
up its bed, except in the winter
time, when tits fed by the mountain
torrents.
This brook flows down under the
south aisle Of the chapel, provision
being made for its passage by an
arch under the walls and floor Of
the chapel. 1t divides the chapel
yard into two sections to the bridge
below on the county road, where it
disgorges under three arches. The
upper parapet wall Of this bridge
forms part Of the enclosure OF st.
Mary's chapel. When the tides are
high the water of the sea passes
through this bridge and through the
iarch under the chapel FOR some
distance The peculiar site Of the
chapel is attributed to the difficulty
/ in getting land for the purpose.
From 10 O'Clock Sunday morning
rain fell in torrents, accompanied by
terrific thunder and lightning. The
STREAM came down from the mount
ain side into the basin ofthe rivulct.
/ covered the crops with debris. wash
ed away a bridge north Of and near
the Gweedore Hotel, and carried
granite boulders over ton in weight
Tor a mile down its led. On reach
ing the high wall surrounding the
chapel the impctuOus torrent bore
down all before it, and entered the
west door. The scared looks of the
people, as if they saw some unusual
thing passing along the floor to the
altar, first attracted the attention OF
Rev. JAS. McFaddcn. the parish
priest, whoWa. I'm theact ofadminis-
tcring communion. The priest and
people preserved order. but the un-
ceasing roar of the current outside
induccd the pastor to ascend a few
steps Of the altar, when. ON looking
down tie aisle, ne saw the water.
which had burst open the massive
door, rushing inward.
He deposited the chalicc I'm the
aoerhacie ana locked the door. .
men: tlfhih! To tlle people, who
were up TO 'AelF waists IN water, lac
directed them 10 make Their escape
rs ee1t they coulu, dlIestlng nm
ser ol ms Nes'lleht; lheWater had .
no" Teachedlo ms knees, and seeing
no olhcf means oi safety, he ascend .
ca 70 'hes Top ol Ihe aitar ana made F..
i ms way rom lliGilce TO the rear. and
~ nF 'He ,'id Oh z ooara crossed over .
'ic te,Uy 90 Inc ehancei window, f.
"Hlth ne "Strhded 10 q safe height .
'l ,, pIei'HiaE .i uIe P'heS. +
bN uiis 'iIie 'he water mad closed .
tAe eastern door and then burst 1t /
aa4 i,i 'l!e doofcaSe outward, carrying /.
"ltiI 1t seleI" persons including
-O"ns'aoic Maiuh, VINO, at thts
IISA O ilis me, altef scTefai attempts,
succoc"ed' win 'Ae aid of q CIVILIAN,
~ y s,'' 'llls q Z woman 9'ihs porne out
'''oil- WIN MN Inc water theh
'''iie,i " ""%t 'i'D L'.'idlliIils pouhda-
~ "'li %ii" q nFdse 90 yards lower
uoH H. hyai''iiAe' WIN The water
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