Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-02
Afflicted by Famine and Fever.

DISTRESS GENERAL on InB WESTERN SEABOARD.
Mr.. James Bellew. treasurer Of the relief COM
mittee OF the Clan-na-GAcl has received a letter
from Rev. Peter p o-Keane. dated at Esskcy.
County Sligo April IL, 1884, which, after thanking
the Clan-na-Gael for contribution for the relief
OF his Pensioners, the writer says: an COM
pnance with your request, beg to state for the
information otyour committee that the distress Is
general on the western seaboari, but extreme
want is confined to certain localities where the
land is OF an inferior quality and exposed 10 the
blast from the am well aware that there Is
acute distress In many parishes In this diocese OF
killala, OF which most Rev Dr. Carmay Is bishop;
and that there VIII lie ere long many deaths rom
starvation. unless relief, prompt ana generous.
arrives. There are In this extensive and thickly
populated parish large number OF coiters and
small farmers, VINO in the very best times found it
q ficult TO provide the necessarleS OF fe ana Who
are at present reduced TO a state OF extreme want
and AFFECT misery May GoJ succor these poor
sufferers IL my humble prayer Alas fever, the
most, has already made fits appearance IN the lar.
ish, bringing sorrow ana an elton 70 the pastor
and his people. THIS SAL state OF things is 50
painful AMI heartrrnding feel cannot 10 my
delicate state or lea dwell on II longer"
AID NEEDED TILL HARVEST IIMH
similar letter from Rev. +. J. McHugh, dated
at kllglasS lnnlscrone County Sllgo Ireland
April 18th, says: LAST harve I was the most un-
propiuous on record. The potato crop was nothing.
The OctQber gale annihiated the oats, ana ever
lasting rain left the turf uusaved The most in
different observer could see that without aid from
some quarter, famine was imminent The matter
was brought under The notice or the government
but they could devise no better remedy than a
paupeT's ticket 10 free country or a pauper's
home and It's demOral,Z alton. I advised the peo-
PIE TO keep firm grip. and thereby occurred re-
snonSibllty. Unable 10 remain silent spectator
of the misery daily witnessed. had, contrary TO
my inclination ana habits, the harlhoOd 10 anneaI
10 public charity When 1 appealed many had
nothing To subsist upon but the precarious
clarlIy OF hgiEhoofs nearly as poor as them
TASTED, and would die sooner than enter the
worhhouSe. Thanks TO patriotic societies such
as yours, and the manly, generous charity OF
the Irish nj home and ABROAD and Engi- hmen as
well, was enabled To NH gate their ni,erles and
alleviate their distress. But months are stin be-
fore Us and II the Conserving hand q charity be
Withdrawn. want dire and bitter shall he the lot
OF many Ihave given liberal supply OF seed
potatoes, and Ind myself quite unable TO supply
seed oats or grant even the H~u a supply OF meal
for my funds are more than exhausted. II is sad
TO send the POOR people AWAY without en-
enlargement but cannot help IL. have given
both time and labor and have no motive but a
charity like your own, for 1 am only an
humble curate, not long here and liable
10 be changed at moments notice.
| never would have introduced myself TO the pub
lie but the energetic z. p T. IN America collecting
FUNDS 10 discharge parOchial Liabilities. yet hope
for great things from America In All parts az
your great county my name il familiar as house,
hold words TO thousands upon thous8 nds. Had
my appeal sufficient circulation 1 would con-
ndently calculIte on a cheering response. 1 am
sorry you did not let me know where or how am
to return your society public thanks Aid is ur-
gently required and mucP needed, for many are
striving 70 procure meal by pawnng everything
available am very sorry not 10 be able to supply
seel oats, but no one Is supposed TO do the impos-
SlDle. Your name l. quite q matter OF history IN
thls diocese OF hl.lala The Bellew fund. created
by namesake OF yours and one OF Bishops helps
many deserving charities aud largely promotes
education and church building"