Daily Kennebec journal., 1886-09-23
The Chapel Bell in Ireland.
IT IS RUNG TO ANNoUSCE THE COMING
OF THE BAILIFF-SAD SCENES AT EviC-
TIoNs.
LCorr,spondence OF N. Y. Star. !

Losros, Sept THE chapel bell has
begun to ring in Ireland. Before many
weeks have passed it is more than probable
that there will be few parishes in the coun-
try in which the tolling will not be heard
Even so early as this the work of eviction
has commenced in real earnest, and the
ferocity with which it has been conducted by
the landlords, as well as the confederated
vigor and daring with which the tenants have
resisted it, augurs gloomiy for the winter
months 1t is simply narrowing to read of
the scenes that have been witnessed,
especially in bleak and hapless Gweedore
Up to the present most of the evIctions are
those of poor half starved creatures, who try
to pay rent for god-forssken patches of earth,
to even live on which should be claim to
State or public remuneration. The govern
ment have given the landlords to understand
that the force of the crown will be at their
service in the collection of rent. and the
words of encouragement have revived the
old devilish spirit of the rackrenter, which
most of us thought had disappeared forever.
But IL the landlords are resoute the tenants
---or should rather say the people-are just
as doggedly determined. In their attitude to
resist the collection of rackrents they are
being supported by the priests to an extent
which has not been witnessed in any previous
period OF the history of Irish landlordsm.
The clergy, no less than the tenants them
selves, see that the payment of the existing
rents is an absolute impossibility, and the
advice which they have given the farmers Is
to offer to the landlords what they believe as
body is fair rent, and if that is refused to
pay no rent at all.
You have a mild illustration in the Wood
ford evictions of what will happen. The
Marquis of Clanricsrde-a typical absentee
and Mrs. Lewis own properties that adjoin in
the county Galway. Unlike the surrounding
landlords these two owners refused to sc-
cept the compromise of the tenants. and
police, military and a body of emergency
men from Dublin arrived upon the scene.
The woodford races took place the day
before the expe cted arrival of the crowbar
expedition. and that fitting reception should
await the strangers b ,llman was sent upon
the course who proclaimed to all whom il
might concern that the Sheriff aud his bsilitts
would arrive the following day to evict the
tenants at Looscaun, ant that it would he
well if as many as possible would remain IN
town over night. The hint was taken resdi-
ly, and with q result which was seen in the
complete destruction Of all ttfe bridges that
spauned the river which divides the Looscaun
district from Woodford. This was the first
delav in the eviction work.
The first house which the Sheriff and his
army approached was that of an old beorid-
den cottier, bat on smashing in the door the
baiiffs. aided bv the emergency men, found
that a solid piece of masonry had been built
up inside which effectuslly barred an en-.
trance While contemplating this unexpect-
ed obstruction and concocting plans for its
demolition. the party were suddenly i'm
mersed in a shower of boiling water and lime
water and an equally destructive shower of
brickbats, stones and missiles that had been
carefully accumulated by a body of men who
had concealed themselves within. The
bailifis then battered down the gable end of
the cabin. aud the poor old occupier, groan,
ing in death agony, WAS conveyed. amid the
execrations of the crowd, on a stretcher to
the roadside. The defenders, however, sue
ceeded in making their escape.
at one cabin, after an exceptionally heavy
volume came pouring from the rooi,the heads
of two exceedingly pretty girls were seen to
suddenly rise above the tbatch for the pur-
pose OF observing the effect of the last can
full. This was apparently more than emer-
gency flesh and blood could bear, and a
fierce attack being made upon the door, an