Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-10
ACHILLES DISTRESS.
Terrible Picture Of the suffering OF the In
fortunate PeasanirE

for the past few months. have all been
careful to point out that in the absence
of timely relief there would certainly
be starvation ana consequent pestllence
and death. 1t becomes my painful
duty to announce that this terrible fore
cast is being daily verified. Since
Christmas | have attended more sick
calls in Achill than had to attend
daring my previous three years resi-
dence in the parish. This is true to the
letter. On Sunday last, in the village
OF DoOega, one Of the wretchedcst spots
this day on earth, visited sixteen
houses filled with the sick-two, three,
and four down in some, and many who
ought to be in bed were striving 70 at
tend to the wants Of those who were
only Just a little worse than themselves.
1t was a long and weary duty to ad-
minister the sacrament Of extreme unc-
ton to all who required it. | cannot
alone bear testimony to the truth OF all
your correspondents have said about
the squalid poverty Of this village, but
can say that whatever difference now
exists between their descriptions and
the actual fact is attributable to this
that time has intensified the misery.
HUNGER AND DISEASE.
have never heard or read Of any
thing that brought home to my mind
such a keen sense Of human natures
capacity for wretchodness as a scene II
was my duty 70 take part in IN Dooegl.
In a family named Malta there are ;hrce
little deaf mutes. Two lay m a dying
condition in ore bed. To the Affections
which it had pleased Providence to visit
them add the stupeiaction arising from
hunger and disease, and this vii give
some idea, bat faint ore, indeed, of
the terrible and CHASTITY surroundings
Of that sick bed and the distressing CIR
cumstances that accompanied that al
minlstration Of the last Sacrlments
Monday and Tuesday have beea equally
busy days. The epriest's timei- nos spent
in this way. \ call comes TO visit
house in a particular village, and sacra-
ments must be administered in half a
dozen houses before the priest gets
clclr Oft lie Is called in az directions,
and to the most unexpected people, on
his way to the original >ick-clu and Oh
his return. 1t is very common Oc-
currencc for the last week or ten days
for a person to be struck suddenly Ill,
TO send for the priest, get anOinted, and
be dead in a few hours. No wonder,
for there was nothing to Kill hunger
had already done the work. People
arc to he met with in every direction,
along the roads and in the houses, and
every linesment Of the fac speaks clO-
quently Of burger.
FIVE IDIOTS.
Of this sort Of thing there is one
case, the most shocking have yet seen,
and the revolving circumstances OF
which make it deserving of special men.
tion. In family named Mac Aneela
there are five idiots. Thcy are scarcely
ever at home, for their father has no
thing to give them. They are to be
found either in the neighbOrs' houses
or carcerlng at full speed along the
roads in costume that, though the eli
mate is Achillonian. cannot be truth
fully described as tropical, for it is not
sufficient for decency. | always be-
lieycd that the gentlemen who
did the artistic business for the Illus
trated papers in times Of Indian famine
oyerdid matters u triiic. But the con-
dition Of the Mac Amelia idiots for the
last fortnight has Shed on my mind a
food of light as to what the truth can
be in q season Of starvation. Their
eyes protrude; their faces are ike
masks made to frightcn children. and
the poor, bare, spindle legs have be-
come disgusting to look at, from the
dirty red to which they are burned by
crouchng to get from the big turf fire,
the warmth that should come naturally
from proper food and clothing.
AN APPEAL FOR HELP.
There are hundreds Of children jus;
as badly Off as the MacAneelas in the
matter Of food and clothes. and | men,
tion their case only because its own
terrible circumstances thrust it into
greater prominence. The poor people
exhibit heroic patience IN their trials,
and in many instances prefer silent sAl-
iering 20 making their wants kno%n
even TO the priest. In one or tSO IN
stances where destitutIoa did not occur
to me as the cause Of sickness IN.
quired had the doctor been sent for.
It was only then that the state Of the
case became apparent, and hunger was
admitted only very indirectly, for was
told it was nothingthe doctor could give
that would serve the patient. The tate
Of things here at present is truly ap-
palling, and with a view u stimlll!ing
the charity Of the benevolent to whom
the Almighty has given bOuntifllly oi
this worlds gear, request thai You
will be pleased to give this the favor Of
an early insertion in the Fres"fl
Achill must ever hold in grateful re-
membrance all the freeman has done
for the last six month, in bringing II,
misfortunes and prisations before the
public, but its powerful assistance was
never more wanted than in this time Of
peril that is before the people, aud that
will continue for the next six months,
when for them it will not be a question
of cheap land or dear land, Of landlord
kindness or oppression, that will be az
stake, but the question Of precious hui
man lives.
DR.. Schliemann, who is paying a
short visit to London, has purchased
,os,I,rco at Rarlip for AlEn Opl IL