The sun., 1888-04-19
IRISH ACRES At AUCTION
Land Sold for Gs8o which Ten Years Age
wouid Have Brought $4,000.

Coptrfoht 1883 tp THx sus IrintfnV and inbtfihtno
Assoeiation
LONDON, April 1s.-An uproariously merry
gathering OF stock brokers. merchants, and
dudes took place to-day in the prosaic-looking
hall known as the City OF London Auction
Mart The attraction was the sale at auction
of part of the late Earl OF Cavan's Irish estates
ordered by his lordship's trustees, who since
his death last year. have been endeavoring to
put his terribly entangled affairs in something
like order. The particular lot offered for pub
lie competition to-day was the Tanatanavally
estate OF 2,068 acres, situated on the bleak.
barren island Achill, of the Mayo coast, where
Just now British gunboats-althought the auc-
tioneer discreetly avoided reference to the fact
are engaged In the merciful work OF distrib-
utng seed potatoes to the impoverished farm
ers. Two or three years ago fund started
by THE Sun was instrumental In saving the
same poor wretches from actual starvation.
This interesting fact also was kept in the re-
mote background.
Auctioneer Dowsett's business was to get the
best possible bid for the property for which his
client years ago paid $1,000. Dowsett. who is
n persuasive man, set to work In the orthodox
fashion by delivering q glowing eulogy on the
romantcally named and beautifully situated
property 1t afforded unlimited sport. laugh
ter. and cries OF Plenty of landlord shooting"
A man OF enterprise ard pluck. who did not
mind roughing 1t little." continued Dowsett
glaring at his interrupters, ito whom the senti-
ment Of danger fancied or actual. was an at
traction. would find in the purchase OF this
estate safe investment and q delightful ven-
ture." Here there was ripple OF merriment,
which deepened into roaring wave OF laugh
ter when well-known broker rose and wanted
to know how about the discontented peasant
and his probable Runshot welcome to the Saxon
purchaser. The broker thought the estate n
very ideal residence for men like Livingstone
or Chinese Gordon, but scarcely suitable for q
quiet going citizen.
Auctionecr Dowsett looked panied. but, iR-
| noring the Interruption, proceeded with his
oulogy, only to be stopped and dazed by perfect
shrieks OF laughter. When he thought to ap-
petite the bait by pointing out that If the pur-
chaser would only make a gift Of 243 acres to
the AZ cultivating tenants on the estate he
would find himself surrounded by a devoted
and attached peasantry. the eulogy abruptly
terminated, and, after 1t had been ascertained
that the aforesaid AZ tenants were three years
in arrears with their rents, the bidding COM
menced.
The reserve price was announced at f600,
and this was grudGinGly increased to 1880. at
which figure 1t was knocked down to q young
stock broker. who seemed very much surprised
at finding himself an Irish landlord. The fun
was fast and furious while it lasted but the
landlords throughout Ireland will not feel dis
posed to join in the merriment when they read
accounts in the newspapers tomorrow that ten
| years ago the estate. barren as it is would
probably have fetched 10000 for its sporting
capabilities alone. The present Earl Of Cavan
sits in the House Of Commons. his title being
only an Irish one. and he is good Home Ruler.
| 1t Is fortunate for him that he has property In
England. otherwise he would be a pauper.