The San Francisco call., 1897-09-12
Colonel Spaight Speaks Of al
Once Establishing Works
of Relief.
ARCHBISHOP OF TUAM'S
SAD PICTURE.
Scarcity OF Food Staples to Be Fol-
lowed by a Shortage in the
Much Needed Fuel.

NEW YORK, n. Y, Sept. ia special
to the World from London says: The
outlook in Ireland is not improved. On
the contrary, The hope of any harves.
grows less day b. day. M. Gladstone is
so impressed with the grave tidings that
for once he has broken the rule to say
nothing on public affairs connected. how
ever reno otely, with politics. Acknowl-
forwarded to him by your correspondent,
the Grand Old Man" replies in an auto
graphic letter to-day:
thank you for your kind attention to one,
like myself withdrawn from public afsirs.
The intelligence is very sad and causes me
much concern. W. E. GLADSTONE. !.
Butterstone House, September 8, 1897.
Colonel Spaight, an official OF experience,
who sounded the first note of alarm in the
letter cabled last week, writes as follows
in reply TO request for a full exposition
of his views:
DERRY CASTLE, KILLALoE, COUNTY CLARE,
Sept. 9.-My only wish and object in calling
attention to the probable effects OF the dis
astrous season was that necessary steps Nigh
be taken in time to meet the severe trial,
which regret TO say, is certain 10 arise from
N~AA-@O9s
ent season. I have had experience of the sad
effects upon all concerned of leaving essen tial
precautions to the last moment and then en-
deavoring to do what was required in a huU-
RED, imperfect manner. The potato crop,
though not now the sole source of food for the
poor people, stiu undou bIedly was their N ain
reliancs. The potatoes in the mountains and
poorer lands q total failure, small, i'll
grown and bl GIFTED. Not only are potatoes
4hoT o. Il
depend almost entirely on them.
The hay crop in the same district has been
impossible TO save, while the oats crop is
riously damaged, and it viii be impossible to
save II If the weather does not clear up. At
the moment I write it is cold, with incessant
rain, and nothing can be done 1t is more
like bad November than September. One of
the most ser ious wants of the people, though
not taken much notice of, is fuel. No one, ex-
cept those who have personally visited the
people, can form any idea of the way this
want is felt by q vast majority of the poor
Fuel is almost more necessary than rood and
Its loss is bitterly fe l. particularly by women
and children. In my opinion, the only way
practically to give relief is to provide useful
works which would be permanent benefit to
the country This must be done with due
thought and consideration by really good
men. GEORGE C. SPAIGHT,
Late Local Government Inspector.
The venerable Archbishop of Tuam
writes:
ST GARLATJS COLLEGE, TUAM. Sept. 10
1t Is very good oil your paper 10 take such an
interest in ou1 poor people. From all the ac-
counts that reach me from all parts of the
diocese OF Tuam, embracing nearly half OF
County Mayo and Galway. [ am sorry to say
hardly could things be worse. Owing to the
increasing downpour OF rain the potato, the
staple food of our people, has suffered Sc
verely even where not totally destroyed by
the blight l therefore regard it as unques-
tionably certain that general famine in The
diocese OF Tuem is sure 10 overtake US before
long. Unfortunately our people have hardly
any money with which to purchase meal be
it ever cheap. 1t is mos humiliating 10 be
eternally sending round the hat, but what can
be done. Hunger pierces the stone wall. The
oat crop, too, is greatly damaged, while the
turf is IN bad way, and it may be said fuel
famine is as bad as a food famine. On the
whole look on the coming time as boding
misery. I give you a gloomy picture. but I
am sorry to say true one.
JOHN MACEvILLy Archbishop of Tuam.