Gilpin observer., 1900-05-24
The Sack of Baltimore.
lold Faxorite seriesl

(Old Favorite Seres.)
CThis ballad by Thomas Davis commem-
crates an event in Irish history, which
took place in 1851. Baltimore is a small
seaport in the barony of Carbery. In
South Munster. 1t grew up around cas-
tie of the ODriscolls. and was afterwards
colonized by the English. On June 20,
1881, the crews of two Algerine galleys
landed at dead of night. and sacked the
town. and bore away with them all who
were not too old or too young or too fierce
for their purpose. The pirates were steer
ed through the narrow channel by Hack
ett. a Dungarven fisherman. whom they
had taken to sea for that purpose. Two
years afterward Hackett was convicted
of the ofense and executed. This was
the last poem written by Thomas Davis.
who died in 1915 at the age of 81
The summer sun is falling on Carbery's
hundred isles
The summer sun is cleaning still through
Gabriel's rough defes-
Old 1nnisherken's crumbled fame looks
like a moulting bird:
And in calm and sleepy swell the ocean
tide is heard:
The hookers lie upon the beach, the chill
dren cease their play;
The gossips leave the little inn: the
households kneel to pray
And full of love and peace and rest. Its
daily labor DER
Upon that cosy creek there lay the town
of Baltimore
A deeper rest, a starry trance. has come
with midnight there:
No sound. except the sobbing wave. in
earth, or sea. or air!
The massive capes and ruined towers
seem conscious of the calm:
The tibrous sod and stunted trees are
breathing heavy balm.
So still the night, these two long barques
round DunaShad that glide
Must trust their oars-methinks not few
against the ebbing tide
Oh some sweet mission of true love must
urge them to the shore
They bring some lover to his bride, who
sighs in Baltimore.
All, all asleep within each roof along that
rocky street.
And these must be the lovers friends.
with gently gliding feet
A stifed gasp. a dreamy noise! THE roof
is in flannel"
From out their beds and to their doors
rush maid and sire and dame
And meet. upon the threshold stone, the
cleaning sabre's fall,
And o'er each black and bearded face the
white or crimson shawl
The yell of "Allahn breaks above the
prayer. and shrek. and roar!
Oh. blessed God! the Algerine is lord Of
Baltimore,
Then flung the youth his naked hand
against the shearing sword;
Then sprang the mother the brand
with which her son was gored;
Then sank the grandsire on the floor, his
grandbabes clutching wild;
Then fled the maiden. moaning faint. and
nestled with the child;
But see! yon pirate strangled lies ane
crushed with splashing heel.
While oer him, in Irish hand, there
sweeps his Syrian steel;
Though virtue sink. and courage fail. and
misers yield their store,
There's one hearth well avenged in the
sack of Baltimore.
Midsummer morn. in woodland nigh, the
birds began to sing
They see not now the milking maids
deserted is the spring;
Midsummer day this gallant rides from
distant Bandon's town,
These hookers crossed from stormy Skull,
that skiff from Affadown;
They only found the smoking walls. with
neighbors' blood besprent.
And on the strewed and trampled beach
awhile they wildly went,
Then dashed to sea, and passed Cape
Cleire, and saw five leagues before
The pirate galleys vanishing that raw
aged Baltimore.
oh! some must tug the galley's oar. and
some must tend the steed:
This boy will bear n ScheiclS's chibouk
and that a Bey's jerreed.
oh! some are for the arsenals by beaut-
eous Dardanelles,
And some are in the caravan to Mecca's
sandy dells.
The maid that Bandon gallant sought Is
chosen for the Dey;
She's safe-hes dead-she stabbed him in
the midst of his Serai!
And when, to die death of fire, that
noble maid they bore,
She only smiled. ODriscolrs child; she
thought of Baltimore.
'Tis two long years since sunk the town
beneath that bloody band.
And all around Its trampled hearths a
larger concourse stand,
Where, high upon a gallows tree, a yell
ing wretch is seen
'Tis Hackctt. Of Dungarven, he who
stcered the Algerlne
He fell amid "A sudden shout, with scarce
passing prayer -g
For he had slain the kth and kin Of
many n hundred there.
Some smuttered OF MacMurchhadh. who
brought the Norman DER:
Some cursed him with lscariot. that day
g Tin Baltimore.