Omaha daily bee., 1900-02-04

and Starvation. too. did Its share. On bn
island in the ST. Lawrence stands a big stone
erected by some Irish workmcn, inscribed.
. q o
/. IN MEMORY OF
/. SIX THOUSAND EMIGRANTs.
+. WHO DIED HERE FROM SHIP
/. FEVER IN 1915.
/. $50
And there are many and many another six
thousand whose bones are the links in an
awful chain that under the ocean binds Ire
land to America. Yet ship fever and starva-
ton and coffin ships did not In all those years
deter the Irish from fleeing in millions.
And no dangers, no perils were so terrible TO
them as that awful famine fever that struck
down nearly a million OF our race in their
houses. on the hills and in the bitches by the
wayside at home. 1t would scarcely be be-
lieved at this day, but 1t is none the less a
bitterly true fact. that there were English
philosophers then who gazed on all this
awful thinning OF our race with thankful
hearts and recognized in it the hand Of q
kind Providence. The troublesome Celt was
at length being got rid Of. Growing over the
exodus going on in those years, the London
Times screamed. They are going! going
and soon a Celt will be as rare in Ireland as
a red Indian on the shores OF Manhattan
Thank God the prophecy is uufulhlled and
very likely to remain so. The Times and its
ilk did not then foresee, what often nowadays
they are made to feel, that not only does the
troublesome Celt still remain with them at
home, but he has likewise arisen to trouble
them still more sorely in Manhattan and in
Illinois and in Pretoria.
Primitive Navigation.
The method of navigating the little schoon-
ers of which ! spoke was often remarkably
primitive and it was in no way strange to
find one of them nine or ten weeks after its
departure cast anchor again IN the bay
whence it started to allow the passengers TO
replenish their stock of provisions and to
give all hands a rest. l know three men
who in those years as young fellows made
UP their minds to go push their fortunes in
America, and who, coming back so into their
own bay again, after two or three months
battling with the elements. came on shore,
resolved 10 look for no change of fortune
and have never left ireland to this day.
l know one unfortunate man who sailed
three times out of Donegal bay for America
and came in again when his boat was tired
tossing about on the ocean and his pro
vision barrel empty. He vowed never TO
make a fourth attempt and he has kept his
vow. he Is now an Olu Lldls anu IuOuSu ne
was never in any country outside Donegal,
he holds the freside circle fascinated with
[ tales of marvellous adventure which could
not be euualed by a Polar explorer. OF one
OF these boats, called the Rose Mary, and
it's skipper, Charlie" Boyle, better known
to us as Charlie the Sailor some wonder
/ full stories are told. Charles" nautical ac-
complishments enabled him 20 bring his
ship clear of Donegal bay and TO sail due
west till the top of Silabh Lag mountain
disappeared into the ocean. He lay about at
= this distance from land till he sighted an
S other schooner bound for America; then he
S crowded all sail in pursuit and if, under
l cover of the night or fog or by superior sail
t ing powers. this boat slipped him he logged
U about till another came up, and in bits and
snaps this way he always managed to strike
g some part of the American coast. II was in
L different to Charlie what part Of il he
u struck; he had only then to inquire the way
to New York and follow the coast in the
direction pointed out. 1t is told that on one
occasion, Charlie" being i'll, the boat had to
start without him. When a week out an
unworthy hand slept at his post in the night
: time and the ship turned right around. Or
. the days following they, as usual, kept pur-
q suing every sail going in the same direction
a as themselves, and ten days later, to the
bewilderment of both passengers and crew
&c they entered Donegal bay again. ! do moi
e vouch for the veracity of this tale.
Cheers and Tears.
Although today Ireland and America hav'
,r come very close together, the leaving hem
" still costs her boys and girls and thei
" fathers and mothers more than a passing
II pang. l lived at the joining of three road
II whereat emigrants took their final leave o
IS their kin and their friends, and OF the part,
Il who had conveyed them so far on thei
n way, and there still rings in my ears-I shall
,e never forget-the heartrending and heart
breaking shrieks and the wild and despair
he ing walls that awoke me from my slumber
as before day dawn in the spring mornings, an
il then the wild blend of parting cheer an
IN cry. More pathetic or appealing scenes tina
these ~partings ! have never witnessed an
ID never shall witness. If the emigrants wer
is girls the cries wrenched from their heart
ID as they tore themselves away were s
" agonizing, so wildly despairing, as Away
m TO suggest to me the wall of lost souls
And. with all this, consider that these boy
ir and these girls were bidding goodby to hard
d, ship and want and coming to a land wher
fortune and prosperity almost surel
d awaited them, and you may infer the low
ID Of the Irish for their home and their ow
s, and the bare brown hills and the humbl
OF DeaTlD. remember OlCt on Il uTtdl.
49, miserable February daybreak, when await
sr ing the first train at the railway terminus i
is the mountains of my Donegal, a big, rough
es strong young man arrived laden down wit
10 bundles, and three girls, his sisters, wit
"a him. He came TO put them on the train f
J., Derry, enroute 10 the states.
Then another man, a fine, tall, 1.-the, open
=, countenanced, but sad-eyed fellow, arrive
"a with his daughter. a handsome young girl
90. He carried her portmanteau. The mon
- ing, with its soaking, drizzling rain W.
-. not more forloru or dispiriting than wei
- these two little parties. While they waite
~ for the train TO get in order ! observed II
- man pluck his daughter by the sleeve, an
81 she followed him 10 a corner of the platform
! /. apparently absorbed by other matter
e stood close by. He unbuttoned his vest an
/ drew out a spare purse, saying:
nc Rosy, ! must give you something more,
Ut She put both hands on his, preventing hi
ne opening the purse, and looked up pleading
in his face. mo, father! No, No! You hay
given me too much-more than you are alb