The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-06-23
THE HEADLESS COACH
A Warning Phantom That Roams
the County Cork.
QUEER IRISH SUPERSTlTIoNs.

Ono CreauSu NpPaTkloH W tnc TaiTJ
Horse, Whose Mission 10 One ot
Maliee-The Lure OF the Poukeen ane
the Song Of the Fir DarriS.
No wonder strange superstltlons lin
ger In the scattered hamlets by the sea
or In the lonely cabins on the rocky Is
lands round the iron coast, for on win
ter nights when the mighty surges
break laundering against the towering
cliffs and the storm wind walls weird
ly through the hollow caverns and iyied
ruins, where the deserted fortresses OF
the powerful chieftains Of bygone days
look down on the foamlng waves
and the cry of the gulls and curlew
echoes over rock shores and across
wide loughs and estuarles, one might
well fancy that the sounds were the
voice of giants or wizards doomed for
their sins to wander forever round this
coast. the moumful wall OF the ban.
shee" or Of "the White Lady Of the
Cllffs"-a famous Munster apparitIon
Women and children. crouching over
the fire of drlftwood. peat or furzc
branches flaming ftfully on the open
hearth. cross themselves as louder
wall rings through the darkness or n
rumbling sound is heard that to their
ears seems to be the rolling OF the
wheels of "the headeSs coach or
death coach" so called IN the County
Cork because horses and driver are
supposed to he headless. The coach,
man IS the dullahan-that is, a dark
or sullen person, goblin OF most
malignant disposition.
This phantom is said to "folow"
many old Munster families, the vehl.
Gle numbering heavily up the avenue
and stopping at the front door when
ever death is about to occur In the
house. know numbers OF persons
and not by any means merely unedu
Gated peasants-who are persuaded
that they have heard the rumblng OF
the headless coach. Needless to say.
the noise of heavy cart at night
along an unfrequented road Is suti-
clent to terrify superstitious people
into believing that they have heard the
death coach. They take good care not
to see 1t!
Another much dreaded apparition is
the phooka, or fairy horse, very ma
licious spirit that is said to appear In
the shape of beautiful coal black
steed with fire darting from his eyes
and nostrils.
Occasionally he adopts the form OF
a black bull or goat, and sometimes he
appears as an awful compound OF sew
eral black anlmals-horse, bull, goat
and ram. In his equine form he Is
said to amuse himself by enticlng soil
tary travellers whom he meets after
dark into mounting him, and as he In
looks like a mate cut OF a
horse" such as every Irishman appre
ciates, he is said to succeed very fre.
luently in his nefarious plan.
The instant the rider is on his back
The elfin steed dashes off madly through
stream, lake and bog hole, thicket and
coppice, hedge and ditch, marsh and
ravine, till the terrified mortal, drench-
ID. torn and bruised, shrleks for mercy
Or perhaps remembers to gasp out a
prayer, when with furious bound the
1hooka filings him off, preferably into q
muddy pool or furze brake, and darts |
lway, leaving the unhappy rider to
)ick himself up, invariably finding that |
le is miles out of his way.
Sudden falls are attributed to this I
Malignant sprite, and many man who |
las lost his way or met with an accl-
lent coming home from fair or funeral |
IN dark night Is convinced for the |
est Of his days that he has been led |
STRAY by the phooka, although his |
roubles were possibly due to yet |
more potent spirit. Dangerous rocks
md crags are often called "carrig-na-
)hooka" rock of the phooka), just as
leep pools or holes In river or bog |
re "poulna-phOoka" A beautiful wa
erfall in Wicklow bears this name.
The ''poukeen," as he is sometimes
allied, is also said to adopt the form
# a great black bird or a bat The
after is greatly feared by the country
olks. In the bat form he is supposed
0 lure people into climbing iyied walls
nd towers, from which he throws
hem, an idea which seems to bear
ONE relation to the vampire stories of
astern Europe. He is the pouke Of
'penser. and from breaking the necks
( the unwary to spelling the black
erries on Miehaelmas eve in order to
ex the archangel there are few enor-
mites of which he is not guilty, ac-
ordlng to popular belief.
PUCK, the household fairy" Of Eng
sh legend finds his Irish counterpart
\ the 1r-darrig, or red man. mer-
Y goblin, very similar to the Scotch
ed cap, or brownie. He is. said to be
ressed in scarlet The attire Of most
{ the Irish fairies is supposed to con-
ist Of green suit, red shoes, long