The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-04-03
HOMES ARE RUINED
BY SINKING OF BOG
Sleeping Peasants Aroused by
Appalling Sound to Find
Their Houses Moving

DUBLIN, April 2.-The incessant
rain was responsible for another seri-
Gus bogslide near Castlerea- The
movement took place near the villages
of CIoonfellive and Armagh, on the
Worthington estate, about three miles
from the town of Castlerea. The estate
on which the movement took place is a
congested district. and for years the
tenants on the property have been en-
deavoring to induce their landlord TO
drain this bog, which has been con-
slant danger, but without erect.
There are about 1000 acres in the
sCloonfelliye and Armagh boys. They are
dotted over with little hamlets, the oc-
cupants of which endeavor 70 exc out
an existence on the small plots OF land
reclaimed from the moving mass
In wet seasons, like the present. these
poor people live in constant state OF
alarm that the thousands OF acres
above them will break free from their
frail foundation and sweep down upon
them. This is practically what nap
pened recently TO those families living
in the vicinity of Cloonfellive.
BOG CLOSES UPON HOUSES
Preceded by an appalling sound. like
acres were set in motion in the night
and the occupants of the houses threat
ened were aroused from their beds 10
find the bog swiftly closing in on them
Alarming their aeighbors. their first
thought was their stock, which was
released, and they then proceeded to
save as much as possible of their house
hold effects. and making good their
escape before their houses were cut of
from the dry land.
Immense assures opened all over the
bog, from which water rushed in tor
rents and swept all before it, The
movement extended about 200 or 300
yards. blocking up the main roads and
destroying crops and everything in its
march.
PEOPLE APPEAL FOR HELP
Before daylight the alarmed families
made their way to Castlerea and ap-
piled to John Fitzgibbons. member Of
the congested districts board. to come
to their rescue. Luckily a couple of
congested districts board engineers.
Vereker and Edmonds, CHANGED to be
in Cast1erea, and with FitzgibbOns they
motored out to the scene of the disas-
trous slide.
After visiting the place and con-
sulting Vereker they motored over to
Ballyg1ass, where number of men are
uHQcI tie COllSSSNS0 u4StAASLS
board on the neighboring estate.
Procuring a gang of about so men
with implements they were at once set
TO work to cut drains to run OF the
overpIus water into the River Suck,
and so relieve the pressure behind the
bog responsible for the movement
The work was very slow and the
moving mass was piled up 10 an enor-
nous extent. Finally huge drains were
cut and the water poured out in great
volumes, but there is always danger
that the next wet season may start
the bog afresh and possibly with worse
results.
WATER ENTERS WINDOWS
The Esker bog. which had been
threatening to move for several days.
assumed a more dangerous aspect and
mass about 100 yards long by so
yards wide slid gently toward the bed
of the Shannon and filled up the low
banks as far as the road that runs
between it and the river.
Patrick Cahill. rural postman from
Banagher. was on the scene at the time
of the slide and gave the alarm to the
people living near.
Great excitement prevailed in the
district. This bog, the higher portions
of which are on level with the tops of
the houses in the lower part of the
town of Bana CHER, is situated in the
| County Galway and about two miles
from Bana CHER, with the shannon run
ming between. Above Bana CHER, in
Derryhomes district, the water flowed
| in through the windows OF the aban-
doned houses.