Cholera Morbus
Western Argus, Galway, Saturday, April 28, 1832
We extract the following passage from a letter from our Dublin Correspondent, dated yesterday, 27th April; —
The Cholera excites a great panic here, which, thank God, has in a great degree subsided. The destitute and vicious are almost exclusively its victims. How long will that salutary measure (Poor Laws) which only can improve our country, and give peace and comfort to our people be performed? Have not the Patriots to answer for all the lives which shall be lost until this measure is accomplished.
(From our Eyrecourt Correspondent.
On the night of Thursday last, an armed party of Terry Alts, attacked the house of a man named Sam Eyre, of Crowsnest, near Bellview, dragged him out of his bed, and beat him in a most unmerciful manner for not complying with a former notice served on him to give it up next day, they then decamped.
On the night of Saturday last, a large armed party entered the house of an industrious poor man named Thomas Mooney, residing at Kilmore, near Laurencetown, forcibly broke open his door, and while doing so, the poor man escaped through a back window. They then searched and found their object fled, but the cruel scoundrels dragged his wife out of bed and beat her in a most unmerciful manner, inflicting several bayonet wounds on her thighs, and body; they swore they came there determined to take the life of her husband, for not surrendering some lands which he has had in his possession these 10 years, for which he paid a large fine — the poor woman has since died. Several houses in that neighbourhood were attacked same night, supposed by the same party. Notwithstanding the vigilance of the police who are out day and night. The civil force obtain little or no information from the gentry, who ought to assist them, some of whom are in dread of their shadows.
A few nights ago, several ploughs and barrows were cut to pieces at Lessheen, the estate of Michael Coghlan, Esq., of Tyrragh, belonging to different people who took con—acre, let over the Terry Alt regulated priest.
A few nights ago, a Terry Alt notice was posted on the door of a man named Murray, residing at Newtown, ordering him to surrender some lands he lately took, otherwise he might prepare his coffin in case of non—compliance.
Same night, the house of a man named Costello, residing near Clonfert, on the borders of the river Suck, was attacked by an armed party, and deprived of a gun and 20 rounds of ball cartridge. Several houses about that neighbourhood were attacked for money and arms, supposed by same party, who also administered oaths.
We have had great rain in the neighbourhood of Eyrecourt and Portumna for the last week, which will, I hope, prove of great service to the winter and spring crops. After the first days rain, the farmers in those quarters of the country were as much delighted, as if their landlords had bestowed them a years rest. We have had also for the last two or three days, very weighty showers of hail stones, some of which appeared as large as a small hen egg, and also, thunder and lightening; a thunder bolt fell at Fahy, near Eyrecourt, and leveled a poor man's house, without doing further injury.
Mr. Kenny, one of the Coroners of our County, held within the last six months 22 inquests, 14 of which were for murder.
On Monday last, as Pat Mealy, herdsman to Theobald, Burke, Esq. of Burkville, was cutting down some timber on his master's estate, one of the large trees fell on the poor man and killed him on the spot.