[Miscellaneous]
The Tuam Herald, Saturday, July 24, 1920.
A Time of Terror in Tuam
Never in its long and chequered history did the famous old town spring into such unfortunate prominence or was its usually calm life so disturbed as on Monday evening of this fearful week of horrors. Then some of the police, the custodians of the peace and the guardians of public order, goaded by the dastardly murder of two of their comrades on the way home to Dunmore, three miles from the town, and in which no man in Tuam, we are sure had a part, rushed out into the usually quiet streets and committed great havoc on the property of the citizens. The Town Hall, an ornament to the place, is a wreck, as is Mr. Canney's on the corner of Vicar Street, other homes also are in a wretched condition of ruin, and the entire loss by fire must be very considerable. We only ask the people in these trying circumstances to be patient and calm and to take to heart the advice of their Archbishop. It is a terrible ordeal, no doubt, to have to pass through, but unhappily things are generally in this country in a very bad way. At any moment an outbreak of civil war may occur carrying with it the destruction of human life and those other destructive results consequent on such a state of things. God preserve us from that worst of all evils, and keep poor Ireland from the devastation, destruction and ruin incidental to such a break up of the forces of law and order. There is great and urgent need of restraint, calmness and patience at all times but never more so than at present when we are on the verge of an abyss — on the verge of a volcano. At any moment we may be plunged into further disorder causing great suffering, and irreparable loss must ensue. In the midst of ruin we can hardly write temperately, but we would be wanting in that public duty this paper has striven for eighty three years fearlessly to discharge, if we did not raise our voice on this awful occasion in unison with the wise and fatherly admonition coming from St. Jarlath's, and patience, forbearance and care on the part of every one and a cessation of any provocative action on any side or from any quarter.
Death of Lady Waithman
We deeply regret the death of Lady Phililppa Waithman, wife of an esteemed neighbour, Captain William Sharp Waithman, D.L., of Merlin Park, Galway. Deceased was daughter of the late Earl of Harrington and sister of the present and of the first Lady Wallscorty. She was well known in this county where she has now resided for over 40 years, and the announcement of her death will be heard by all classes with the sincerest regret. The deepest sympathy is felt with her afflicted husband and family. Deceased died and was buried in England.
Compliment to a Tuam Man
On Tuesday last an exceptional compliment was paid to a Tuam gentleman by his fellow officials of the bank of Ireland in the College green branch. After a faithful and efficient service of forty—eight years Mr. Francis French Eager retires from the position he held in that bank. The occasion was availed of to make a presentation to him of an address and testimonial subscribed to by the staff. Mr. Philip O'Connell, the popular Inspector, and former manager in Tuam, made the presentation, and in choice and happy phrases spoke of Mr. Eager's courtesy and capacity and of the high position he held in the esteem of his fellow officials and of the Directors. This is a rare and valued compliment and one eminently deserved. While in the service of the Bank of Ireland, Mr. Eager was indefatigable and zealous in the discharge of his duties. He was by his courtesy and intelligence a popular member of the staff of that institution. He saw a long and honored service in the bank and retires to enjoy a well earned pension in the full enjoyment of his mental and physical powers.
The Irish Railway Problem by Mr. R. J. Kelly, K.C.
Publishers — Eason and Son, Ltd, Dublin. Price Sixpence.
We have been favored with a copy of the above pamphlet. Mr. Kelly, the author, is one of the best known Connaucht men, and he deals with the complex question of the future of our railways in a very ??? and at the same time comprehensive view of possibilities, in the light of arrangements made to meet similar difficulties in America and other countries —
"Mayo News"
Recently at Handon's a great display of airplanes was given and distinguishing himself in the front rank was a young Galway gentleman, Lieutenant Hazell, son of A. Hazell, esq., J. P., late of Connemara, and now of Dublin. This young gentleman has got nearly all the military distinctions, except the V.C., being a D.S.O. and M. C. and he has the unexampled record of having taken down 34 German aero planes and 16 German kites, all to his own bat and the work of his own machine. He reflects credit on his native county.
We regret the death of Dr. Starkie, Resident Commissioner of National Education. He was formerly President of Queen's College, Galway, and the son of Mr. Starkie, R. M., Ballinasloe.
The Town Hall
The Town Hall of our ancient and historic town, which was such an ornament to the place and the scene of many historic meetings, was built in 1856 during the chairmanship of Mr. Richard Kelly, J.P. He got the site at a nominal rent from Mrs. Catherine Kelly Handcock, of Chrantrilla Park, a lady of large hearted benevolence, and a native of Loughrea, as was Mr. Kelly. This generous lady it was who gave the sites for the Convent of Mercy and Presentation and Christian Brothers' School. The Handcocks were then the owners of two thirds of Tuam. She did not however, live to see the building opened, but the ceremony of laying the foundation stone was performed in 1855 by Mrs. Gerald Stratford Handcock, mother of Major Handcock, of Athlone, and of Mrs. Colonel Moore, of Seaview Terrace, Ailesbury Road, Donnybrook. Among those who took part in the interesting ceremony were the Archbishop, Dr. MacHale, Dr. MacEvily then President St. Jarlath's, Canon O'Brien, Richard Kelly, J.P., Chairman of the Town Board; his son, Jasper Kelly, T.C., father of Mr. W. Daly, J.P., of Ballygaddy; Dr. Bodkin, T.C., father of Judge Bodkin; Wm. Quinn, T.C., father of Mr. John Quinn, Solicitor, and son—in—law of Andrew Egan, the contractor, who also built the two Convents, the new College and the Christian Brothers' School, and M. J. Costello, T.C., father of Dr. Costello. The architect was James Boylan. All the work in connection with the building was done by Tuam workmen. It was subsequently enlarged by the addition of a part, but the building is substantially as it was in 1856. It, therefore, is 64 years standing.
Tuam Electric Light
(Specially written for Tuam Herald)
A commodious power house has been erected on a portion of a field purchased from the Archbishop fronting the Dublin Road, between the Convent of Mercy Laundry and the Christian Brothers' Schools. The building comprises engines and battery, rooms, gas producer house, and a coal store and office. The power is obtained from two gas engines, each capable of developing up to 90 brake power as a working load, and each engine is directly coupled by means of a special flexible coupling to an electric generator capable of developing 230 amperes, at a maximum electrical pressure (or voltage) of 230 volts. This electrical output represents the equivalent of 1500 lamps of 25 candle power in use at the same time. One engine and electric generator normally will suffice for the lighting requirement of the town, the second set of plant being kept as a standby. The gas on which the engines work is produced from a gas generator working on the suction system; briefly described the operation of making gas consists of drawing a mixture of air and steam through an anthracite fire. A hand or motor driven blower is used at starting after the fire lighted, and this is continued until the water contained in the upper portion is converted by the heat of the fire into steam. The steam then ??the air in its passage through the ??and ?? is eventually generated and indicated by a blue flame at a test cock on the procedure. The engine is then started by using the electric generator as an engine motor with current supplied from the storage battery — the operation being similar to the electric starting of a motor car. This keeps the engine moving until a charge is fired of the proper mixture and the engine then starts in the usual way. Each engine is fitted with a fly wheel of extra weight to ensure an even turning movement and consequently a steady light under all conditions of working. The jackets of the engine cylinders are cooled by means of water pumped from a concrete tank formed by the flat roof of the office and coal store and forced through each jacket back to the tank by a force pump driven from each engine by belting. This arrangement ensures an ample supply of circulating water to the jackets under the most economical conditions. When the tank is full it is only necessary to add the water required to make up for evaporation. The storage battery will supply the demands for light when the engines are not in use. The usual practice is to work the engine when the extent of the demand justifies. These conditions would obtain during the evening, till say 11 o'clock p.m., and the battery would then continue the supply during the night and in the early mornings in winter. The capacity provided would be equivalent to 500 lamps of 25 candle power for 10 hours, or a larger or smaller number for a shorter or longer period. The storage cells will be charged during working hours by means of a small auxiliary "booster" dynamo, motor driven. This machine raised the electrical pressure by the required amount and enables normal pressure to be supplied for the lighting supply at the same time.
The whole of the electric power generated is controlled from a main switch board placed at one end of the engine room. This board, constructed of 10 heavy enameled slate panels on angle from framing, contains all the usual switches, instruments, regulators and protective devices for the safe and efficient working of the plant and system.
The town wiring is carried out by hard drawn copper wires overhead on poles and is divided into sections and sub—sections, each section and sub—section being fitted with separate protection devices.
Section No. 1 supplies Dublin Road, Vicar Street, and the Square, while Section 2 supplies High Street and Bishop Street, as well as all streets adjoining. A separate distributing cable run underground is provided for the Archbishop's residence, Cathedral and Diocesan Colleges. All these buildings being dealt with as a separate section. Consumers houses are connected by means of overhead wires, carried into the buildings at the first floor level. The street lighting will be carried out by lamps of ?? Candle power for the whole of the area included in the scheme, but lamps of increased power will be used for the lighting of the Market Square. All the street lamps will be controlled directly from the power house, so that they can be turned on or off at the same time.
The scheme was designed and carried out under the supervision of Mr. Louis J. Lawless, of 36 Pembroke Road, Dublin, and the Directors are to be congratulated in obtaining the services of such an experienced and capable engineer. The work having been carried our under most trying and difficult circumstances of transport and trade crisis.