October 11, 2012

1912

Fishermen missingIt is feared that four men have lost their lives off the coast of Galway. It seems that on Tuesday evening some fishermen at Cleggan, a village opposite the island of Inisbofin, Co. Galway, noticed what they thought was a small floating tank, such as might be used by lobster catchers. 

On investigation the object turned out to be a fishing boat, “between two waters”, as the local men term it. This means that the craft was so heavily laden that she sank until nothing remained above water but the rim.

Inquiries were at once instituted, and it was ascertained that four men were missing. Their names are King, Davis, Mulvoy and Cuttingham. The men had started for Rossodelisk, Cleggan, and had evidently got a fine catch, for the boat and nets were full of fish.

The supposition is that the boat was so heavily laden with fish that she began to sink, and the men had not time to lighten her by throwing out their catch. It is thought the men then found the boat was sinking under them, and they dived off and swam towards the mainland. Three of the fishermen have wives and large families. Up to the time of writing, nothing has been heard of the men.

‘King Arab’ sentencedAt Galway Petty Sessions, Constable Gough charged Martin King with assaulting Honor Coney, a countrywoman, who declined to prosecute. It seemed that, as the woman was going home, someone rushed from the side of the road at Taylor’s Hill and tried to knock the woman down.

She screamed, and struck him with her basket. Two clergymen came on the scene, and they advised her to return and acquaint the police, the man having run away at the sight of the clergymen.

Constable Gough: He is a sort of dangerous tramp. He frequents Taylor’s Hill and mothers complain that owing to his presence, they are afraid to allow their daughters out at night.

Chairman: What sort of a man is he?

Complainant: He has a very ‘down’ looking appearance and goes by the name of the King Arab. (Laughter).

It was stated that the defendant had previously been convicted for begging, for which he got a month, and about eight months’ ago he got a month for assaulting William Kirwan at Taylor’s Hill. The accused was now sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.

1937

Foundry fireDancers merrily wending their way homewards from Salthill on Sunday night were amazed when approaching Galway they noticed the skyline for miles around lit up. Sheets of vivid red flame tearing upwards into the sky turned the night into day. Cars accelerated and raced into Galway, where hundreds had got out of their beds to watch the premises of the Galway Foundry and Engineering Company being gutted by fire.

“When I arrived,” writes our special representative, “the whole building was one gigantic mass of flames which, licking upwards into the blackness of the night, sometimes reached a height of one hundred feet. Not a sound save the awed whispering of many voices and the sullen roar of the Corrib which flows nearby.”

As the full pressure of the water was turned on, huge clouds of smoke billowed up, and the guards had to shove the huge crowd back as sparks and blazing pieces of wood were falling from the sky like hailstones.

The damage is estimated at £7,000, and the cause of the fire is not known. All hands were back in employment on Monday morning as usual, working at full pressure to replete the store rooms and fulfil orders.

Although large stocks were destroyed, Mr. John Allen informs us that delivery of goods will not be held up. The offices have been transferred temporarily to the foundry department at Nun’s Island, Galway, where a further sixty men are employed.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.