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Alexandria Gazette
Alexandria, Alexandria County, District Of Columbia
What is this article about?
Captain Bearse reports dire famine in Galway, Ireland, as of early March: streets crowded with begging poor in rags, daily deaths, overwhelming crowds at poor house, government delays causing starvation despite stored food rotting. Recommends relief via clergy.
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The barque Susan, Bearse master, arrived at this port this morning, direct from Galway, Ireland, from which place she sailed on the 5th March. Capt. Bearse brought no papers, but furnishes the following verbal intelligence:—
In relation to the sufferings of the poor, he states that he had no idea of their extent, until he had himself witnessed the distress. The streets of Galway are crowded from morning till night with famished multitudes begging charity, and crying for food, mostly in rags having all the appearance of abject poverty and sickness. Numbers of them are picked up dead every day in the streets, and buried by the authorities. It is scarcely possible for a stranger to make his way through the town, he is so beset by these poor creatures, imploring something to eat, or something to buy it. He got a view of the Poor House, from which food or soup is distributed to the starving people; but he protests he could not get within half-a-mile of it, the crowd was so great around the building waiting for their turn.
Captain Bearse states that he carried out a cargo of corn. It was delivered to Government agents, but such is the delay occasioned by the cumbersome machinery of having to pass through so many hands before it can reach the people, that they are literally starving and dying in the streets, while food is rotting in the Government stores.
To a question in regard to whom he would recommend relief to be sent, he said certainly send it to private individuals of known respectability and benevolence; but more particularly send it to the clergy, they are with the people—Among them, are best able to avoid imposition, and it would go direct from them to those most in want. When he arrived in Galway, there was no bread for sale in the shops. It was not so when he left it. He heard that the committee of Friends were very active. The Clergy and the town authorities were also incessantly employed in distributing food. He says that the prospect is most gloomy even as to the next year's crop. It did appear to him that the Government did not know what to do. They seemed overwhelmed by the magnitude of the distress, and the frightful evils of a visitation that seemed beyond their power to control.—Charleston News.
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Foreign News Details
Primary Location
Galway, Ireland
Event Date
5th March
Key Persons
Outcome
numbers of them are picked up dead every day in the streets, and buried by the authorities.
Event Details
The barque Susan, Bearse master, arrived at this port this morning, direct from Galway, Ireland, from which place she sailed on the 5th March. Capt. Bearse brought no papers, but furnishes the following verbal intelligence: In relation to the sufferings of the poor, he states that he had no idea of their extent, until he had himself witnessed the distress. The streets of Galway are crowded from morning till night with famished multitudes begging charity, and crying for food, mostly in rags having all the appearance of abject poverty and sickness. Numbers of them are picked up dead every day in the streets, and buried by the authorities. It is scarcely possible for a stranger to make his way through the town, he is so beset by these poor creatures, imploring something to eat, or something to buy it. He got a view of the Poor House, from which food or soup is distributed to the starving people; but he protests he could not get within half-a-mile of it, the crowd was so great around the building waiting for their turn. Captain Bearse states that he carried out a cargo of corn. It was delivered to Government agents, but such is the delay occasioned by the cumbersome machinery of having to pass through so many hands before it can reach the people, that they are literally starving and dying in the streets, while food is rotting in the Government stores. To a question in regard to whom he would recommend relief to be sent, he said certainly send it to private individuals of known respectability and benevolence; but more particularly send it to the clergy, they are with the people—Among them, are best able to avoid imposition, and it would go direct from them to those most in want. When he arrived in Galway, there was no bread for sale in the shops. It was not so when he left it. He heard that the committee of Friends were very active. The Clergy and the town authorities were also incessantly employed in distributing food. He says that the prospect is most gloomy even as to the next year's crop. It did appear to him that the Government did not know what to do. They seemed overwhelmed by the magnitude of the distress, and the frightful evils of a visitation that seemed beyond their power to control.—Charleston News.