Richmond Enquirer

IRELAND—DISTRESS—MASSACRE.

Great distress is experienced in some parts of Ireland, particularly in Mayo and Galway. A most melancholy event occurred at Newtownbarry, on the 18th of June, by which about twenty persons lost their lives and about the same number were wounded. The affair was in consequence of a distress made of some cattle for tithes due the Rev. Mr. McClintock. The cattle were advertised for sale on the 18th, and placards had been posted stating that "Your neighbor's cattle will be sold at Newtownbarry, on Saturday for tithes," &c. This notice, with other movements, induced a belief that an attempt would be made to rescue the cattle and thereby prevent the sale. Mr. Ralph, the Agent of the Rev. Mr. McClintock, had taken measures to have a party of military near the scene, and the following abstract of the evidence of Mr. R. before the Coroner's inquest, will give the reader a view of the occurrences which led to the death of so many unfortunate persons.

I heard, (says Mr. Ralph,) a few shouts on the place card having been exhibited; I went out immediately on seeing the cattle moved, and couldn't find the bailiff who were in charge of them; I saw nothing more than the usual hand-sticks with the people; I did not sell the cattle; when I went up to the crowd I reasoned with them a good deal, and told them not to give any opposition to the sale, but if Mr. McClintock or I were wrong, they might proceed against us by civil action; the people said—many of them that I had conversation with—that they would not give opposition: I left the crowd immediately to look for the bailiff: I saw the crowd move towards the Enniscorthy road; I did not see the cattle, but I believed them to be in the crowd. I made an application to the magistrates previous to Saturday, for assistance on that day, as I apprehended a rescue; the magistrates to whom I applied were, Captain Graham, Major Irwin, and Mr. John Drean; I met Captain Graham and Captain King, of the police, as the crowd moved off on Saturday, coming down the street, and I said to them, that the cattle were gone; Captain Graham said to Captain King, "you had better go and bring them back." I drove out the cattle; there were a few of the police opposite with their bayonets charged against the people; the police said to them, "throw down your stones." I didn't see any of the crowd with stones; they replied the road was theirs as well as the police's, that they paid for it; the police were then desired by Captain King, I believe, to go on, and we proceeded; a few police were placed in front of the cattle; and others behind them; I was to the left, and Graham, the bailiff, to the right of the cattle; I saw stones with some of the crowd; the yeomanry were then drawn up in a line facing the river, and Captain Graham was on their right (next the pond;) I saw nothing happen till we passed the line; the yeomanry were filing after us; the first thing that attracted my attention was a shot, about a minute after I passed the line; it was in my rear; then another, and another immediately after, and then a general discharge of the arms; I don't think the whole firing continued more than two minutes; I saw Captain King from the time he left the pond until after the first shot was fired; I distinctly say he did not fire that shot, and I am certain he did not fire any of the three first shots; I did not see him fire any shot that day; Captain King was in front of me in my sight, only after the three first shot; I did not see Captain Graham during the general running fire; there were odd shots after. and I saw him riding by me, and heard him say—'Oh! fie! fie! shame! cease firing.

The inquest had been sitting four days at our last advices, and had not yet come to a decision. The subject had been brought before parliament.

The following is a list of the killed and wounded:

KILLED.—Andrew M'Donald, James Niel, Stephen Whity, Michael Dyle, Thomas Butler, Miles Dillon, James Dyle, P. Redmond, Patrick Leary, Mary Mulconey, Wm. Rogan, J. Waters, a child; Leary.

WOUNDED.—Paul Kean, Patrick Lawless, Capt. J. Browne, Hugh Cleary, Adam Murphy, Michael Connors, Mary Ryan, John Byrne, John Doyle, Lawrence Fitzpatrick. Patrick Jourdan, John Doyle, Michael Shanahan, John Boyle, James Gorman, Denis Carroll, James Murphy, Patrick Kavenagh, Bridget Foley, John Myler, John Byrne, Patrick Soy, and Thomas McNolay

Many of the above are not expected to survive; all very dangerously wounded.