Old News

Sligo Independent August 12th. 1876

The Want of Drinking Water at Rosses Point

    Rosses Point, like many other places, suffered severely during the late hot weather, and consequently those who repair to that otherwise healthy seaside resort during the summer naturally feel an anxiety to have such a great drawback remedied. We are of the opinion that the erection of a pump in a portion of the village can remedy the evil it should be erected without any delay. We contend that between Mr. Ewing's hotel and Elsinore gate at Rosses Point, a pump or fountain should be erected, where the heated pleasure-seeker, or labourer shall get a drink of water: and we should add that, convenient to it, a horse trough should be placed, where the beast of burden - too often neglected - could take a drink. On a hot summer's Sunday evening when crowds assemble, and weary horses are made to draw heavy loads of human beings, such would be a blessed luxury, and to the people living at the Point it would be invaluable.

Sligo Independent August 19th. 1876

A Sailor Drowned While Leaving Sligo Port.

   On Tuesday evening, a sailor, belonging to a ship leaving Sligo harbour, was drowned. He belonged to the barque Callao, Leamam master, which vessel had lately conveyed a cargo of corn to Mr. Harper Campbell. She was being towed out by the Hope at the time the fatal accident occurred, and, when nearly opposite the mills at Ballincar, the unfortunate man stepped on the bulwark rail to pull up the fender, and fell in. The vessel was going slowly, and she was stopped, but the drowning man never came to the surface. A boat was put out at once, and a sailor in it clatched the hat while another sailor dived, but it was of no avail. The poor man had sunk to rise no more. He was a Chilian by birth, his name being Emmanuel Araya, aged 24. The ship belonged to Philadelphia, and was returning to that port from Sligo at the time the accident occurred.

Sligo Independent September 9th. 1876

Yacht Competition on Lough Gill.

    A private match for a sweepstake of 5 sows, between some of the sailing boats which took part in the late regatta on Lough Gill, came off on the 1st. inst. The morning was rough and uninviting, so that many did not go up in the steamer, notwithstanding that Mr. Kell, its spirited proprietor, placed it at the disposal of yhe organisers of the sailing match, giving all who came a free passage, and providing in a hospitable fashon for the physical wants of all who came. The competing yachts were Mr. Maveety's Electric, 8 tons, Mr. R. Pettigrew's Nymph, 6 tons, and Mr. James Vernon's The Secret, 2 tons: one minute tonnage allowance. The start was from Shriff Bay round a bouy at Newtown Point, thence to Church Island and twice round the flag boat at Shriff, a distance of about ten and a half miles. Dr. Kell acted as judge and starter. Mr. Maveety's yacht won.

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A Nautical Epitaph

Tombstone iscription in St. John's Graveyard

Captain Thomas Hamilton departed this life 27th. December 1766, Aged 39 years

Tho' Boreas's blasts and Neptune's waves

Have tossed me to and fro:

In spite of both by Christ's decree

I harbour here below

And tho' at anchor here I lie

I must one day set sail again

With many of our fleet: