The Erin's Hope saga at Helvick Head & Dungarvan

The story of the Erins Hope, can be found elswhere in the Blog, What I offer here are newspaper cutting from the period, which I hope you enjoy. I have added some illustrations to give the piece a little colour.

Enjoy.

Eddie

The correspondent, of the Irish Times, writing from Dungarvan on the 2nd says:— While the magistrates were occupied at the petty sessions here to-day, a coastguard from Helvick arrived m great haste and had a conversation immediately with Mr Redmond, the resident magistrate. Upon the request of the latter all the other magistrates retired to their room without delay for the purpose of consultation, and the court was adjourned. The extraordinary circumstance which led to this sudden proceeding was that, the coastguard brought an account that a strange vessel had been seen off the coast by some of his men. Her movements were watched for some time, and she was observed to press a hooker from this port into her service, and which landed between forty and fifty men on the Cunnigar, a tongue of land stretching a considerable distance across the bay. But even the hooker could not get near enough the land to save those on board her getting a wetting, and the men had to wade up to their necks in order to reach the shore. Communication of this intelligence was at once made to the police, and without delay all that were available were despatched to Helvick on cars. Four men were there arrested, and the saturated state of their clothing bore out a portion of the coastguard man's statement. 

When searched,some documents, the nature of which has not transpired, were found with them, and one had in his possession a revolver. The entire party of suspicious characters, after landing, dispersed in various directions, and at the time I write the police are busily engaged in the pursuit. An order, I am informed, has been ordered to the police from the country stations. There is a guard; of fully equipped soldiers are ready for immediate march on the ramparts. I am sorry to say that, though Dungarvan preserved itself from Fenianism throughout, and that there was not a single case of disloyalty in it, on this occasion there appeared to be a marked tendency in favour of the Fenians amongst the roughs, who hissed the police, and endeavoured in every way to obstruct them. In contrast with this serious matter there was an amusing episode in connection with the hurried withdrawal of the magistrates from court. A prisoner in the dock accused a crime prevalent in the country — namely, sheep plucking, taking advantage of the slight confusion which followed, and the absence of mind of those around him, made his escape.

 

 

FINIAN RIOT AT WATERFORD. (From a Correspondent of the Freeman's journal Thursday 15 August 1867  "It appears that four of the constabulary from Cork arrived here on Thursday evening, in charge of prisoners who were arrested at Helvick Head, near Dungarvan, and who were tolled off for temporary imprisonment at Waterford Gaol. Amongst them were two men who were identified by Corrydon as' General' Nagle, of the United States army, and Captain Warren, of the New York Volunteers. The appearance of this party in the dusk of the evening attracted a crowd, and the police feared without reason, I understand-that sympathisers would attempt a rescue. The strongest feature in the case is that the police in Waterford had no intimation of the transfer of the prisoners, and made no arrangements either to assist their brethren in arms or to conduct them through strange and winding streets to the gaol. 

The Cunnigar, I took this photo  from Ballymarket

The Cork police, marched to the police-station here for assistance, and while the constabulary, were being gathered in from various places, and very large crowds of men, women, and boys collected, forty policemen armed with rifles and bayonets, and six mounted men armed with sabres, were told off to escort the prisoners to gaol, a distance of about a quarter of a mile. This march was performed under certainly trying circumstances, A crowd, variously estimated at from a thousand to two thousand salters, fishermen, and idlers of all classes, cheered the prisoners, hissed their custodians, and indulged in the favourite Irish pastime of stone throwing. Some say the stones were abundant, and it would appear from various accounts that some of the police were hurt. The gaol was safely reached, and the prisoners having been given into the custody of the governor, the escort returned towards the barracks.

Dungarvan Castle

They proceeded down a narrow street, on one side of which is a grave yard, surrounded by walls ten feet high. Here they were assailed by unseen stone throwers, and the shops opposite this masked battery bear evidence of the affray in respect of a few broken windows. The police would not stand this treatment any longer, and without orders-nay, in defiance of Head-Constable Barry, who was in command-they turned, and with fixed bayonets, made an indiscriminate attack, not upon the stone throwers or alleged stone throwers, but upon the men, women, and children who crushed after them to see the sport. Denis Walsh received two thrusts of a sword or sword bayonet in the side and breast and died on the spot. He ran away from the police and attempted to get into the house of a publican named O'Neill, but a girl shut the door as he was within a step of being safe, and he instantly received the wounds which left him dead on the flagway opposite the inhospitable door. Jeremiah O'Sullivan was wounded in the hip. He is a very old man. Keenan, a blacksmith, was wounded in the back. He is in hospital and is doing well. A little boy was severely trampled upon by the horses; and a woman received a sword thrust through the arm. It is said that a great many people received wounds who are afraid to seek medical aid lest they should be arrested. The doors in the houses in Patrick Street are cut with bayonet trusts; and I saw a shutter composed of half-inch wood which was completely perforated with a sharp broad instrument. This thrust extended to the sash of the window."

This is a photo illustrating the sleeping quarters at Dungarvan castle during the period.

Thisis a further reeport

The affray at Waterford- A serious riot occurred at Waterford on the night of Thursday, June 13, which proved to be the most violent demonstration that has yet occurred in connection with the movements of Fenian prisoners. But in Waterford there were special causes of irritation predisposing the mob to violence. Much soreness of feeling remains as result of the encounters with the military at the late election, and there was great public excitement caused by the landing of so many Fenian leaders near Dungarvan. The sufferings they had endured from being tossed about so many weeks at sea, and then driven by starvation to fling themselves ashore at all hazards, created the liveliest interest in their fortunes, presenting them to the popular imagination as so many heroes of romance. 

The old market houseDungarvan,  where the fenian Edmond Power was hanged from out of the window!

The rumour that some of them were men of high social position in the United States and above all two of them were distinguished officers in the Irish brigade commanded by General Meagher raised the excitement to the highest pitch. Meagher is a native of Waterford, where his family are very influential, so that the feeling of clanship was added to all the other elements of combustion. Another inflammatory matter was the appearance of Corrydon, the informer, at Waterfowl, on Monday, Juno 10. For the purpose of identifying some of the American fugitives in the county gaol. It is said that his defiant bearing and cool assurance caused general indignation among the populace. It was under these circumstances that four of the men who had landed near Dungarvan were brought in by the train from Cork which arrived at quarter to 9, Thursday evening, conducted to the lock-up at Lady-lane, where they were detained for some .....,(difficult to read the writing, so have omitted some words).....  

Fenian Log

  Being mounted commanded by Head-constable Barry. During the time which elapsed between the arrival of the prisoners at Lady-lane and their removal the intelligence of their presence had been spread throughout the city, and large numbers of people had assembled in the Mayor's-walk and on the hill of Ballybricken, immediately outside the gaol, when the escort made its appearance. It was with difficulty that a way was made through the angry crowd. Stones were thrown at the police, and there seemed to be a determination to rescue the prisoners, some of whom were hit by the stones intended for the police. They were safely lodged in gaol; but the mob vented their fury on the police when they were returning. Brickbats, paving stones, &c, were thrown, cutting and wounding the men dreadfully; several of their firearms were broken. 

The boys in action

They were compelled to turn and charge the mob to save their lives. One man named Walsh, a salter, was stabbed in the breast and was killed; another named Keenan was severely stabbed, and his life is despaired of; about 20 others were wounded. A desperate fight lasting for some minutes ensued. The horse police eventually cleared the streets. The mob occupied an elevated ground, having beside them a magazine of large stones, which they threw at the constabulary. While this was going on a constable named Mercer happened to get separated from his party, and was seized upon by the mob and beaten. Efforts were made by the police to get him out of their hands peaceably, but without effect. One or two constables were severely injured in this attempt.

Fenian grave  monument at Glasnevin

Head constable Barry, who had charge of the party, ordered his men to rescue Mercer. Bayonets were fixed, and the men charged the mob. Those only who have witnessed popular commotions can form an idea of the scene which ensued, The police pressed on an infuriated crowd, struggling with them step by step, wounding some with their bayonets, and being wounded in return by stones thrown at them. The cavalry police, in endeavouring to rescue their comrade, also charged, and in doing severely injured several persons in the crowd, the police, however, acted with calmness and calibration, and appeared actuated throughout with a desire simply to perform their duty. 

Thomas F. Meagher

The constable Mercer was eventually rescued, but was found in a sad plight. His rifle was broken, his hat stolen, and himself wounded and bleeding. The constables retired to their barracks with the wounded man, and left the cavalry to clear and preserve order in the streets. Keenan, a resident in John’s-lane, expired on June 14. Twenty four persons had their wounds dressed besides 32 policemen. A great number of the civilians suffered from wounds inflicted by stones aimed at the police. Many of the police are seriously injured, and will not be able to resume duty for a considerable period. At 11 all was quite.