Catastrophic Fire: The Loss of the Children of Robert Clarke, Magherahane, Raphoe Parish, County Donegal, Ireland 1858

Transcribed, Compiled and Submitted by
Len Swindley, Melbourne, Australia
len_swindley[at]hotmail.com

This file of the CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF THE CHILDREN OF ROBERT CLARKE OF MAGHERAHANE, RAPHOE PARISH, COUNTY DONEGAL forms part of the vast archive of 4,000+ pages of genealogical records relating to COUNTIES TYRONE, DONEGAL, LONDONDERRY & FERMANAGH provided without charge or subscription by CoTyroneIreland Welcome to the Premier Website & Research Tool for Cos. Tyrone, Donegal, Londonderry & Fermanagh Genealogy (cotyroneireland.com) A complete list of records pertaining to RAPHOE PARISH, COUNTY DONEGAL on this website can be found at the foot of this file.

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Londonderry Sentinel March 19 1858

MELANCHOLY AND FATAL CATASTROPHE NEAR RAPHOE

One of the most melancholy catastrophes from fire that we have ever had to record as occurring in this district took place at Magherahane, near Raphoe, on the night of Thursday, the 11th instant, the particulars of which are as follows: - On the night in question, four children of MR. ROBERT CLARKE, of from eight to fourteen years of age, requesting their father and mother to allow them to sleep in the barn, where there was a quantity of thrashed and unthrashed corn. This request they unhappily complied with, MRS. CLARKE putting them carefully to bed, and before retiring to rest again visited them, when she found them perfectly quiet. About eleven o’clock at night, however, Mr. Clarke was aroused by the cries of one of his children, and on rushing out, to his horror and surprise, he observed the barn in flames, and on forcing open the door his eldest girl, aged 12 years, rushed out, but in her bewilderment, she ran to the house of MR. LINDSAY, a neighbour, who resided at some distance. The roof of the barn in the meantime would have fallen, Mr. Clarke, who was about to rush in, in the hope of preserving the other children, had not his wife providentially prevented him. The police, and a number of neighbours hurried to the spot and the children were reached as soon as possible, but alas! too late to save their lives, their bodies being frightfully burned. The little girl who made her escape was so much scorched that she expired a few hours after. In addition to his four children, Mr. Clarke had a valuable horse, a cow about to calve, and an excellent heifer, of two years old, all destroyed, besides his barn and stable. By this calamity Mr. Clarke has been bereaved of his four children, and all of his available property; and from the fright Mrs. Clarke who is far advanced In pregnancy, is in a very precarious state.

The above is a truly harrowing occurrence, and we are sure that the parents who have suffered so much – who have been bereaves of their beloved children – and deprived of their property, almost all they possessed, shall obtain the spontaneous and generous sympathy of all who can feel for the miseries of a fellow creature. We publish in another column an advertisement appealing to the charitable and humane on behalf of Mr. Clarke and his family; and we sincerely hope that a response, equivalent to the sad nature of the consequences, will be rapidly made. A subscription list lies at this office, and we will be most happy to forward what sums we shall be favoured with.

 

Londonderry Standard March 18 1858

APPEAL RAPHOE, 15th March, 1858

The melancholy and awful visitation which has fallen upon ROBERT CLARKE, of Magherahan, near Raphoe, has induced this appeal to be made to the public on his behalf.

On the night of the 11th inst., his Barn and Outhouses were destroyed by Fire, together with his horse, Cows, Grain, and everything contained in the buildings.

The most deplorable and tragical circumstances connected with this sad occurrence is, that the bodies of three of his children were found consumed in the flames, from which they had been unable to escape, while a fourth died a few hours afterwards from the injuries of the burning.

The catastrophe so lamentable and heart-rending has never, perhaps, occurred in this part of the country; and while it is not yet possible to restore the lives that were dear to the surviving parents, as well as useful to them as a help in household support, it is within the power of those who can feel for the sorrows of others, from which themselves are mercifully spared to alleviate the pressure of the calamity, so far as it bears upon the property which has been lost.

 

APPEAL

Raphoe. 15th March, 1858

The melancholy and awful visitation which has fallen upon ROBERT CLARKE of Magherahan, has induced this appeal to be made to the public on his behalf.

On the night of Thursday, the 11th inst., his Barn and Outhouses were destroyed by Fire, together with his Horse, Cows, Grain, and everything contained in the buildings.

The most deplorable and tragical circumstances connected with the sad occurrence is, that the bodies of three of his children were found consumed in the flames, from which they had been unable to escape, while a fourth died a few hours afterwards from the injuries of the burning.

A catastrophe so lamentable and heart-rending has never, perhaps occurred in this part of the country; and while it is not possible to restore the lives that were dear to the surviving parents, as well as useful to them as a help in household support, it is within the power of those who can feel for the sorrows of others from which themselves are mercifully spared, to assist in the alleviation of the calamity so far as it bears upon the property which has been lost.

The whole substance of the sufferer has been destroyed – his four eldest children, with whose help he managed his little farm, have perished by a dreadful and untimely death – his wife is thrown upon a bed of sickness, whose recovery is doubtful after the scene she witnessed in the destruction of her children; and he is thrown upon the world with a weight of misfortune and affliction more than enough to crush a parent’s heart.

This case is, therefore, submitted to the public with the hope that it will meet with the sympathy and response which its awful circumstances, as well as its pressing necessity, require.

The following Clergymen and Gentlemen will act as a committee, to receive and apply such Subscriptions as the may be entrusted to their disposal: -

Rev. Thomas Irwin M. A., Curate of Raphoe

Rev. J. B. Scott, M. A., ditto

Rev. J .P. Dickey, Carnone

Rev. John Thompson, Raphoe

Samuel Ramsay, Esq., Ditto

William Wilson, Esq., Ditto

David Wilson, Esq., Drumaneny

John Allen, Esq., Londonderry

William Smith, Esq., Raphoe

Nicholas Simms, Esq, Strabane

John Graham, Esq., Strabane

Nicholas Simms, Esq., Castlefin

 

Londonderry Sentinel March 26 1858

SUBSCRIBERS:

James Murray, Esq., J.P.

H. Nicholson, Esq.

Captain Taylor

Mr. W. Stirling

Mr. Andrew Allen

“a Lady” per M. King, Esq., Dungiven

John M. Johnston, Esq.

 

 

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