WAKES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 949, 25 June 1880, Page 3

WAKES.

Ono of the curses of Liverpool is the Irish custom of holding wakes. From time to time these horrible festivals over the bodies of the dead have been condemned in no measured terms. The efforts of the Press, the police, and the pri st, however, seem helpless to effect any reform. A woman recently died in one of the suburbs of that great shipping port, and a sister of the dead woman went round collecting subscriptions to defray the expenses of the funeral, realising a considerable sum. The funeral, however, was deday to day, while men and women, “ friends cf the deceased,” spent the money subscribed ,by the benevolent neighbours in drink and debauchery. Day by day the corpse lay without interment, until at last the matter became one for the Sanitary Inspector. Several attempts wore made to remove tbe body, but on each occasion the police were assaulted hy the drunken relations and a row occurred. The smell of the decaying body, however, at last became so intolerable that it was decided to attempt to carry it off hy force. A strong body of police, therefore, entered the house, and hy sheer determination managed to get the body away. They found about twenty drunken men and women of the lowest order in the house drinking whisky, and the scene is described as having been of the most revolting description. 1 believe that some attempt is being made to punish the sister of the deceased woman for her share in tbe proceedings. It certainly does seem as if something should be done to prevent such hideous orgies in tbe future.