AN IRISH POMPEII.

Evening Star, Issue 3102, 28 January 1873, Page 2

AN IRISH POMPEII.

(From the Irish Builder.)

Few outsicle of the County Donegal have, perhaps, ever heard of this island (Rutland) 9f sand-hills and buried and unburied ruius Yet nearly a hundred years ago it created a great sensation in Ireland, and was regarded in its way as a sort of El Dorado. About IZBO, herring set in there in enormous quantities—a millionth part of them could not be consumed by the surrounding country. The means of cure were so inadequate that vast quantities were spread over the fields for miles around for manure. In 1783 a company was formed to reap the wonderful harvest of the sea, with a capital of L 70.000. The Irish Parliament gave a grant toward the object; L 40,000 it is said, was laid out in buildings, which consisted of a military barrack, a custom house, a sail and net factory, and a number of houses in the streets for the cle ks, artisans and fishermen. Wakefield in fiis political and statistical history ot Ireland related what a wonderful scene'of industry this formerly barren and deserted island became. In one year the company realised L 135.000. The island was called Rutland, in compliment to the then Viceroy, who evinced a deep interest in the undertaking. Unfortunately, however, like nearly all other great influxes of fish on the Irish coast, the herrings, afier a few years, totally abandoned Donegal. Various reasons were assigned. Some said they were frightened by the blasting of granite rocks on the cliffs ; others that the sh fting sands rendered that part of tfis coast unfit to deposit their spawn At all events they went, and with them Rutland naturally went down, ' To complete the disaster great storms arose ; the sand broke from the back of the island and covered up nearly all the buildings, so that todav two entire streets have sand many feet over them, and the other buildings are more or less buried in the sand. The houses above ground are inhabited by the coastguards and the families of owners and crews of coasting smacks. All signs of tubing industries are gone. V hen the Inspector cf Fisheries. Mr B}ake, visited the island', lib couhl not find a single fisherman. A little judicious aid in the way of loans would, however, go a great way towards again making Rutland a fishing station, as herrings and other fish hgve begun of late years to show in quantities. At Rospeacon, to the north of Rutland, a similar sand storm catastrophe occurred. The beaut ful house, pleasure-grounds, and deer park of Lord Boyne were about the same period completely covered over by sand.