A UNIVERSITY TRAGEDY.

Waikato Times, Volume 2632, Issue 2632, 25 May 1889, Page 1 (Supplement)

A UNIVERSITY TRAGEDY.

Tiif.iu-; is iu llio hi-tory of the Aberdeen University a tradition, unique :iraon;! University annals; the story of Downey's Slaughter. Downey, who was sacrist of King's College about the year 1720, by his oflieiousncss iu reporting all pee.adilloes, and especially those of Bursary night, made him>olf extremely obnoxious to the students, who were at that lime resident, aud therefore so much the more at tho sacri>t's mercy. Their mutual haired having reached a climax, a untnber of the students, headed, according to tradition, by tho young Lord of flic Isles, resolved to give the luckless sacrist what they meaut to bo a, wholesome fright. The uiu/hm npryntuli determined upon was a mock trial, at which he was to be indited and after proof be convicted and sentenced to decapitation. The scene of the trial was probably an inn much frequented by the students of that period, and thither, after tho necessary preparations made, the victim was decoyed according to the preconcerted routine. Downey was indicted and found guilty, and was sentenced to sulfur the extreme penalty of the law; bis tears, prayers and promises were alike bootless, aud ho was dragged into another room, which one may imagine draped in black, and in tho centre the block, flanked by buckets of sawdust and water, tho masked genii surrounding the uuivering, cowering: wrelch, for whom a single glance is enough. He lapses into an all but unconscious slate, heeds' not tho snriMumling movements, scarce feels that lie is forced on bis kneo.<, his head bent fill I lie Unci;, hears as though

iu a dream the order of tho executioners, tho long drawn breath, the hisa of the Locbnbar axe, ending as the fatal blow is struck—with a wet towel, the axe sinking harmlessly into the side of the block. Amid peals of laughter lie is roughly told to get up, but stirs not; the headsman's foot is used as a stimulus, and with a sigh the body from its former position falls iu a heap on the floor; the projected farce had turned out a tragedy. What could bo done to resuscitate the poor man was done, but without avail, and the now repentant students bad to consider how best to screen themselves. After ail oath of secrecy, they lore his body up to a tbinwooibal hollow, which, beginning at the gate of King's College, runs through the grounds of I'owis House towards Kitty In o water, and there in a field tin y buried him. All efforts were made by the Seuatus to discover those concerned, but unsuccessfully, aud exasperated at tho defeat the Principal is said to have applied to the assembled students the since famous expression, "Yo're a' airt an' pairt in Downey's slaucbter." In time, however, a few particulars leaked out, and an especial spot, an elongated mound in a hollow, bccame known as the scene of his burial. Downey's liaugh is now part of Messrs Oardno and Darling's nursery, and there, about U years ago. some workmen digging round the mound came upon the skeleton of an adult male, which had all the appearance of having been hastily thrown in. The bones, after being examined, were re-interred, with the exception of a small piece of the vault of tile cranium now lying before me, ami for which I am indebted to the kindness of Mr Darling. A drooping ash was planted by request to commemorate the scenc of Downey's Grave.—J. LawAdam, iu Alma Mater.