3-070-913 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

At the Galway Assizes: witness for the defence and his interpreter, 1881. 'The case I was most interested in was that of an attempt at wreckage. A large steamer had gone ashore between rocks, upon which the natives of those parts (a wild portion of the county Galway [in Ireland]) came down with reaping hooks in hands to welcome her. The coastguard, who had fortunately taken earlier possession, arrested one gentleman for having, with his particular reaping hook, cut one of the hawsers by which she was made safe to the rocks. The other gentlemen, who came up to swear to his innocence, all ignored the English tongue, and the aid of an interpreter was necessary. "Ask him if the prisoner had a hook," said the Counsel [ie Counsellor O'Malley]. Answer: "There were plenty of hooks in the crowd, but he had not one." "Why, ask him, had they their hooks with them at this time of year?" Answer: "It is the fashion in that part of the country to go down and meet a stranded vessel with hooks in their hands." Charming hospitality! I thought. I know not what became of the prisoner; but I do know that the learned Judge had his suspicions that the witnesses understood every word that was spoken in English; and I am inclined to agree with him'. From "Illustrated London News", 1881.