AN 82-year-old man in the Bon Secours hospital in Cobh, is following the story of the progress of the Hillary expedition to the South Pole with avid interest. Bob Forde remembers the great adventure of 47 years ago when he sailed with Scott in to the Antarctic. He is the only survivor of the epic expedition which ended in tragedy. Bandon-born Mr Forde often talks of Scott and his four companions who perished almost within sight of safety after they had battled against ice and snow and raging blizzards. He was one of the 49 men who established the first depot on the ice. He had sailed on the Terranova, one of the supply ships which went on Scott's voyage of discovery. Through the fury of a blizzard, he and his companions trekked 35 miles to establish a supply depot. As he lies in bed in Cobh, Mr Forde can see and feel a grim reminder . . . his hand minus three fingers he lost through frostbite. An exchief petty officer of the British Navy, Mr Forde has two nephews, Stephen and Robert Glasson, and two nieces, Miss Cherry Glasson and Mrs G Horne, all residing in Cobh.

Freeman's Journal 31 December 1840

THE West Indian planters . . .thanks to the energy and perseverance of the AntiSlavery society, aided and sustained by the press . . .

will not be permitted to manure their blood-stained soil with the bones, and nurture their cane-groves with the tears of our unfortunate countrymen.

The emigration scheme . . .the most nefarious that ever the wicked heart and mind of selfish man conceived . . . has been so exposed and denounced, that of the three hundred and odd for whom berths had been engaged in the Robert Kerr, only a dozen or so could be induced to persevere in their determination to barter their birthright for a mess of pottage. . . Since the foregoing was sent to the printers we have received a copy of the Limerick Reporter. . . The Robert Kerr sailed on Tuesday morning without its freight of human flesh.

About 20 unfortunate women of the town were on board when the vessel started, but, before they got clear of the quays, the majority insisted on being put ashore. We trust the signal failure of the scheme in Limerick will have the effect of convincing the schemers of the folly of attempting to mislead the ignorant in other localities.

We tell the kidnappers that a close watch shall be kept upon their outgoings and incomings.

Penny Dispatch 28 December 1861

ENNISKILLEN . . . A horrible murder took place in this town yesterday morning, committed by some person or persons unknown. The victim, William Carleton, a publican, who lately purchased the interest in a public house, resided in it alone, his family not having joined him. He was found brutally murdered in the entrance hall, the body presenting an awful spectacle, the entire side of the skull battered in, and numerous wounds about the head and shoulders, which were inflicted with some sharp instrument. Suspicion strongly attaches to two soldiers, who were to leave Enniskillen the next morning, and who were seen leaving the publichouse late at night previous to the murder. An inquest has been held, and a verdict of wilful murder returned against some person or persons unknown.