Potato People - Thousands are Sailings

Chapter 11 : Thousands are Sailings

The next morning, Patrick and Marie went back on the main road to Cork. They passed wheat fields and wagon trains which were heavily guarded by soldiers. Marie was angry that the soldiers were there to stop the people from taking the wheat. The wheat could be shipped to England or France where people still have money to buy. They met a lot of hungry and desperate people along the way.

Finally, they arrived at the port of Cork. Patrick had never been to such a large town before. In the harbour, hundreds of people were trying to get closed to the ships. The ships were being filled with wheat and meat. Patrick and Marie spent the whole day wandering and looking at ships.

They watch a ship called "New York Star" sail slowly out of the harbour. Patrick saw and old woman get down on her hands and knees and kiss the ground before her son took her onto the ship. She was saying goodbye to Ireland. When it become dark, Patrick and Marie went back to town. THey were very hungry and ate the remaining food from the big house.

Suddenly, they heard a sound of shooting nor far away. They ran to the place of shooting and saw a row of soldiers standing in front of a large warehouse. A large crowd of people had gathered there. The soldiers pointed their bayonets at them.

A young, nervous-looking officer with shaky voice stepped forward and told the crowd they were only be given three minutes to leave the area. They also told them the food in the warehouse was going to be transported "inland" in the next day for people who were also hungry. Some one shouted that they needed food urgently there and then too or they would be dead.

The officer promised the people that food would be distributed from a store in Castle Street 'the day after tomorrow'. There was a 'wild look' on the crowd's faces. Patrick thought the crowd was going to attack the soldiers.

Then, Patrick heard the sound of horses. Thirthy or forty dragoons were coming towards the crowd at full gallop. The crowd panicked and screamed wildly as the soldiers began o cut their way to the left and right with their 'sharp sabres'.

Patrick pulled Marie into a narrow side street. They watch in horror as the dragoons 'smashed into the crow'. Patrick want to leave the horrible scene. They ran off until they found an abandoned wagon for shelter. Patrick held Marie tightly for her whole body was shivering. He rocked her to sleep.