Report of Committee of Investigation on Bog-flow in Kerry. 487 
noises some days before the occurrence. Further, it is certain that 
some of the peasantry were so alarmed by sounds, which they 
_ attributed to the “‘ banshee,” that the parish priest was sent for to 
_ pray with several families. 
The evidence as to whether the actual bursting of the bog was 
accompanied by sounds is conflicting. Some state that they were 
awakened by a loud roar; others, including Mr. Mac Sweeney, of 
Quarry Lodge, slept as usual. But this negative evidence is of 
little or no value ; for, in one instance, the flood passed within fifty 
yards of a cottage, breaking down and sweeping away the trees of 
the adjacent haggard, without arousing the occupants. 
The phenomena attendant on or preceding the catastrophe, to. 
which special attention may be directed, are the following :— 
1. A dry summer was followed by a spell of wet weather, which 
commenced in September ; and heavy rain fell immediately before 
the outburst. 
2. An earthquake, which had its epicentre situated in Wales, 
or on the borders of the principality, occurred on December 15th, 
and is said to have been felt in Miltown-Malbay and other places 
‘in Ireland. This preceded the rupture of the bog by five days. 
3. A fault trending from east to west crosses the collapsed area 
of the bog ; and the Coal-measures, which form high ground to the 
north, dip towards it, ¢.e. southwards. 
4. The stream of the Carraundulkeen was continued as a “ wet 
line,” or line of drainage, into the bog. At the origin of this was. 
a swamp. 
5. The neck of the bog was cut through by a working face, 
which thus crossed the line of drainage. 
6. The centre of the collapsed portion of the bog stood, before 
the outburst, 7 feet higher than the sides. 
7. The bog was disrupted along the line of peat-cutting, and 
liberated a deluge of water charged with peat. The volume of 
the discharged material we estimate to have amounted to about 
six million cubic yards. 
8. As a consequence of this discharge the crust of the bog 
subsided ; so that, after the lapse of some days, its centre had 
