Wild Thistles - Highland Clearances
Eye Witness
Testimony #1.
by a Native of Sutherland, circa 1814.
In such a general scene of general devastation it is almost useless to particularize the cases of individuals - the suffering was great and universal. I shall, however, just notice a very few extreme cases which occur to my recollection, to most of which I was an eye witness.
John MacKay's wife, Ravigill, in attempting to pull down her house, in the absence of her husband, to preserve the timber, fell through the roof. She was, in consequence, taken with premature labour, and in that state, was exposed to the open air and the view of the bystanders.
Donald Munroe, Garvott, lying in a fever, was turned out of his house and exposed to the elements. Donald Macbeath, an infirm and bed-ridden old man, had the house unroofed over him, and was, in that state, exposed to the wind and rain till death put a period to his sufferings.
I was present at the pulling down and burning of the house of William Chisholm, Badinloskin, in which was lying his wife's mother, an old bed-ridden woman of near 100 years of age, none of the family being present. I informed the persons about to set fire to the house of this circumstance, and prevailed on them to wait till Mr. Sellar came. ( Patrick Sellar ) On his arrival I told him of the poor old woman being in a condition unfit for removal.
He replied, " Damn her, the old witch, she has lived too long; let her burn". Fire was immediately set to the house, and the blankets in which she was carried were in flames before she could be got out.
She was placed in a little shed, and it was with great difficulty they were prevented from firing it also. The old woman's daughter arrived while the house was on fire, and assisted the neighbours in removing her mother out of the flames and smoke, presenting a picture of horror which I shall never forget, but cannot attempt to describe. She died within five days.
I could multiply instances to a great extent, but must leave to the reader to conceive the state the inhabitants during this scene of general devastation, to which few parallels occur in the history of this or any other civilized country. Many a life was lost or shortened, and many a strong constitution ruined; -the comfort and social happiness of all destroyed; and their prospects in life, then of the most dismal kind, have, generally speaking, been unhappily realized.
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