A LEGEND CURIOUSLY VERIFIED.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1014, 16 January 1869, Page 2

A LEGEND CURIOUSLY VERIFIED.

[Correspondent of "London Examiner."} Tradition informs us that when the old abbey of St. Francis, the remains of which are still extant, existed and flourished in Limerick, ifc possessed a chime of silver bells, sixteen in number, which were celebrated for their purity and sweetness of tone, and that on the night before the church fell into the hands of the reformers, the friars took them away and hid them in the abbey river. For three centuries has the story been handed down to posterity, receiving absolute credence from many, while others, viewing it in the light of a legend, considered that it had no foundation in fact. The tradition, however, which has formed the subject of many poetical effusions, both by the Bard of Thomond and others*, and which has received historical notice&has just been to some extent verified, fit^ the following singular manner :— . It appears that a man named Michael Ahem, who resides in that portion of the old town known as the Abbey, and who is so celebrated a swimmer that he goes by the name of the " Cormorant," happening to be on the bank of the Abbey river on Monday afternoon with some friends, a discussion arose as to the greatest depth of the stream at any point, with the bottom of every hole and cavern of which Ahem justly professed his acquaintance. His statement that he had been to the bottom of the river, where its depth is said to be from 60 to 70 feet, was disputed and doubted by some of his companions, and a wager was made that he would not dive at the spot and bring tip something from the bottom. This Ahem undertook to do, and divesting himself of his clothes he went into the water. Having reached the bottom, with a few vigorous kicks he came upon what seemed to be a stone embedded in the alluvial soil, and this he proceeded to displace and bring to the surface, as evidence of his visit to the depths below 1 . On reaching the bank with his prize, it was found to be a curious bell shaped trophy, which from its blackened and discolored appearance, the parties concluded it to be brass or bronze ; but being brought into town and examined, it proved to be a bell of solid silver, weighing 28 ounces, but minus the tongue, which is supposed to have become disconnected' from the instrument by the corrosion of its fastenings. The bell, on being struck, gives forth, a very harmonious sound. This discovery has created much interest, and it is said that the fortunate diver is preparing to make a regular exploration ot the bottom of that part of the river with the view of seeing whether he can come across any other of the traditional silver chimes.