THE STORY OF THE RED HAND.

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 22, 25 October 1928, Page 2

THE STORY OF THE RED HAND.

Most symbols, whether used to denote family lineage or to identify a product of modern industry, have their stories or legends, and the "Red Hand" which is employed as a distinguishing mark of "Rok" Roofing, "Stoniflex," "Hippo" and other Felt products of Andersons' is no exception to the rule.

The story of the "Bed Hand" has all the glamour of an Irish traditional tale. It is a stirring legend that recalls those turbulent times when, men, sword in hand, hewed their way to earthly kingdoms and glory.

An Irish chieftain as he was dying, so the story .goes,' beckoned to one of Ms attendants and bade hi™ take this message to Ms two sons who were encampel in another province:—'' My sons, to the one whos ehand shall first touch land I give the province of Ulster."

It was evening when the messenger arrived at the camp and the brothers were dining and making merry with their friends, but when, they heard the chieftain's farewell, gloom fell on the company. The guests were silent out of respect, the brothers, because they feared the consequences of their rivalry.

Indeed, they soon forgot their loss and fell to quarrelling over their immediate right to the kingdom. Their friends, eager for a fight, ridiculed the idea of crossing the Lough on so wild a night and urged them to fight and settle the dispute by a duel. But the brother knowing themselves to be equal in strength and skill in arms and each wishing to be the first to touch land

refused the advice and decided to brave

the storm

They hurriedly picked out the finest oarsmen from among their respective retainers and raced from the camp down to the shore.

The heavy seas made launching perilous, but at length the boats put off from shore and the rival crews quickly lost sight of each other^ Only the shouts and cursings of the brothers could be heard above the roar of the wind and the hissing of the waves racing shore-

ward.

Throughout the night the crews fought against the wind and raging sea, which, seemed to mock their efforts to gain their goal.

When the grey dawn gently broke, it revealed the coveted shore only half a mile . away. Then suddenly the wind veered round from off the shore. The brothers saw their opportunity, and in a frenzy of half anger,, half excitement, they stood up in the stern of their boats, swords in hand, urging their exhausted rowers to make the last great

effort,

The crews responded nobly and then ensued a grim and terrible race. • The strong sea running, made progress snaillike, and to the excited spectators on the shore the boats seemed to move by inches. The shouts of the brothers had been silenced by the torturing suspense. The crews worked like men possessed without either boat gaining a perceptible lead.

A hundred yards from the shore the brothers were standing in the bows of their boats ready for the fatal leap. Fifty yards from the shore, stripped and with sword in hand, they crouched ready to spring.

Fifteen yards from shore . . . , Would they have to fight after all?

No! To everyone's amazement one of the brothers, raising his sword, strikes, cuts off his hand and throws it ashore. Victory!

His hand had touched land first and he had won the race and the province at the loss of a limb.

Once landed, he was hailed as chieftain and carried in triumph to his dead father's tent.

Francis Holmes Ltd., agents for Anderson and Son Ltd., will be very pleased to supply full particulars regarding any of their lines.