Sir, - Your note about HMS Wasp (January 10th) brings to mind a story which was current over 50 years ago. The Tory Islanders were poor and had little resources from which to pay their rents beyond their fishing. When it became known to them that Crown forces were to be sent to collect rents by force, it is said that, as soon as they sighted the ship, some of them reverted to paganism and turned the cursing stones in the bullain on the island. Almost immediately, and on a calm sea, HMS Wasp was seen to sink with great loss of life. No rational explanation was produced at the enquiry as to why it ran on to a known rock.
I wonder if any of your readers can say what truth there is in this account. - Yours, etc
47 Furry Park Road,
Killester, Dublin 5.