Tragic Christmas event in Derry's past remembered

Christmas is traditionally portrayed as the “most wonderful time of the year” however, Derry historian Seamus Breslin has uncovered a tragic Christmas event in the city’s past.

Speaking to Derry Now, Seamus recounted the heartbreaking story of ferryman Hugh Magee, who drowned in the River Foyle on Christmas Eve 1901.

According to Seamus, Hugh was 38. His parents were James and Jane Magee, who lived at 102, Lecky Road. He himself lived at 71, Fosters Terrace (along the Lecky Road) with his wife Ellen and their four young children.

“Ironically, Hugh was a very good swimmer who six months previously had rescued a young fella called Nicholas Maxwell (10) from Sugarhouse Lane, when he fell into the Foyle, on June 21, 1901,” said Seamus.

“At the time, the local paper reported that some boys were playing on the ferry landing stage at the foot of Bridge Street when one of them fell into the water. Fortunately, Hugh was at the other side of the stage. He jumped into the water and rescued the youngster. The newspaper report added that this was ‘not the first occasion on which Magee has so acted and he deserves every credit for his courageous act’.

“Fittingly, Hugh’s bravery was recognised by the Royal Humane Society. The citation on his certificate read: ‘Hugh Magee is justly entitled to the Honorary Testimonial of this Society which is hereby awarded him for having on the 21st June 1901 gone to the rescue of N maxwell who was in imminent danger of drowning in the Foyle at Londonderry and whose life he gallantly saved.’

“Hugh was a ferryman on the Foyle. He actually owned two boats. There used to be a toll on the then Carlisle Bridge, so sometimes it was cheaper for people to pay a penny and go across the river by boat.

“There would have been ferry landing stages at the bottom of Bridge Street and John Street, where the Great Northern Railway Station also used to be.

“There was also one at the back of the Guildhall, which would take people from concerts there or shopping from the Waterside to the cityside or vice versa,” said Seamus.

According to Seamus, before his own death, Hugh had saved at least 15 people from drowning in the River Foyle. “Especially young boys who would have fallen in.”

He added: “On Christmas Eve 1901, Hugh was working right up until late with all of the goings-on and people going back and forth across the river. It would have been a very busy day for him.

“So, he was finishing off that night, tying up his boat in the dark to go home to his own wife and wanes for Christmas and sadly, he fell, hit his head and went into the water. And when he needed somebody there to go in after him, there was nobody about and he died. The inquest into Hugh’s untimely death was conducted by the City Coroner, Thomas Lindsey. It was held at the public house of Mrs McCafferty, Lecky Road.

“I often think about all of the people Hugh saved from Drowning. They must have had families and their families had families. There are probably hundreds of people in Derry who would never have had a life only for Hugh Magee.

“Imagine how sad that wake and funeral must have been for Hugh’s family and friends, especially as it took place over Christmas. It is heart-rending.”

Hugh’s actual Royal Humane Society certificate was passed from his granddaughter to his grandson, Roy Henderson (deceased).

Seamus added: “In fact, on the occasion of her 90th birthday in 2010, Hugh’s granddaughter Eileen McCloskey donated the proceeds of her birthday, an amazing £1,000 to Foyle Search and Rescue, in memory of her granda,” said Seamus, who is now telling the story of brave Hugh Magee during his City Cemetery tours. There are new stories emerging all of the time about the people who are buried in Derry City Cemetery,” said Seamus, “and the volunteers who take the visitors and locals around like to tell them.

“We had hundreds of visitors during the summer and at Hallowe’en. In fact, we were recently ranked number 1 in the list of ‘120 Things to Do in Derry.’”

Seamus Breslin can be contacted via the Facebook page: FRIENDS OF DERRY CITY CEMETERIES-HISTORIC HEADSTONES.