Page
Briton's Amazing Feat
Records Shattered - By Donald Healey
Wendover, Uình,
Sept. 13.
A Eeitch Austin-Healey "100" yesterday shattered every existing record for
THE CHINA MAIL MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1953.
POPULATION OF HEBRIDES ON THE DECLINE
Stornoway, Sept. 13.
The ishermen and farmers of these "Islands That God Forgot':are giving up their centuries-old battle for survival and fleeing to the mainland.
The Atlantic seas which pound the 500 islands of the Hebrides group have made the fishermen's Яlock cars, regardless life a daily battle against danger. The wind and engine size, for flying and standing starts over dis.
the rain, lashing in from the ocean, bring ruin and tances of up to 10 miles. hunger each year to many of the families huddled
in the grey-stone farm cottages.
When Donnie Henley, de- and driver of the car, #repared from the stock model of the end of the runs, it was edently onucunced that, sub gret to confirmation, number ef International and American recerds had been broken.
The record-breaking " Mitas
made on the Bonneville
Salt Fia bere.
*
Only 300 of the 2,800 square close in to the logged rocks mes of the Islands are cul-which Jut out on to the rolling tivated and only 100 of the 500 | Atlantic breakers. islands are inhabited.
Once,
there were. three In the hamict of Finally only John his wife and
The other istands remain de-families sulate with the moors and] Ardveg. mountains and lochs. Even 30 pf | Macdonald with The bited lends have J three children were left. population of less than 10 people.
The Mncdonalds lived Ave Skye, romanticised in Scots miles from the nearest road and The most reportant interna-jong and poetry, is a typical 11 miles from the nearest tional records breken were: example of what", is happening | telephone.
today the Hebrides.
The 5 kilometres - 189.3905 indi.
The 5 mika-109,2431 mph
The 10 Lilometres-109.1727 upda
Thufes-108,2880 mph, These tits weje, tåned devin thing start,
Henley, also broke these fix An van records, from a shud-
Che
luct:
kilometre--6-4.50 (0 record 48:30 mph.)
One mile-74,04 mph. reward 54.68 mph.)
Five, kjretre. --99.57 (Ola rdcor) 67.71 mph.)
Five inlles-08,94 mph.
courd, 03.03 mph);
record.
Ten kilometres 100,00 10 record 80.09 mph.)
Ten miles-193.56 pl. record 80,18 mph).
In 1931, there were 24,000 people cking out a living from its 550 square miles and the waters which mirround it, One hundred years later, the popula- tion was down to 10,000.
It is now just under 8,000. That means that since the turn the population of the century nos decreased at the rate tulee people a week.
nyh
(0:0
It
of
When the mall came through, and the weather often meant that no boat could put in for weeks on end, Macdonald had to wade out waist deep into the icy waters to take off the mait bog.
Then he would have to wade out again, carrying on hip head the boxes of lobster he was sending to market.
The Mucdonald children tramped five miles over the moorg every morning to the little stone school where they huddled, together over a smould- ering, smoky pent fire until the falling afternoon light marked the, start of the weary trudge home.
WOMEN WANT TO GO
other Skye, As in the ph. islands, the people who Bave young (Ola Rone have been mainly people. allmcted
factory by.
of tho jobs and the omenilles mnipland. Now the islands are So the Macdonalds gave up. laily inhabited by old people A hired lobster, boat put in at who cling grimly to the few Ardveg while they all waded wind-swept neres which have out, carrying their household
aph
The Austin-Healey "100" was time officially by the American Automobile Association, and the car used In the runs was taken from stock at Los Angeles,
Jou brents
other
been family hand for hundreds possessions to load aboard.
years.
Islands Ineзng
GOVERNMENT PLANS