Stoirm 1955
Thug an stoirm a bha againn anns an Fhaoilleach an cuimhne feadhainn de mhuinntir Nis an stoirm a bhuail an sgìre ann an 1955. O chionn ghoirid chuala mi sgeulachd mu na thachair dha mo sheanar, Dòmhnall Chaluim Tuathanach, nach maireann, à Cros aig an àm sin.
Thàinig an t-sneachda mhòr – sneachd cho dona ’s a bha anns an sgìre a-riamh. Bha an sneachd suas gu mullach na taighean agus cha b’urrainn dha duine carachadh às an taighean. Bha caoraich aig Domhnall air a’ mhointeach agus thàinig air feitheamh mus b’urrainn dha a dhol a-mach a dh’fhaicinn an robh iad sàbhailte.
As dèidh dà latha, a’ chiad chàil anns a’ mhadainn, dh’fhalbh e fhèin agus an t-saigh gun mhointeach le poca feòir aige airson nan caorach. Bha iad air an t-slighe gu Beinn nan Caorach air mointeach Dhail bho Thuath nuair a thòisich cathadh-sneachda trom. Cha robh e air ruighinn an àite air a’ mhointeach agus chaill e a shlighe. Ged nach fhaiceadh Dòmhnall càit an robh e a’ dol le cho tiugh ’s a bha an cathadh, bha e a’ smaoineachadh gun robh e a’ dol an taobh ceart, ach cha robh an t-saigh deònach a leantainn. Bha an t-saigh airson a dhol an taobh eile agus dhiùilt i a leantainn an taobh a bha esan a’ miannachadh. Mu dheireadh, cha robh mòran taghadh ann ach a dhol an taobh a bha an t-saigh ag iarraidh…
Aig an taigh bha iomagain air a theaghlach le cho dona ’s a bha an t-sìde. Bha e a’ fàs anmoch a-nis agus bhiodh dùil ris tilleadh tràth feasgar, ach cha do nochd e. Thàinig feadhainn de mhuinntir a’ bhaile gun taigh agus iomagain orra fhèin. Thuirt iad ris an teaghlach gun robh dùil aig muinntir a’ bhaile a dhol a-mach anns a’ mhadainn dha lorg – bha an t-sìde ro dhona airson feuchainn a-mach an oidhche sin fhèin. Bha eagal air an teaghlach agus gun càil a dh’fhios aca dè bha air tachairt ris…
Chum Dòmhnall air an t-slighe a bha an t-saigh ag iarraidh gus am faca e solas agus rinn e air an t-solas. Cha robh fios cò as a bha an t-solas a’ tighinn, ach mu dheireadh thall thàinig e a-steach ann an Dail bho Thuath. Bha e as dèidh ochd uairean air an oidhche mus do ràinig e dhachaigh – agus e air a bhith air falbh bhon taigh còrr air deich uairean a thìde. Cha robh mòran dòchais aig a theaghlach gum faigheadh e dhachaigh sàbhailte agus gu deimhinn cha mhòr nach do chaill e a bheatha anns an stoirm sin. Chaill e a h-uile tè de na 33 caoraich a bha aige air a’ mhointeach, agus dìreach na h-uain a bha aige aig an taigh air fhàgail aige. Ged a bha sin duilich dha, dh’fhaodadh cuisean a bhith air a bhith tòrr mòr nas miosa. Abair gun robh an t-saigh glic agus fios aice dè an t-slighe dhachaigh a dh’aindeoin cho dona ’s a bha an t-sìde.
English Summary:
The storm of 1955 saw the worst snow to hit North Lewis with snow lying up to the height of the houses in the district. Donald Mackay's sheep were on the moor but he had to wait two days before he could set off to fetch them back to the village. First thing in the morning and with his faithful dog accompanying him he set off. They were on Sheep's Hill in North Dell when heavy snow began to fall. Although visibility was poor, Donald felt he knew the way, but the dog refused to follow him and in the end Donald had no choice but to go the route the dog favoured.
At home the family were concerned for his safety as he had not returned in the early afternoon as expected. The villagers were also concerned and would go out in the morning to search - the evening's weather was too dangerous to go out in. Family and friends feared the worst.
Meanwhile Donald continued to follow the dog's lead and eventually saw a light which he headed towards despite not knowing where it came from. Eventually he came into North Dell and after 8pm at night arrived safely home - having left his home over 10 hours before. He was almost killed in the storm and had the dog to thank for bringing him safely home. All 33 of his sheep died on the moor, but the price could have very much greater.
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