The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-07-29
THE LATE GENERAL MBA CHRR.
Particulars OF HIS Death.

Particulars Of His Death.
"A private letter from Montana Territory
oeted virginia City, July 6, gives the following
account Of the death of General Meagher;--
., HE was at Fort Benton, waiting for the arms
sne government sent up. he arrived there on
[ne lst OF July, having ridden thirty miles on
noTseoack In the hot sun on that day. he spent
~ afternoon in conversation and letterWrltlng,
" retired early to his berth on board the
aeamboat g. A. Thompson. There was no rail-
ing on the guards opposite his state-room door,
II having been broken off in Some way. ABOUT
10 O'Clock at night he went on the guards. Here,
IT Is supposed, he stumbled on coil OF rope,
lost his balance, and was preclpitated over the
siue oi the boat The river rs az. gresasy eau sTolen
has no chance in it. 1t is stated that he called
for help, when the deck hands ran with their
lights and saw him floating away. There was
no boat ready. Everything appears to have been
confusion and excitement | have received
charming letter that he wrote me, late that
afternoon (his last on earthl, telling me that he
hoped to start for home by the last of the week,
so that he evidently had no presentlment of his
dreadful fate. A gentleman who was
in his company for over an hour late in the
afternoon, before the accident occurred, has IN
formed me of most OF the circumstances of his
last hours in this life, as / state them to you.
fear that his remains will never be recovered,
though the citizens OF Montana are making every
effort to find them"
A Virginia City paper adds the following in
teresting PARTICULARS
morning, the passengers by stage from Fort Ben.
ton brought the thrilling and very sad news of
the untimely death of General Thomas Francis
MeagheT. He went on board of the steamer
g. A. Thompson, lying at the leyee, to spend
the evening and night OF the 1st inst He was
heard TO get up from his couch during the night
and go out of his state room on to the guards.
Upon hearing splashng sound in the water
the passengers rushed out to find that one who
had stood foremost among the few truly brilliant
men OF our country, and he who had taken so
prominent part in the administrative affairs Of
our Territory, winning all hearts by his noble
ness of nature and purpose-had been swept
down the terrible torrent perhaps never again
to be recovered even in death. All efforts
to recover his body had, up to the leaving
OF the coach, proved fruitless. This is bereave-
ment in which not only those near and dear to
the deceased will be bowed down with irrepres-
slble grief but many, very many of his fellow
citizens and his fellow-countrymen throughout
the land Will most sincerely mourn. We regret
that circumstances prevent our dwelling upon
this most lamentable calamity In words which
we feel to be due to the occasion-but we must
leave this to another time. 0 II profound and
heartfelt sympathies go forth in coincidence to
that adored wife and noble lady who, more
than all the rest, must suffer the shock of this
most sad and unwecome intelligence"
The authorities and people of Montana have
been paying the highest tributes of respect to
the memory of their lost fellow-citizen. Gov
ernor Green Clay Smith has issued the following
proclamation:-
HELENA, M. T., July 3.-Whereas, 1t has
pleased Almighty God to take from us by acci-
dent our esteemed friend, Secretary Qate Acting
Governor) Thomas Francis Meagher, who was
drowned at Fort Benton on the night of the lst
instant, by falling from the steamer G. A.
Thompson,
Now therefore, I, Green Clay Smith, Governor
of the Territory of Montana. do direct that the
headquarters of the military which were esta-
blished under his direction and authority in the
various districts of the Territory be draDed in
mourning for thirty days.
further request that the offices of the Federal
officers of the Territory be likewise draped IN
mourning for the same length of time.
1t is but due to the memory of our deceased
friend and fellow officer, that we should hold
him in fond remembrance. He was a man of
high social qualities, great urbanity, high
order of intellect, brave soldier, true gentle
man, and an honor to his Territory and Govern
ment. This sad bereavement will be felt by
every one who had the pleasure otlhis acquaint-
ance throughout the Territory and the nation.
GREEN CLAY SMITH,
Governor of Montana Territory.