Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-11-16
FATHER M,MAHoN.
HIS Experience i'm Canada as q
Sentenced Rentans


His Experience i'm Canada as a
Sentenced Renkan.
On Thursday evening, tne 18th inst.
the large nall in Cooper Institute,
New York, was crowded by the friends of
ireland to listen TO state ment of The
the Rev. Father McMahon, whom the
public win remember as the Catholic
priest who accompanied, as chaplain, the
expedition of Gen. O'NeiH to Canada, and
was captured and imprisoned by the Cana
dian authorities. Mayor Hall presided,
and brief speeches were made by Horace
Greeley, Richard O'Gorman,- and others.
In reference to Father Mcmahon, when
he was introduced to the meeting, the
Tribune says
"Cheer followed cheer, the ladies mean
while waving their handkerchiefs with
delight. When silence wss restored the
reverend gentleman slowly advanced 10
the front of the platform, apparently very
weak, and speaking in feeble and almost
inaudible voice, returned his thanks for
the welcome and kindness which had been
extended to him. He presumed the audi
ence were not unacquainted with his i'm
prisonment and the treatment by which il
was characterized. He was still weak,
and on that account the Secretary would
read his statement But he would say
that he entertained no hatred or iH-Will to
the people of Canada Let the tale of his
sufferings be laid aside. Their recital
would be painful TO both the audience and
himself. As Catholic priest he forgave
the cruel treatment he received from the
officers of British prison. But ne would
say that he was present on the occasion of
his arrest merely by chance. Who would
see the bleeding soldiers lying on the field
and not soOthe their last moments with
words of hope and consolation VINO
were more honorable than soldiers2 And
that was the crime with which he was
charged. He attended the dying soldiers
on the battlefield, and if he were to blame
he would leave it to the community.
she attended the British as well as the
Fenian sOldiers-ninety men belonging to /
the British army and thirty of the Fenians.
He did his duty. [Cheers. Why should
he be blamed for dong his dutyl A
priest must do his duty. No matter what
the danger may be, a priest must venture
his life to save souls, with the help of
God. No matter what the persecution
may be-the cruelties, the barbarism-
his duty must be done. He would not
now recount the history of his sufferings,
but, under similar circumstances. he would
do the same thing over again Cheers 7 |
He stood upon the battlefield. 1t was
wellknown to both armies, and through
out the engagement he was ON both sides
When he saw soldier fall he did not ask
what he was. He merely attended the
dying his duty, and nothing more
He was at present under the care of ply |
sicians, and was obliged to follow their |
God only knew how long
that might be. He trusted the audience |
would indulge him by allowing the Secre-
taTy to read his statement
''Alr. DAILY then proceeded to read from
some facts relating to the |
Fenian raid the accidental presence of
Rev. Mr.. Mcmahon at the Ridgeway en-
accidental, since by leave of /
the Bishop of his diocese he was proceed
ing at the time to Montreal to settle the
affairs of his deceased brother The state
nent further set forth his clerical duties on
he battlefield, his arrest, trial and i'm
Toronto jail. On first en-
ering that institution he was placed in an
ce bath one hour, which necessitated his
,oing to the hospital. 1t further COM
blamed of the great injustice of his trial,
md his being condemned to suffer capital
punishment five weeks after his cOnvic-
ion of participation in the raid He was
hurried back to prison, where he was al
most starved to death by the Wretched
,OOd administered to him. His cell, eight /
ieet long and 2S inches wide, was infested
with rats and vermin, and altogether his
treatment was of the most barbarie
character. On one occasion. in
winter, he was forced into a cold
water bath and kept there almost
IN hour in the presence of English off
GERS, their language and insults being of
he grossest description. He was tried on
three counts. First, with being an Ameri-
can citizen second, with being an
American citizen who went to Canada to
evy war, and third, he was found to go
with eyil-dispOsed persons in Canada. To
.he first count he pleaded guilty cheers |
to the second he showed that he merely |
went to settle the affairs of his deceased
brother, and as regarded the third be had
proved that he had only exercised the du-
lies of Christian minister" Cheers.
FatherMcMahOn, it will be remembered,
was at first senteRcedt to be executed; sub
his sentence was commuted to
for life; and finally he re
ceiYed full pardon.