The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-08-06

BUENos AYREs.-A correspondent of the
Dublin Nation writing under date of the
2sth May gives the following interesting
news items: -.
Last February we lost tho good old man
to whom the Irish in Buenos Ayres owe
everything. Wherever Irishmen live, the
name of Father Fahy was known and
cherished. A more genuine patriot or bet
ter priest never left the.shores of Ireland !;
nor has she one Whose virtues and worth
cast back higher encomium on the land
of his birth. When he landed here, TWEEN
ty six years ago, the Irish held neither po-
sition nor influence; but he gradually
moulded them to higher hopes aud more
ambitious tastes, than to toll away their
lives, peones in the saladeros. Many n one
of them he actually forced in the positions
which leave them, to-day, millionaires.
He induced young priests to cone to his
assistance, until now every district in Bue-
nos Ayres has an Irish chaplain. He
brought out Irish Sisters Of Mercy, and
through them established schools. orphan
ages, and hospitals, at q personal expense
which could not be less than 100000. The
country is studied over with estates of
Irishmen. and the success of our country
men here is almost entirely due to the ex-
ertions of Father Fahy.
At the time of Father Fahy's death,
yellow fever had been making it's ap-
pearance. During the months of March
and April it carried off victims in such
numbers that we still fear to consult the
death-roll. The papers say that over 1OO,-
600 inhabitants fled the city, and of those
who would not or could not leave, 26,OOO
have been carried off. Everything was at
q stand-still. All offices closed, govern
ment houses deserted, shops closed, and
only priests, doctors, undertakers, nd
gravediggers having anything to do.
Hearses blocked up the streets. and among
the people of Buenos Ayres, unaccustomed
to such visitations, the terror was indie
scribable. According to the papers, over
sixty clergymen have paid with their lives
their devotedness to their sacred trust. A
large number of the doctors fell victims
also. Thank God the Irish community
escaped best. There were four Irish
priests, Father Leahy, Dillon, M'Namara:
and Kirwan, continually under fire, and all
escaped most miracu ously. The Irish
Sisters were to be met with everywhere.
and though a largo number of them we've
struck down, their community has no
death to lament.
l must not forget to notice a piece of
shabby English bigotry we were treated to.
During tho first days of the pestlence
subscription list was opened to meet the
wants the fever might cause among the
Bristish' subjects. No one thought of
political or religious interference at the
time, but when 10000 dollars had been
collected, it was discovered that the Irish
were not British subjects. Father Leahy
published letter which won him the APP
probation and sympathies of all, except
the few bigots. A separate fund was start
ed, and must lay generously supported
by the respectable English and Scotch, as
much as by the Irish themselves. The
Irish fund aust have gone to about $50, 900.
AS far as money went there was no lack.
But the country had suffered severe
check 90, 900 ciLizens lost To new coun-
try, damp on it's extraordinary progress,
immigration paralysed, the prestige of the
country lost, and it's name changed from
Buenos to Malos Ayres.