The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1873-02-06

VINO can tCll TIC Shu w "
now rolling in wealth and affluence
who are perched, as it were, upon tn
very pinnacle of fame, surrounded b.
everything the heart can desire, and en-
dowed by nature and education will
every qualification to enjoy your bless
ings-can you tell when, where ant
under what circumstances you may die
Is it not possible that your body, clothed
in rags, may not give up its life in some
dirty hole where swine would dlsdall
tb crawl? The death of Edward Nc
Shane is sufficient proof that all of this
is possible.
Only short time ago filthy, ragged
I old man was found dying, or dead, in
wretched shed dignifed with the name
of addition" to a howell in West Kan.
sas, occupied by one our most degraded
and notorious colored reprobates,
"Burnt-faced" Mary. 1t was "old Mack,
the red-headed peddler," who has been
a familiar, though by no means pleas,
ing object around the Union depot for
the past year and half. His was the
terrible fate of the drunkard-delirium
tremens, aided by want and exposure,
being the cause Of his death. The re-
mains were thrown into rude box,
placed in an express wagon, and, unac-
companied, save by the grave-dlgger,
were carted to the potter's field and
there buried without ceremony.
That man had once been gentleman
of polish and education: had filled prom
inent positions both in this country and
the old; had enjoyed the blessings of
a happy family, and been worth half a
million dollars
One cold, rainy, bitter night, the
Rev. Father Dalton was called up with
the information that old Mack was dy-
ing and wanted to see him, and the
priestleft his comfortable room, and was
soon beside the pitiful object Of Ed
ward McShane, lying upon the dirt
floor of the old shed alluded to. The
rain leaked through the roof; the wind
whistled through the openings in the
walls, and a more desoate and wretched
scene could not we'll be imagined.
When Father Dalton entered McShane
addressed him in Latin, which he could
speak huently, and before the priest left
the dying man gave him brief out
line of his history. To the reverend
gentleman we are indebted for the fol-
lowing facts in connection with the
man who, few hours afterwards, died
such miserable death:
Edward McShanc was born in Ire
land, and was at the time of his death |
verging on 60 years of age. He was
intended for the church, and his educa-
ton was most thorough and complete.
He was graduate of Carlo University,
one of the most famous institutions of
learning III Ireland, and was class
mate Of Right Reverend Bishop Ryan,
of st. Lolis, and several other distin-
guished persons, and studied under
Doctors Cahi! and Doyle, two of the
most eminent Irish scholars. He could
speak Latin like Cicero, and was re-
we'll versed in Hebrew, Greek
and all the languages, arts, sciences,
theology, chemistry, history, etc. But
McShane had one besetting sin that
seemed to predominant over his whole
mind and every impulse of his being
lntemperance. For this he was expelled
from the church, and came to this coun-
try in disgrace. But he had not yet
fallen so low that man of his vast
requirements and profound knowledge
could not obtain honorable and lucra.
tive positions. He filled eminent posi-
lions for some years as professor of the
different branches in various Eastern
colleges, and finally came West and
settled in Lacrosse, Wisconsin. Here
re was twice elected Judge of the
Probate Court, and during all these
years had amassed a fortune of about
lalf million of dollars McShane
lad certificates of election and other
documents to prove these statements
lpon him when he died. But the de-
non Alcohol had been binding his
eashes closer about his victim, and af.
er his second term of judseship Nc
Shane gaye himself up to his master
md was q confirmed inebriate. His
wife, On that account, obtained a d.
1orce from him, and afterwards, as he
stated to the Reverend Father, while
re was under the influence of drugged
liquors, got him to transfer all of his
property to her. Continuing in his be-
Gifted career, he was then turned away
with but one thing in the !
yorld-a morbid ALWAYS gro vino :