Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1877-02-21
DEATH or JOHN O MAHONEY y
THE FENIAN IfiDEh.

Col. John O'Mahoney, the Fenian
leader whose exploits occupied a large
share Of public attention some ten
years ago, and who died in New York
in great poverty on the n, i,,ht of the
9th ult.. was born in Cork county, Ire
land, about 1920, and belonged 10 II
revolutionary family, his father and
his uncles being implicated in the ris.
ing Of 1898, and barely escaped hang
ing therefor. After receiving bis edu-
cation ut Trinity College, Dublin, he
removed to Tipperary, and in 1913 en-
listed in the unsuccessful Young Irish
movement Of that year led by Smith
O'Brien. Young OMaboney had in
hucnce enough to draw around HIM
about 1,500 OF the peasantry, who en-
camped on the Tipperary hills and
maintained their position for three
weeks, till being completely surround
ed by the military, the iutility of fur
ther resistance became apparent, and
they quietly dispersed. O'Mahoney
and some Of his friends escaped TO
France. and after residing there six
years, he emigrated 10 this country.
From the Carbonari and other secret
societies OF the Continent he learned
the art of organzaing secret pO.
litical bodies, which he put into
practice in this country. In conjunc.
tion with Corcoran and Doheny, he
worked quietly Tor several years in on
ganizing the Fcnian Brotherhood,
which finally assumed such proper.
tons that il held convention Ia Chi
cago in 1862 The great strength
which is there exhibited, together with
the tiery declaration Of principles pub.
lished by the convention, kindled all
the enthusiasm OF the Irish residing
in this country. Men and money flow.
cd in a constant stream, and at the
close of 1865. the Brotherhood nun.
bered over 800, 900 members, who con
ltrbuted SO ibcially that the annual
revenue OF the organization was then
estimated at S2,0lO.00O. Military com
panics were raised, balls and pic.
MICS were given, and all went on
swimmingly. The arrest Of the leaders
of the movement in Ireland in 1866
only gave fresh impetus TO the Broth
erhoOd here. John O'Mahoney had
been confirmed in the leadership By
the Chicago Convention, and the Mot
tat mansion, on East Seventh street,
New York was hired 10 serve him rs
an executive headquarters, and Fenian.
ism swiftly reached its highest tide.
mark The surroundings Of "Presi-
lnenti Mahoney were brilliant aud
attractive for short time. But be
fore long dissensions sprang up in the
Fcnian ranks, and in 1866, after con
vcntion held in New York, large sec
tion of the Brotherhood, under Col.
William r, Roberts separated from
Col. O'Mahoney, and founded that
party which was afterwards identified
with the Canadian raid. All was now
chaos, the money had melted away,
and, in 1865, John O'Mahoney, dis.
gnsted with the Fenians, resiged his
Head Centreship and retired to private
life until 1872, when be again consent.
ed TO assume the leadership Of the skel-
eton of the once formidable fenian
body--a leadership be continued ia
\ bold up TO the time Of his death Dur
ing the rebellion O'Mahoney assisted
in organizing the Corcoran Legion
which he commanded Tor three months
In appearance, OMahoney was for
merly very remarkable He wore his
back hair in long ringlcts, which part
cd at his shoulders and hung down to
his breast, in front At ono time he
became so devoted to spiritualsm that
his mind was deranged, and be wa:
confined for four months in q lunatiC
asylum.