The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-28
PRICE THREE CENTS.
DYING FAR FROM HIS HOME.
THE HEIR TO LANDED ESTATES SERv-
ING As 4 PRTT.:TE SOLDIER.
Francis Csiiahsn's Departure from hts Faith
er's Homc-OT 90 America Spree
Ills Death In the Fort Miiictts Barracks.


Francis C,iiahsn's Departure from, hi. FAITH
er's IIomc-On 90 America on "a Spree
His Death In the Fort Wiiictts Barracks.
Private Francis Callahan did not respond
to tho roll call at Fort Willctts last Thursday
morning This wns unusual. for ho was a
punctual soldier. He was found on his bed In
the barracks unconscious. and he soon
died. bottle containing hydrate OF
chlora. and his habits told the story OF his
death. Tomorrow his family. who live on
great estates in Ireland. will get tho telegram
announcing his death. and they will receive
only the body ofthe son and heir. whose return
they have awaited for five years. Callahan.
though private in the United States Engineer
Corps. was the heir TO these estates in Ireland.
and might have enjoyed them for the last five
years ms he had all his life before. instead OF
submitting to army discipline.
The Callahan estates are in the south OF Ire-
land. and extend into the beautiful country that
lies west Of Cork. The family is titled one.
though the title is now borne by collateral
branch. Callnhan's father served the Queen as
an officer of her navy. and saw service several
times. He retired scme years ago with the
rank Of Captain. and has spent his days upon
his estates.
Francis was tendory trained md well edu-
Gated. He wns II handsome man. tall and
snewy. with the smallest hand Of any soldier
in Fort Willctts, light hair and blue eyes and
u beard that was soft and never unkempt In
1873. during irolic. he boarded steamship
of Queenstown and Journeycd 10 this coun-
try. He was then 22 years old. and expected
York. But he stayed in New York until his money
was all gone. He had lived riotously. and with
out realizing what he WIS doing he enlisted in
the United Stntcs army for five years. There Is
little doubt that through the Influence he might
have obtained in England his discharge might
have been obtained, and tho opportunities for
descrtion were frequent. but Callahan resisted
the cntrcatics Of his friends. He frequently
said that he had enlisted. and would serve his
time like a man. and felt that the discipline
might be- just what he needed to make man OF
hun. Az he would not return, the family So
lcitor In Cork sent him regularly remittances.
generally OF 500. but sometimes larger amounts.
Callahan thought TINT hls army life would help
him cOnquerhs fondncss for liquor. With this
determination he stuck to the army. and soon
showed to the officers that he was q man OF SUI
n"rior parts Me m was assigned to tho Engineer
officers as one of III" most faithful and inteli-
gent OF thcir command. Accustomed to order
his servants at home, they say he never hesi-
tatrd when commanded, nor grumbed at any
duty.
drink. and the intervals between his sprees be-
came so long that he felt confident of ultimate
victory II was while trying TO get the better OF
this passion that hr lenrned OF the drug that
caused his death, and unconsciously he got to
relying upon 1t.
by july and he was looking forward with great
pleasure to his reunion with his family. He
expected TO go home and settle down upon the
estates. and congratulated himself that he had
mastered many of the details OF army engineer
ing. few days ago he went to New York and
ordered from a fashionable English tailor a
suit of clothes ~ the latest style and most ex-
prnsive make. In this he expected TO present
himself TO his family and he put 1t carefully by.
Callahan probably drank the hydrate of chlo-
raj on Wednesday evening. He knew but little
about the druu and helped himself to it from
| the laboratory Of tho fort. He was accustomed
TO take 1t when the passion for Liquor came
upon him, or after he had INDUCED ii.
The body was taken to an undcrtaker's In
| Flushing. but the certificate of death caused
| the undertaken TO inform Coroner .Burne. who
will hold an inquest on Monday. The army
officers were not familiar with the law regard
| Ing the burial OF persons who died as Callahan
| did