The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-04
A FAMlLY'S FATE.
EXTRAORDINARY YArAL1rx-YouR MEMBERS OF

EXTRAORDINARY FArALIrY-FoUR MEMBERS OF
FAMILY DIE WITHIN MONTHS TIME.
A little two weeks ago there was a happy home
at No. II Orchard street. Michael Degnan and his wife
Catherine had lived for seventeen years in this little
house, OF which they occupied only very modest
part With them lived MichaePs parents. Patrick
Dcgnan, his fathor, was snowy-haired patr'arcn
OF eighty-two and Patrck's wife had seen seventy
eight winters. Michael Desnan. their son, was ON.
pioyed in the prcssroom OF the HERALD. a position
IN which hts industry, fathfuIness aud sobrieiy
had gained him tho respect OF all his asso-
ciates. He had been some thirty years In this
country. Some twontygve years ago he wrote 10 bis
father aud mother in ireland 10 come over ana make
their future homo with him; and so thoy came, ana
for the last seventeen years they had lived together
in their humble, but neat and respectable ABODE
in Orchard street. But not they alone! the mouse
would have been cheeriess ono al best without inc
smiling prattle of q child to tighten II up Old Patrick
Dcgnan had the happiness TO have granddaughter
MARY Amy born to him. child who now, at the age
Of sxeon tho loss OF all her nearest protec-
tors and guardians upon Garth. This was then inc
happy circle OF threo weeks ago-Patrck DeRnan and
his wife Catherine, the first eghtytwo and the SECOND
seventy eight; their sou Michael aythree; his VILE
Catherine, .dvc and their only child Mary Ann
delicate girl OF sixteen.
Tnn FIRST DEATH.
First came natural feebeness and old age to break
up this homo The first one TO "ao' was old Patrick.
lie mad been remarkable picture Of hale, hearty,
green old age He was proud Of his straight carriage ana
he received the hearty compliments OF all the neigh
pors. Only little over three weeks ago he was taken
III, aud alter barely a weeks confinement 10 bed,
nature, which had exhausted her forces, gave up
the struggle, and death peacefully and calmly held
It's sway. Catherine, the faithful vile, had watched
her husbands bedside tenderly and faithfully, aud
whcn Friday morning, the 18th OF January ne
breatned ms last. she mounuiy predicted 70 aes son
Michael, who stood by at this SAD midnight dcatn
scene her own speedy end
TIM SECOND DEATH.
The day only halt an hour OLD when old Patrick
yejoined mis- Maker, and the good old woman VINO had
bsen his siaunch and courageous helpmcot Tor these
long nifty seven years not long in making 10 her
mind 70 follow him. Before that day was over--at
O'CLOCK on the evening OF this very same lStn
OF January-anotner corpse laid BY Patricks side
BY the lrein bling hands Of the stricken son, Michael
Tho old couple werc buried on the Same day. Sunday
the 10th, in Calvary Cemetery
THE THIRD VICTIM.
II was a grevous spectacle ~ see Michael and his
loving vito at this double funeral, ana those that oh.
neither could ouIve this shock very long. Mchaels
wife grown deeply fond OF the old couple In watch
Ing and tending them during so many years ana easing
their parting hours Her sorrow sincere and pro-
found She her husband, whose flla affection was
marked characteristic OF ms sturdy and rugged,
down by tho cruel loss OF both his parents and could
but share the pang OF his hopeless atliicton In
nursing tho old couple she had passed scepless nights
at their bedside ana mprudentIy exposed herself TO
cold laid upon the fatal bed Of illness,
ana partly from tue effects OF the Shock partly from
the exhaustion which supervened from her exposure,
she died thirteen days alter Thursday last 3lst OF
January, at ton O'Clock IN the morning. She was only
fty-nve years old, and had IL not been for tho
cedng deaths OF her husbands parents thirteen days
before Michael's vile, who came OF long lived stock,
mi. ht probably have lived yet many year. Her
death was not cain and peaceful like that Of the de-
parted couple but attended with painful struggles,
and the agony Of these narrowing death.bed hours
struck with such crushing force every sympathetic
fibre Of hcr husbands nature rs to leave but little
doubt as the result. On Saturday last, February
l. Michael's VITO Inferred IN Calvary Cemetery.
Michael had now lost all he loved upon earth except
his daughter and she just ut time Of lie when
she than ever needed his strong helping hand
and paternai guidance
TnB FOURTH AND LAST
But his system was not strong enough 10 with
stand this trIpIo blow For tho last six years his
constitution had been undermined by an affection OF
the heart which had caused HIM no little trouble,
and IN this condition what he had most to fear was
the excitement OF any sudden shock. On the way 10
unmisakably that no thoroughly broken
hearted ole did not cry al all, said one OF
tho female irionds Of the family yesterday; "he
seemed ali PEACEFUL"
sWhen they lowered his we's body into the grave,
said the same informant, ~ noticed that great
change came him ne got perfectly white IN the
face And when tho first shovelui Of Garth fell
And still no preserved perfect silence aud apparent
eQuapimity. Not a cry, not sob escaped his lips
He home IRON the funeral With his daughter
O'Clock the evcoing, and had been home
Just minutes when suddenly uttefing SHREK tie
iel back In his chair He speechless and uncon-
sc,ous until no died, ten minutes later. He Will he
buried this afternoon. at Two O'Clock, In Calvary
Cemetery by the side OF those he loved SO weli-hs
father, mother aud wife. HIS child will be cared for
bv