The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-22
sER0EANrMAJOR MCCARTHY.
Death OF freshman whose Sentence Of
Death for Fenisnism was Conmuted.


A cable despatch was received In Now
York last wednesday. from Dublin announcing
the death Of Sergt. Major Charles Mccarthy.
one Of thc recently released FSnian prisone r
Saturday before, and whose enthusiastic rocep-
tion, is described in the papers. He died sud
rison's Hotel whore he had gone. with tho
other three pris2ners. t3 breakfast viii, mr.. g.
Mccarthy was born in Fermoy. county. Cork
He entered the British army as a private sol
dier. He WAS sent to the Crimea. where his
promotion o nv iTg participated In almost ali
thc rrcqi battles of that war. and was
diatcly after the Conclusion Of pence his
regiment, in which he then :, held tho
rank Of sergeant, was, sent to India. and the
great Sepoy rebellion broke out. During this
struggle Mccarthy won fresh distinction. and
was, once seriously wounded; He was decor
atcd with tho Victoria Cross for extraordinary
bravery. and recommended for commisssiion
but a characteristic incident prevented It. llav-
ing been detailcd, for 4 storming party at the
siege Of Jhans Mccarthy and those who were
TO face death on the morrow passed the greater
part Of the previous evening sitting around a
They were Irish almost TO a man. and rs they
thought OF the morrow their minds went back
to tho old land, and soon the songs began TO
assume n positively reasonable tone McCnr-
thy had sung My Emmct's No More" and was
called upon "a second time. the men standing up
proved Mccarthy and demanded an explana-
ton. we won't light any tie worse Tor Eng
land tomorrow. sir" said Mccarthy. by re-
memberng we are 1rishmcn tonight. Our
first allegiance is to Ireland"
Mccarthy went home to Ireland color SER
geant in the Fitty-nlnth foot. and at the time Of
the Fenian excitement was stationed at Carrick-
on-Suir He threw himself into the movement
heart and soul He sworc into the conspiracy
nearly half his regiment, and got skeleton keys
made to open the armory II was time Of deep
excitement. and men OF higher rank than Me-
earthly were more than suspected OF wavering
in their allegiance. Entrapped by II spy. a head
constable in the .constabulary named Talbot
thy gave him his confidence and was arrested.
Tho trial showed that Carrick- SUR and
Clonmcl, two very important and strategic po-
sitions. were about to be placed in the hands OF
the insurgents almost without blow. and this
taken in connection with the too apparent fact
that the whole army in Ireland was honey
cOmbed with EennnlSm. alarmed the Govern
mcnt, and induced them to take the meas
ures which ultimately led TO tho utter
mcnt. Mccarthy with about twenty otn-
crs from various regiments and all arms Of
the service. WAS sentenced to be shot. while u
larger number were sentenced to short terms Of
Imprisonment and Il larger number still cs
capped 10y deserving. The sentence was after
ward commuted to penal s"ryitude for life and
Mccarthy passed the remainder OF the time. un-
til his release. in Portland. DartmOor. and
Chatham convict establishments.
An cN-polltical prisoner. who visited Nc
Calthy in Chatham Prison three months ago.
stated that he WAS then looking prcmaturely
Old and was suffering from the loss of his teeth.
"A privaion of which all the prisoners have COM
planned moro or less on their Release. They at
tribute II to the prison food.