Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-09-26
THE DEATH OF GEORGE r. PHELAN,

Alter brave struggle Of many years with
consumption, the enemy which never tails
to conquer, and after much suffering and
long lowering between hope and despair,
George z. Phelan died at his residence, in
death was not unexpected, as nothing but his
iron will and resolute determination have
kept him alive for the past three months.
The deceased was born at Tuscaloosa, Ala,
and was about thirty-five years of age. he
descended from the first families OF the
South. His father was the late James
Phelsn, of this city, a senator in the Con-
Tolerate Congress, and his mother was Mrs
Moore, a member of one of the oldest, mott
talented and highly respectable families OF
Alabama. 1t is impossible to give correct
analysis of the genius and character OF this
man. He had grand aspirations, and
his life from his boyhood up TO
six months ago, wheu he returned home 10
die, is full of adventure and romance. OF
Irish descent on his fathers side. his young
brave heart deeply sympathized with the
wrongs of Ireland, and when boy he stole
away to Ireland and was prominent in or
gsnizing the Fenian movement. He crossed
the ocean twice before he reached his major
ity, and in the hope of restoring his shattered
health he exiled himself amid the wilds of
Texas, Mexico and Colorado. George Il.
PheIan was composed If the stuff OF which
heroes are M ade. He was the very incarna-
ton of perseverance,. With iron resolution,
he set his aim before him, and no difficulty
could discourage him. Ills Life was almost
a continuous living tragedy in its fierce fight
with disease. Nothing but his strong will
kept alive the weak and emaciated body. He
had the qualities Of commander, and would
have been great in perilous times, Tor what
would have been TO other men depres-
sion, would have been to him in
SEPARATION. He was fearless and aggressive,
and a strong man as the leader of any Cause.
His mind was brilliant, his fancy was
fervid, he was eloquent and forcible as
speaker, and as a writer he had but few
superiors. The artistic delineation of his
nomenclature; his arrangement Of words; his
construction of sentences, the darling fierce
ness with which he shot his satire, ridicu's
and arguments in his communications to the
public always attracted attention. He had
great fertility of Imagination, and with p
natural talent for study he never knew the
cruel necessity of forsaking his favorite par
suits to earn livelihood. Moved by rest
less desire TO know everything, he had
ample leisure TO explore any branch OF
human inquiry which might allure him.
His mind was enriched by foreign
travels, and TO other rare gifts was
added wonderful memory, which
made his mind vast treasure-house in
which were stored rare gems, original ideas,
other mems thoughts, and the brie-a-brac OF
the literature Of other nations. Had he been
blessed with perfect health he would have
easily placed his name in the pantheon OF
fame. The constant gnawiug OF disease often
made him irsscible, but he bore his extraor-
binary sufferings with more than usual forti-
tude II is melancholy thing to see one so
gifted have life so brief. He was an ac-
complished lawyer, and but for the loss OF
his health he would have been eminent in
his profession. We knew him we'll and loved
him with the tenderness of a father, and
deeply sympathize with the wife and children
whom he loved so tenderly.
llzz.n.1........