The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-07-06
'ARCHRIsnOP PURCELL's DEATH.
Closing Moments OF an EVentfuI Life
Brief Biographical sketch.


Brief Biographical sketch.
CINCINNATI, July Bishop Elder arriv'
ed to-day from the death.bed Of Arch.
bishop Purcell. The reaction OF yesterday
was slight, but Rev. DR.. Callahan, the
faithful Secretary Of the Archbishop, who
was constantly by his side, was greatly re-
ioiced at the signs OF returning conscious
ness. They did not include the power to
converse, as the Atchbishop'g tongue had
been atilled by paralysis. he was able,
however, to give some tokens OF recognition
tohis friends. His death at l:45 this morning
was peaceful and apparently without phyE-
ical pain. Slight commissions appeared to-
ward the end, and in one Of these he
passed away. At his bedside were Bishop
Elder, his coadjutor and successor; Rev.
DR.. J. f. Callahan, DR.. Hecht, OF the
Cleveland Seminary; Father J. ]. 0'Dono.
hue, Of Dayton; Father Michael 0'Dono-
hue, OF Wilmington, and four Sisters Of the
Unsuline Convent, where His Grace has
been in retirement since he quilted the
Cathedral residence. s,r y
The body will be embalmed and brought
to this city tomorrow afternoon, where it
will lie in state in one OF the rooms OF the
Cathedral residence until Monday, when it
will be taken into the Cathedral. The
funeral services will be held on Wednes.
day at 9 AM, and the burial will take
place at St. Martins, where his mother,
brother and sister are buried,
Archbishop Purcell was past eighty
three years and is native of county Cork,
Ireland. He studied for the Catholic
priesthood in his native land at Mount st.
Mary's, Emettsburg, Nd, and at St. Sui.
pice, Paris. From the time OF his ordina-
ton, in 1925, till 1888 he was Professor and
President Of Mount st. Mary's, the Alma
Mater OF some OF the most distinguished
American Catholic clergyrnen. In 1888
he was made Bishop or the diocese Of DIN.
cinnati. Acurious story Is told OF his ap.
pointment as Bishop. At the time that
the See OF Cincinnati became vacant
through the death Of Bishop Fenwich
Bishop England, Of Charleston, S. g., was
in Rome. Bishop England was busy,
bustling little man, much esteemed at
Rome, where he was called episcopus M.
pore,s-the steam bishop. About the
same time coadjutor was wanted by the
Bishop OF New York.
AcHAEGE OF NAMES,
Bishop England thought to recommend
two young Irish priests having an especial
fitness for the vacancies, namely, the rough
and ready John Hughes for the new West
ern diocese OF Cincinnati, and the elegant
scholar and gentleman, John Baptist Pur.
cell, for the metropolis Of New York. In
a few days the Propaganda notified Bishop
England that, according to his recommen-
dation, Father Purcell had been named
Bishop OF Cincinnati, but that the appoint.
ment Of Father Hughes would be deferred.
Bishop England at first thought to reciify
the error, but concluded that perhaps
had wrought wise confusion.
Father Purcell was consecrated, and FIVE
years later Father Hughes was made Assist
ant Bishop OF New York. But for the mis-
take OF the Propaganda Archbishop Purcell
would to-day have been the American
Cardinal.
HIS LABoRs IN MS DIOCESE.
Bishop Purcell soon became one Of the
rising men Of the Catholic Church, and
proved himself equal 10 the hard work OF
his diocese, which then comprised the en-
tire State Of 0kio. IL ,es.
IA first won reputation as controver-
salist by flooring ex. President John Quincy
Adams and Alexander Campbell, founder
OF the Christians or Disciples.
In 1850 the See Of Cincinnati was raised
to an archbishopric, with Archbishop Pur-
cell as metropolitan OF the diocese OF Ohio,
Indiana, Kentucky and Michigan.
During the civil war Archbishop Purcell
was astrong advocate oi the Union, and
since has been very open in his adhesion
to the Republican party, without, however,
taking part in politics. He was at the
Council OF the Vatican in 1869, and 1t Is
said was opposed to the promulgation OF
the dogma Of infallibility.
10 THE CRASH.
In 1879 he wished to resign, but before
the request reached Rome the financial
troubles came on, and he found himself
burdened with debt OF 100000, every
thing he had taken away and the Church
property which he held in trust put in
jeopardy. The failure crushed him, and
he retired to the Ursuline Convent at St.
Brown county, Ohio, where he
has lived. q hopeless paralytic, barely able
to RECOGNIZES the few friends who admins
tered to his declining days.
AuoPELEss MUDDLE.
1t is now four years since the gigantic
failure Of the Purcells, and the affair is as
much muddled as ever. All the property
held by the Archbishop has been turned
over to John B. Mannix, the assignee, and
the creditors have organized to secure their
claims. The property assigned consists Of
notes and personal property, besides nearly
all the Catholic churches and institutions
in the diocese. The property, II brought
under the hammer, would more than cover
the 81, 900, 900 involved. @
TIE ARcHBlsueP's WILL.
at is my will that all my property, real,
personal and mixed, which l hold in fee
simple, in my own name Of personal right,
or as trustee for the Church, with the ex.
ccption, OF course, Of what snail be neces-
ssrY for the payment Of my Just debts, con-
trac,ed as they have been for the beneti /
Of religion; aud with the further exception
OF three suits OF vestments, 100 volumes OF
my books and $1,000 to my brother, and
as many to my mother, or, in case Of her
death 10 my sister Catherine, for my broth.
er never drew his salary, but left It all for
the Church, most faithfully ana disinter-
estedly, always living simply and eco.
nomicaily. earnestly recommend
TO my successor, duly and canonically
appointed and consecrated, paternal care