Omaha daily bee., 1885-08-24
an Interview with Patrick EgaD Oh The
Condition Of ihG Irish League.
He Says Parnell will Visit Amer
lea in January Next.
Their Trip One Of Vast Import
anoe to the Irish Cause.
Miraculous Escape From Death by
DightnipR-rhe Fi'zgeraios Re-
turn-The Temperance Peo-
ple-Other Lincoln news.
AT THE CAPITAL.
A Talk WITH PATRICK EeAN.

called upon Hon. Patrick Egan who had
just returned from Chicago, where he attend.
ed q meeting of the executive committee OF
the Iri,h land league of this country. On
Wednesday last there appeared q special tele-
gram in the Chicago News reporting an edi-
torial from the New York News, in which IL
was alleged that the National Irish
league had degenerated into o political ma
chine and was, therefore,, virtually dead. The
article also charged that Mr.. Egan, at the In.
stance of Mr.: Alexander Sullivan, had, dur
ing the last campaign, issued a manifesto
calling upon Irishmen to vote for Blaine In
preference to Cleveland.
The above Is the substance of the New
York News article.
Mr.. Egan was found in lis business Office,
and when the reporter made known the object
OF his visit, wss told TO take q chair.
In answer to questions put him the gen
tleman said:
'The charge that the league was ever used
for political purposes is unfounded in fact. In
1871 l believe Mr.. Sullivan voted for Horace
Greeley, but after that was a democrat, and
up TO the lime of the Blaine nomination
Mr.. Sullivan's presidency of the National
League, and after Blaine's nomination
at Chicago in june, 1884, he took no part
whatever in politics, nor did he do so until
after August of the same year. Democrats
falsely charged that he was using the league
for political ends"
"buring my absence in Boston,
continued Mr.. Egan, the Democrat of
this city had several articles dealing with
my political WE'VE, although at the time 1 had
never written u line or uttered q word, except
in private conversation, what my views on
the subject were. l wrote a letter to the
paper, correcting its statements. The charge
tbak Cn1llyan ,lln1 the lanuIIA for nnlil ipai MR.
poses / repeat was absurd on the face Of 1t.
While in New York, l accepted the presi-
dency of the Irish National league of
America, and in accepting such position
rightly considered hat whatever my private
political opinion might be, L was thenceforth
precluded from taking any part in American
politics. / have accordingly taken no part
nor shalt 1 do so as long as [ hold my present
office. L positively affirm that | maintained
this p~lsition throughout the entire last presi-
dental campaign. Scores of psople came to
this office and asked for my advice, but l re-
fused to say anything upon political subjects
whatever"
In reply to a question about the assertion
OF the New York News that the League is
dead, M. Egan said:
uTnis is entirely q mistake. Several years
ago, when very large numbers of evictions
were going on in Ireland, the love of country
Ia every Irishman's heart was directly ap-
pealed to, and substantial aid when it was
needed was rendered. Contributions and
other help, of courae, then brought the league
more prominently before the people than
now, when such needs DO not exist in go great
q degree"
"What condition is the league in?'
"We hsve now nearly six hundred branches
scattered ever the country, and all of them, l
believe, will be in active working order at the
time the national convention decided upon at
our meeting in Chicago the other day is held,
which will bs come time next January"
The conversation then fell upon other topics
and Mr.. Egan was well sati,fied that every
thing would come out right in the end. Con
corning the prospective convention to be held
in Chicago, January next, the gentleman felt
confident that 1t would be the largest ever in
this country, possibly with the exception of
that OF 1881, in the same city.
Mr.. Egan had good reason to believe that
Parnell himself would be in attendance, for
he had promised some time ago to do 80. He
was at present In communication with MIR.
Parnell and would know in a short time def
nitely what his Intentions were. The Hon.
T. ID. Sullivan, of Dublin, was also n dis.
tinguished gentleman who was expected
to be at the convention. Upon the
lat of January Mr.. Sullivan will take his
seat as the lord mayor of Dublin, and should
he come it will be, 1t is thought, the first chief
executive of that city who has visited this
country while in office. One or two Others of
the Irish national party will cross the ocean.
A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.
During the storm Saturday night and while
vivid bolts Of lightning flashed across tho
heavens, a small one story cottage owned and
occupied by w. +. Andreas, q carpenter and
his family at No, 1888 p street, was struck
and almost totally demolished. There were
but four rooms ia the house which was nearly
square in shape. The bolt, o terrific one,
struck o chimney in the center of the roof,
diyerged TO the four corners OF the house, and
then desc nded alUng the studdipg to the
ground. The lath, pluste,ipg and walls were
stripped eff as though done Ky skilled work
men. There were seven persons in the house
at the time, Mr.. Andreas being absent In
the city. Ms. Andrea, confined
but three or four days before, lay 10 bed with
her infant within q foot and o halt of the
wall. The lath aud plaster and other debris,
"a the shock came. fell upon and covered her
from head to foot, but aside from the shock to
her nerves the lady was uninjured, as was also
the baby. The other five occupants were
unharmed. When it is considered that the
house Ia but 22x2i feet in size, and is almost
entirely demolished, any other theory of the
escape of the inmates than by the hand OF dl.
vine Providence would be foolish and absurd.
The loss leaves Mr.. Andres destitute. as
there was no insurance on the place, which he
had but Just completed. The BEE heartily
suggests that here Is n case Tor sons practical
benevolence among the people OF this city.
It would be TIE proper thing for some chart
table person to circulate q subscription In
benefit Of these people, and some one Will
undoubtedly do so.
THE CoNQUKRERs RETURN.
Victorious and wreathed in smiles and sur-
mounted by new brooms, the FITZGERALD hose
team entered Lincoln Saturday afternoon at
$3.50 o'clo x from the state tournament az
Grand Island. A short time before the arri
val of the train the Metropolitan band,
headed by Hon. John Fitzgerald, the mayor,
and several city councilmen, marched through
the streets to meet the returning heroes.
When they alIghted, and after numerous
CONGRATULATIONS, the procession was formed,
with Messrs. Fitzgerald, Quick, the mayor
aud c,uucilmen leading, the band, and then
the Fitzgerald hose team, drawing the cham
pionship c.rt, which was gaily bsdecked with
flowers. A.es and rilb ms. The proud faces
of the bows ,s they marched to the inspiring
strains Of the music, was a pleasant sight to
look upor, and there were many spectators
along the route.
Following the Fitzgeralds came ths Mer-
chants, whose fast time and credltable per-
foimancss at the tournament commanded the
respect Of all, A aSe number oil ven clts
followed the hose teams
In the evening the Fitz. .eralds met at their
hall and were addressed by a number OF wen
known speakers. A sociablA time followed
aud after rsnewed haud-shakhN ga and eongrAt
ulatiOns the boys and their fris uds dispsrsed'
BUooLIo BUFFER
Last Thursday, Charles Chester, q bibulous
hand green vonnO man from Council Bluffs,