The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1889-05-09
A STORY OF TIE WAR,
THE FATE or FATHER RLuEMELL
BROUGHT TO LIGHT,

The Career Of Two PennsylyRnla irlestA
Separated by the War aud tho rate oi
the ono Not Learned by the other I'm
tl Recently-rh rhe Good Priest Killed
In diving Abseiution,
ATLANTA, GA,, May 0,-Tho Rev
Father otto, hfnedGtine father now In
this city, tells an interesting story ~ hia
long search after missing priest who
was once an associate Of his In itnnsyl-
yanla lie saIdi "l was born In bavaria
and completed my collegiate course
there, Among my school mates was q
boy named liluemoll-a boy Of grit and
determination, We became bosom
friends, We both determined 10 become
candidates for the priesthood, and hence
our lives were strangely thrown together
Ordained On the same day, we lOlll he'
lected the American mission, and, strange
20 say, few mOnths later we found our
selves the inmates OF the same wallis the
Benedictine Abbey OF ~, Vincent, In
WestmOrcand county, Pa, The last
time saw him In life was the year be-
fore the war He was the pastor In the
church In lellefOnte, Centercounty, Pa,i
while / waa pastor OF the church IN ST.
Mary'a, Elk county, In the same state
We were ordered 10 exchange et0tonal
and In doing no met, Shortly Niterward
Blshop Whalen Of Nashville, Tenn',
made call for priests, and Father Blue
NELL responded, and was cut oil from us
by the war, which followed soon after,
Father nluemella sympnthies,
"For long time wo heard nothing
more of him, In fact not until Nash
vile fell into the hands Of Cen, Thomas,
Among the priests acting Ns chNplOins IN
the confederate army who, by special
permit, were allowed 10 enter the Fed
cral lines 10 render like duty, was my
friend Father Bluemell, He had be-
come warmly attached 20 the Southern
cause, and boldly spoke his sentiments
In the presence OF Gen, Thomas,
Through the influence Of Father Rose
Grams, aflcrward bishop OF Columbus, o.
and his brother, Gen. ROsecrana, Father
Bluemell was allowed much immunity
Later on Il became suspected that
Father Bluhmcll made use of his free
dom Of the Federal lines 20 carry medi'
cine back 10 the sick Confcdcratcs, This
suspicion reaching the ear OF Gen, Rose
Grams, he at once wrote 10 the Abbot ~
~, Vincent, Pa, begging him 10 recall
Father Bucmell, ~ he was likely 10 fall
under the dJpicaauro Of ucn, Thomas,
when unpleasant consequences would
onsue. The recall was sent, but In tho
hustle Of military changes, II must not
have reached him because ho never ro-
sponded,
All Traces Lost,
"For years Father Bluemcl was lost
eight Of, Diligcnt inquiries were made
OF visiting priests from the south for
long while without effect, but NJ last ro-
ports reached tho abbot that Father
Blucmell had been killed In an engage
ment between Nashville and Chatta-
nooga, and that hisbody had been buried
In q garden belonging 20 an Irish lady.
Search of the battleiiclds between tho
points named was unsuccessful, and, for
years again Father Bluemell sunk into
oblivion,
"Rcccntly tho BancdlctinCs were in.
vited by Bishop O'Sullivan Of Alabama
into his diocese, and Tuscumbia was
designated as the field Of our operations.
10 this mission was appointed; and then
| | heard such reports OF strange priest
having been killed In the battle Of Jones'
boro, Ga, that | wrote 10 Father Kelly
OF Atlanta. He replied nt once that tho
name of the priest was Bluemell that his
grave had been carefully marked and
tenterly cared for by tho wife and daugh.
ter of Capt, Holiday, and that Mrs.
Holiday was still living In Atlanta. !
came here u couple Of days ago, went 10
Jonesboro, where the citizens received
me very kindly and the bones Of my
friend are now contained In this small
box. | shall take them TO Tugcumbia
and give them intorment In my little
church,
Found After Thirty Years
"Thirty years ago l last saw my
friend in life, full Of hope, filled with
energy TO preach the gospel. To-day
what is lefg few bones, but they are
precious relics 10 me"
The story Of Father Bluemoll's death,
as told BY MB Holiday, was striRingly
realistic. Tho battle Of Joncsboro was
In progress, The dir was sulphurous,
amid the carnage Of conflict, Capt
Oracle, gallant Confederate officer, fell
mortally wounded. Father Blucmcll,
who kept in tho thickest Of the fight In
order that he might render religious aid,
sprang 10 the captains side, picked him
up and was taking the dying mans con.
fession as he carried him 10 the rear, AS
the good priest pronounced the absolying
words shell took his head away and he
fell deodin thearms Of hisdying pcnitont
Capt, Grace i.ytu long enough " ttai tLo
story and died. The two wore hastily
buried neora clump Of trees, whore,
when the war was over, Mrs, Holiday
and her daughters, being the only Catho-
lie family in The town, tQoA charge Of H.
Several years later the ladies o. Jones
boro, headed by Mrs. Loud, had the bod
les removed 10 the Confederate cemc.
terry. The body of another Catholic SOL
dier, Ignatius Brooks, was placed beside
the two, and 10 the three whole square
was given. Since that time, year after
year, the ladies have kept the strange
priests grave fragrant with flowers, and
30 accustomed had they become 10 the
| dut, thnt H. VIVA with rpprpt that thoy