The daily critic., 1890-08-11
JOHN BOYLE 0REILLY
SUDDENDEATH0F THEDISTINGUBHED
EXILE. EDIT0R AND POET.
hts Many Admirers in Tnis CITY re
corded ne the loading Repre-
sentative of Hts Race
In America

sentative OF ANI' iNAtt
in America.
Bo.roS. Aug ii. John Boyle
O'BelIy, the distinguished Irish poet
patriot and athlete died very suddenly
yesterday morning at his summer home
az Coha,seu His wife discovered him
at 3 O'Clock sitting iu bis room sm1N
ing. Tie complained then of being very
sleepy and o moment later lay down
ON n sofa falling AZ once in.o a deep
sleep.
His Iaborcd breathing however
alarmed his wife, and after D time she
summoned a physician. His arriy1.
however, was followed by death Mr.
O'RCiIly never once rousing from his
suror.
Mr O'Reilly was troubled with 10
sOmnia. and q Is thought he may have
taken something. probably chloral, to
induce sleep, though no evidence Of
such O thing is at hand The attending
physician thinks SO was case of heart
failure.
a Bar lIarbor, Me, special 10 The
Glg5s says that Cardinal Gibbons, on
being informed of John Boyle o 'Beilly's
death, said 1T Is q public calamity
Not only "a loss 20 the country, but TO
the Church and humanity in general ~
Turning away, he added "lts q great
loss; a great loss
Archbishop Ryan seemed greatly
shocked and said Humanity can III
spare such aman az John Boyle O'Reilly
from It's foremost ranks Il IS, indeed,
a painful surprise.
Secretary Blaine seemed painfully
surprised TO hear Of the death. but made
no comment
The unexpected death Of John Boyle
O Reilly cuts short the life Of a man
whom the generation just coming for
ward knows as "a brilliant such is
the accepted term-poot and editor, but
who was known 10 q preceding genera
tiou as a much better patriot and exile.
But Mr O'Rcilly was no Indifferent
poet Born in 1si4, IN County Meath,
he was naturally too young 20 Join the
Young Ireland parry. out at is was old
enough 20 enlist IN The Fenian move
mCnt.
In that yoarh Joined the Tenth TIus-
sars, and set about spreading rcpubli
can principles In the English Army
In 1854 he was arrested. tried for high
treason and sentenced To- life imprisOn.
ment, n sentence afiCrward Commuted
20 twenty years imprisonment After
successive periods of confinement at
Chatham, Portsmouth, Portland and
Uartmoor ho was sent 90 Australia Ia
November. 1861, and in February, 1869,
ahscondcd The story of this daring
and romantic escape has often been told.
Mr o'Rdily was picked up by 40
American whaling bark from 8u open
boat and landed In Philadelphia nine
months after he had cludcl bis gulrls
In The next year be became editor
and proprietor nt The Boston Pt'Df. ur !.
in this employment his talents found
scope The literary world OF Boston
quickly adopted him iu 1879 hc was
elected president Of the Papyrus Club,
and In 1891. Mr.. L0npicllow presided
at a banquet In his honor He adopted
Democracy as his creed aud was
vigorous lighter, but never narrow In
his views his powers Of speaking made
him an acceptable orator 20 bis party,
as well as a good lecturer He was not
frequently seen, however In either
capacity, His social and athletic
pTuwess were both well known.
While his poetry aud other literary
productions were works Of talent rather
than Of genius, they were always
spirited manly, aud correct, they
showed insight and sympathy and CON
tanned a good deal Of knowledge Of the
world and its odd corners, though they
sometimes We're too eXuberaut His
commemoratiOn ode al the dedication Of
the monument 10 the Pilgrim Fathers
was widely praised. He was man
whom everybody liked, thought we'll
of, and made much Of, and he will be
missed.
lie had host Of friends Ia this city
where he lectured recently, who re-
garded him ms the greatest leader and
most brilliant mind amOug the Irish
race In America. They were ineX
pIessibly shocked by the news OF his
sudden death His journal was eXten-
siyely read here and was taken as a
criterion on matters Of Irish policy. II
is probable that some organized effort
will be made by his many friends 10
testify IN an appropriate manner their
respect for his memory.