Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-11
HIS SLEEP OF DEATH.
John Boyle O'Reilly Dies OF Self Admin
istered Poison.

John Boyle o'Reiliy. the revolutionist, exile,
poet and editor. died yesterday morning Of his
summer cottage at Hull, Mass, OF poison. self
administered. He was victim to the violation
OF his own principles. His home by the sea was
picturesque structure Of stone and wood, de-
signed by his talented wife, who was noted for
her proficiency in architectural designing. For
several years past this lady has been an invalid,
the victim Of chronic nervous prostitution, and
for her the beautiful home on Hull's beach was
constructed ana 1uxuriously furnished. They
repaired there early in the spring, as was their
wont, and Mr.. 0Reiily went down every after
noon on the o'clock train.
For the past two months Mrs 0'Reilly has
been growing worse and his constant attention
upon her with his excessive literary iabors
combined with the recent hot weather had a
steadily growing ill effect upon him. He
finally began to be troubled with insomnia and
for the past month has been constantly dieting
and exercising with view Of relief. but with
but poor results. His particular hobby after
the salvation of Ireland, his native land was
physical exercise which to him was a panaces
tor all human ills, and which subject he lately
ventilated in print Consequently he was loath
to acknowledge the failure OF his theory In his
own case and so went home last night weary
and respondent
NO SLEEP FOR HIN.
In despair he for the first time surrendered
his convictions TO his feelings and with fatal
results. He left the office of the Pilot, his
paper, at z o'clock yesterday afternoon in COM
pany with his brother-in-law. Fire Commits
sioner Murphy, and took the $50 o'clock boat
for Hull. He went straight home. as he was
weary from the effect of two sleepless nights
and, in company with Mr.. Murphy, spent the
afternoon and evening in his sick wifes room.
At 10 O'Clock Mr.. Murphy left and Mr..
far ia h0ta
which was quite distance away, in hopes that
the walk would make him sleepy. He returned
nome an hour later, wearied, but with no feel
ing OF sleepiness, and, in despair, after lying
down an hour arose and, taking book, sat
down by the window in the sitting room adj
joining his wits's chamber ~ read. The VIM
dow looked out over the Atlantic. This was
the last seen Of him conscious.
Mrs. ORellly went to sleep and her husband
read on for an hour or so, when, tired out, he
remembered e his wife's sleeping potion, her
Choral mixture, which stood by her bed, for
Just such Ills as his and, forgetting has princi-
pies, determined to try Its efficacy.
THE SLEEP OF DEATH.
How much he took is not known, but being
unacquainted with the medicine the amount
was fatal and he slept indeed. 1t was after 8
O'Clock when, awakening, Mrs. O'Reilly missed
him from her side and left the bed for the first
time IN three days. She found him by the
WINDOW, head resting on hand, In a deep slum-
Der, from which she tried in vain to arouse
him. In alarm she aroused the servants, who
hastily summoned the family physician DR..
Litchfeld, from his residence near by He al
once appreciated the situation, for the nearly
empty chioral bottle near at hand told the
story. Help was summoned and every effort
made to arouse the dying man. All they
could do was to make him murmur indistinctly
MY wife's medicine" He was dead inside an
hour.
The news spread like wildfre. In ignorance
OF his death the congregation OF St. Mary's
Catholic Church this morning offered up pray ers
tor his wifes recovery, aud this circumstance
mlsied the undertaken, who created confusion
by sending to the cottage coffin for female.
Later in the day the remains were taken to
Boston. The funeral will take place from st.
Mary's Church Wednesday morning.
John Boyle O'Rellly was born at Castle Dowth
County of Meath, Ireland, on June 20, 1874. In
June, 1866. he was tried in Dublin convicted OF
high treason and sentenced to Imprisonment
for life, but the sentence was committed to
twenty years of pepal servitude. In 1869 he
escaped from West Australia to the United
States and became editor and joint proprietor
OF the Pilot he bore the title of LID.
His principal books are: Songs from the
Southern Seas" published in 1872; Songs
Legends and Ballads" published in 1876
''Moondyne," published in 1877, and "Statue,
in the Block" published in 1884, He lived in
Boston ever since, and was faithful worker
for the Irish cause. He was greatly respected
and had a large following.