Los Angeles herald., 1890-08-11
O'REILLY'S MISTAKE.
THE POET EDITOR TAKES TOO
MUCH CHLORAL.
John Boyle O'Reilly Dead in His House.
His Wife and Daughter Frustrated.
Deceased's Adventuresome Career.

BosToN, August 10. - John Boyle
O'Reilly the poet and editor of theBoston
Pilot died this afternoon. His death is
supposed to have been caused by an
overdose of chloral, taken for insomnia.
O'Reily had been suffering for rseveral
days from insomnia. During the past
week he slept but little. Last night his
wife was unwell and he called DIR. Lit
enfield to attend her. The doctor went
to the house and prescribed for her leav-
ing bottle of medicine. At 2 O'Clock
this morning O'Reilly again called on
the doctor and said part OF the medicine
he left for Mrs. O'Reilly had been spill
ed. The doctor then gave O'Reilly
single dose to take to her. AS he left
the doctor, O'Reilly said he felt ex-
tremely tired, and if Mrs. O'Reilly went
to sleep he would take little something
himself, to see if he could not get a few
hours sleep. At O'Clock Mrs. O'Reillv
awoke and found her husband missing.
She went down stairs and found him w.
ing on the floor in an unconscious condi-
ton. The doctor was immediately call
ed, but O'Reilly expired in short time.
1t is thought he must have taken dose
OF chloral to make him sleep, and took
an overdose Mrs. O'Reilly and her
four daughters are nearly prostrated with
grief.
John Boyle:O Reilly was born in Ire
land, June %, 1874. At the age of IA he
learned type-setting, and afterward be-
came report for various English journ-
ais. He returned to Ireland in 1868 and
enlisted in the 10th Hussars. He had
i0ip aI f1,o -.
his entrance into the English Army was
with the object of spreading disaffection
among the Irish soldiers. His connec-
ton with Fenianism was discovered in
1866. His propaganda of revolutionary
principles had been successful, and sew
eral Irish regiments, known to be ready
to participate in a rebellion, were, in
consequence, scattered through the most
unhealthy parts of the British possess
sions. O'Reilly was tried for high treas
on, and sentenced to be shot. The SEN
tence was commuted, and he was confin-
ed in different English prisons. When
in Dartmoor, aided by other Irish prison
ers, he collected and buried the scatter
ed bones of the French and American
prisoners of war who were shot in 1914.
In 1867 he was sent to Australia. He
was one OF those excluded from the am
nesty granted to the political prisoners
in 1869. He escaped from the western
coast OF Australia in an open boat, was
picked up by Captain Clifford of the Am
erican ship Gazette, and landed in Phil
adelphia November %, 1859. He lectur-
ed and wrote for the newspapers for a
time, followed the Fenian raid into
Canada in 1870, and described it's
incidents for the Boston journals.
The same year he became connected
with the Boston Pilot of which he was
editor and principal owner at the time
of his death, He founded the Papyrus
club in Boston. He spent much time in
the lecture field and contributed to
numerous periodicals. He published in
book-form "Songs of the Southern
Seas" "Songs, Legends and Ballads"
"Moondyne'', a novel; "Statues in the
Block, and "In Bohemia" Among the
latest works he had in preparation
were "The Country with a Roof" an
allegory dealing with certain faults in
the American social system, The evolu-
tion of Straigh Weapons" and a work
on the material resources of Ireland.