The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1891-06-19


O.. John Mcneil stricken Dead ~ ms
Post % duty In = sub Postal station IN
80. I.ouis--uis Death Attributed 90 Heart
Failure. the Result ~ Recent over-Ex-
ortl0n In Connection with Memorial bay
nad the Loyal Legion Gathering "A Brief
Sketch Of iiss Career.
ST. LOUIS. June 10 Gen. John Nc
Neil. veteran soldier, and an old citi-
zen OF st. Louis. died suddenly Monday
evening while ON duty 1T post office
station Il. Of which he was supcrin-
tendcnt Death came TO him about
$50 o'clock, and with a suddenness
that shocked all about him. lie had
been IN the office scarcely an hour and
up 60 few minutes before he died no
had given orders 70 his chief clerk, Mr..
Miller The scene on discovering that
the general was dead was most dra-
matte. Mr.. Miller had just taken some in
structions from him. and left the private
Office. Returning in less than ten min
utcs, he found the general still seated
In his chair in reclining position as II
asleep Having occasion to question
him about the orders, Mr.. Miller caught
him by the arm to awake him. As he
did so the arm fell limp by the generals
side. 1t was only then that Miller dis
covered the CHASTITY expression OF death
on the countenance Of the general and
in a fright rushed into the outer Office.
exclaiming aloud: My God. he's dead. Y
The exclamation was caught at once by
the clerks and carriers about. and soon
the small Office was filed with kindly
sympathizers.
Further examination proved the ex-
clamation correct The delicate duty
Of breaking the news TO Mrs Mcneil
was undertaken by MIR. Miller, and he
was moved to tears himself at the way
IL affected the poor woman. Less than
two hours before she had seen him
leave the house in apparently good
health, and how he was dead. She
could hardly realize it. but when the
body was carried into the parlor She
controlled herself with difficulty.
The cause Of the generals death was
not learned. but il is attributed to IA
tigue and consequent heart failure.
For several days previous to Memorial
day he was busy with the preparations.
and on that day he exerted himself
with the duties imposed upon him rs
master Of ceremonies OF Blair post
The following day he entertained Gen.
Warner. and last Friday he accompa
MED the Loyal Legion 70 Leavenworth
Kas. He was to speak at dinner Satur'
day, but was prevented by trouble il
the throat. lie would not give up
and at supper the same evening h'
spoke for nearly thirty minutes
He got back to the city Mon
day morning, and when he reached
home he compl aimed Of feeling mucl
fatigued. After refreshing hmsel
with bath he went to his Office am
staid until about $3.50 p. m. when he re
turned home to dinner. He left hom
q few minutes after o'clock feeling
much better than he did in the morning
and went straight to the Office He re
sumed his duties there with the usua
v;xor, and not until he was found dea'
did any one discover that he was Ill.
TGen. John Mcneil was born ~ American
parents ut Halifax. n. .. on February !, Isl
His early education was limited Tor a.
mere lad ne was apprenticed IN Boston :
learn the hatter's trade. He came to
Louis in 1896. and. engaging IN business. 500
became one OF the most popular mer nam
OF the city. besides being regarded ~ bot
cnterprising and public spirited AZ the ou'
break OF the civil war he was one 81 ~
earliest 10 respond 10 the union call
arms Early ia May. 1861. he volunteered an
assisted 20 recruit the Third regiment. Q
which he was elected colonel vine
the regiment was mustered int
service bv Gen. Nathaniel Lyon cci
Mcneil and his new command mr.
IN ~ La
Gen. Lyon took In the rebel camp unhs
Gen ID. NJ. Frost immediately after ~
encounter, while Gen. Lyon moved up 81
Missouri river after GOV. tlatb Z Jack-u
AMI the forces he was mastering und'
sterling Price and Gen. Marina luke
Bonneville. Gen. Mcneil was sent up ~
north NJ issvuri, which was being deva-ta
ed by the rebel commander. Gen. Harris.
got the enemy ON the run. and encounter u
Harris az E.rksvfiic. overwhelmed him ~
rid North Missouri OF the command Rus
wackers and guerrilias persisting "a the
cruel forays. Cen Mcneil. while ~ commal
at Palms "a. resortcdtJ severe measures
Quci them.
IL 1854 Gen. Mcneil assisted In demoiis
Ssg Prices army IN southern Missouri q
Of the most notable deeds OF Me>eiIs "
his defense Of Cane Girardcau. ne had
command OF zoo men and ten guns, ana v
be~et by Gen Marmaduke. commanding -
~H'-
render. but Mcneil refused. ana when
tackled 80 crippled Marmadnk.s comma
ehat he retired and abandoning the expe
tion. returned 10 Arkansas.
Cen Mcneil served conspicuousiy duri
che war throughout Missouri, along the
kansas frontier. where he had suprc
command. and la Louisiana. Atthe close
the war Brig Gen. John Mcneil was cfcA
major general for distinguishes
m.ritorious service. Returning 20 ci,il
al III. close OF tho war. though never ~
tician. lie was elected sheriff IN 1870.
again ia 1865 Somc years later Pre-lt
HAYES nominated him Tor United go
marshal. but he failed 81 cunfirnatl
Later President Garfield nominated him
Indian Inspector. and was confirmed
Gen Mcneil was for fonr wears employ
asacu~toms inSp ctor IA the custom 10
under Collector whitney. anu two year,
ne was defeated FOR e ate auditor ~ "a
Joseph Brown. III. present incumbent
was appoin tvd snpcrluicnicnt ~ post NJ
station about eighteen months ago
Mai Harlow.
fierce and aggressive man IN time o. y
Gen Mcneil was the txact opposite ~ -
life Tie was pleasant md cutrrtaniu-
his manners toward his friends. and ne
a host az them. lie married Ia New lor'
1854. taking for his life companion
Martina Freeman. very pleasant won
$3.50. HIr4M