New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-27


James MclIenry was perhaps best known for his
long and complicated litigation with the Erie Railway
but he had wide circle Of friends to whom he en-
deared himself by his generous hospitality and his
qualities interested IN the affairs Of the world
lie was man of scholarly attachments and refined
tastes and friend OF Henry Irving and Ellen Terry
he was well known in dramatic circles BY his restless
energies he made himself at time actually felt in
the moves on tho chess-board OF European politics.
Mr.. Mciienry was the Of wellknown Irish
physician who for many years practlsed in Philadelphia
James was born in Larne, Ireland in 1917, bnt he
brought to this country by his parents while an
infant. lie early In life engaged in mercantile
pursuits. Going to Liverpool, he established mer-
camille business which grew to large proportions lie
Is said TO have been the first to import American
butter and cheese into England. lie menaced
with failure at time in Liverpool but his obliga
tons large that his creditors were forced to
combine to save him, and with their help he was en-
abed 10 clear his Indebtedness and remove to London,
where he began to speculate In domestic and American
railway securities. HIS success led him early in the
sixties" TO undertake the construction Of the Atlantic
and Great Western Railway the first extension Of the
Erie road toward the West This company YVES or
ganizcd in 1865, but two years later it thrown
into the hands of receiver After being leased to the
Erie in 1868 the road passed through a series of
vcssltudes which finally ended in its absorption by the
reorganized Erie, now known the New-York, Lake
the Atlantic and Great Western that Mr. McIenry be-
came involved in litigation with the Erie Company
which lasted down TO the Jewett administration and
finally ended in q heavy verdict against him in the
English courts There were frequent rumors that he
was on the verge Of ruin In consequence Of this long
legal fight, but his command OF resources so
peculiar that after the final settlement of the
roversy adverse to him he able TO live In prncely
STYLE In the course Of his railroad experience in Amer
lea Mr. Mclenry came In collision with Jay Gould and
to the formers efforts In securing proxies from English
securyhoders was largely due the revolution in Eries
management in 1872 by which the Gould-fsk power
was overthrow and General Dix made president of the
company. Mr.. McIIenry held that the Erie had VIC
lated the terms of its lease of the Atlantic and Great
Western and this point he battIed with the manage
ments r. the Erie which successfully followed that of
Mr. Gould Throughout the War of the Rebellion Mr.
McHenry's sympathies warmly with the Union
cause, and besides contributing literally toward the
equipment of the Corn Exchange regiment Of Phila-
dephia, which he looked upon almost his native
place. he presented Whitworth gun battery to that
city.
Salamanca, n. T., the town where the Atlantic and
Great Western branched off from the Erie, received its
from Mr. McIienry in honor Of the Duke Of Sal
amanca, the financial adviser Of Queen Isabella Of
Spain, who largely interested In Mr.. McIIenry's
American railway schemes After the Spanish revolu
tiOl the Queen and her son Alfonso found refuge in
Mr.. McIenry's splendid Eome, Oak Lodge, at Kensing
ton, London 1t through Mr.. McIIenry's efforts
that Bschosheim, the banker, became financially IN
erested in the restoration and the two provided
the funds which helped to bring Alfonsoto the throne
There existed strong friendship between Mr.. Nc
Henry and the Empress Eugene Of France, and when
she and the Prince Imperial fed to England they found
hospitality at Oak Lodge The young Prince Imperial,
like the Spanish Alfonso educated at Woolwich,
and. Mr. McIIenry lent himself TO schemes for the
toration Of the Napoleonic empire 1t is said that
there carefully prepared plan for an attempted
coup d'etat and that from the funds raised through
Mr.. McIIenry's efforts the corruption of French gar
rsOns had already been begun when the plan was dis
arranged by the death OF the Emperor. The final blow
not given to the work Of the schemers until the
young Prince Imperial fell victim TO the Zulu assegais
Mr. Mclienry numbered among his friends many
distinguished Americans as well as famous foreigners
lie generous, well sympathetic, and the home
of the late S. L. NJ Barlow at Glen Cove became his
property through Mr.. McHenry, who, Of his
visits heard the lawyer express admiration of the SITE
For many years Mr.. Mcfienry paid frequent visits TO
this country, where he had large social acquaintance
lie was interested in railway affairs TO the last and he
was strong advocate of the introduction this side
Of the Atlantic Of the English policy Of captalzing all
expenditures for Improvements, instead OF providing
for them out of net earnings He also was emphatic
in his belief that mercan stockholders suffered from
trains,n which he held freight trains that were
sent ont secretly many roads by " ring" OF
managers who rcaped the profits.
In appearance Mr. McIenry was not unlike Hugh
j. Jewett formerly president OF the Erie, TO whom he
bitterly opposed A prominent nose, heaVy Jaws
and firmly lips gave to his smooth shaven face an
appearance OF unusual strength Ills manners were
earnest at all tines but courtesy marked them through