Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-26
"PAT" GILMORE DEAD.
The Famous Bandmaster Succumbs While
His Band L. Playing.


His Band is Playing.
Col. Patrick Sarsfield Gilmore aged sixty
three years. the proprietor, manager and leader
of the band bearing his name. died at his hotel
in ST. Louis at Gas saturday evening of heart
disease, due TO indigestion. Mr.. Gilmore had
been for several days feeling unwell and con-
suited a local doctor, by whom he treated
for indigestion. Saturday afternoon for the
first time since the beginning of his present en-
gagement at the exposition in st. Louis he did
not occupy his usual place and yield the baton
at the band's concert. No one surmised, how
ever. that his illness was of a serious nature
and but few believed the first reports Of his
death. The concert by his famous band was in
progress az the time.
Patrick Sarsield Gilmore was born near Dub
lin. Ireland. December IS. 1929. He was
named after Patrick Sarsfield. Lord Lucan, one
of the most illustrious Irish patriots and gen.
erals Of the last century. His early years were
spent near the city of Athlone, on the shannon,
SO intimately connected with Sarsfield's fame.
When he was thirteen Years old Young Gil
more was placed in the counting room of n
mercantile house at Athlone. Three or four
English regiments. were stationed at Athlone
and Young Gilmore had every day an oppor-
tunity to hear the music of their fine bands.
One of the bandmasters, named Heating. held
him musical talent OF an unusual order not
only offered TO give him lessons, but advised
that he be permitted to perfect himself at the
best foreign school. Another bandmaster an
Italian named Cavalini. also gave him lessons
He soon became a member of a local band, and
by the time he was fifteen he was already writ
ing marches and polkas to be played by the
band.
During these years friends became convinced
of the boys great ability as a musician and adj
vised him TO abandon all thought of mercantile
life and make music his profession. He was
not aversc to that. Heating advised him to go
to America. as he would there find a wide field
for his talent. So, when he was nineteen, Gil
more went TO Boston.
In time he became the leader Of the Salem
Band. a famous organization. He remained in
salem three wears. during which time he orig
mated the mammoth Fourth Of July concerts
which have ever since been a marked feature of
the observance of the day in Boston.
In 1858 Mr.. Gilmore moved to Boston and
started band that was known by his name
He also gave a series of promenade concerts,
the first attempt of the kind in this country.
Gilmore band was admitted to be the leading
musical organization of the kind in the country.
At the outbreak of the war the band entered
the service with the twenty-fourth Massachu-
setts volunteers. Gilmore commissioned
bandmaster general and chief musician OF the
state Of Massachusetts,.
Gilmore's forte was the development of
monster concerts. and the grand national
peace jubilee at Boston in 1869 gave him more
than national fame. The complimentary con-
cert rendered him realized $4,000 In 1872 he
gave the worlds peace jubilee with great sue
cess. He had made European trip for the
purpose of interesting foreign bands and the
presence of these added greatly to the interest
of the festival
Mr.. Gilmore removed to New York city in
1873 and became the bandmaster Of the twenty
| x,~1 -
sixty-fve men. which was soon acknowledged
as one of the best in the world.
In the work of his whole life Patrick Sars-
field Gilmore showed himself the musician of
the people. His concerts had an undoubted
effect for the better on the musical tastes Of
the country. He worked hard, studied hard,
fought his way to success and made himself
memorable in the musical history Of the coun-
try.
Mr.. Gilmore leaves Q widow and one child,
Minnie. Mrs. Gilmore ami their daughter &C
companied Mr.. Gilmore to the west