Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-16
DECAME AN INDIAN PRINCE.
Career of n New York Irishman Who
Married "A Hindoo Woman.

Married a HindOO Woman.
From the Brooklyn Eagle
A notice from the surrocate's court pub
lished in last evenings Eagle, recalls the
singular history of a former resident OF the
eastern district. The citation is issued to
the legatees of the late James Darragh to
appear in court here on December Il to at
tend the judicial settlement of the account
of Enoch L. Fancher and John McCann ex-
ecutors of the last will and testament OF
James Darragh. deceased.
Darragh was a remarkable man. He was
born at Turgan. Ireland. some sixty years
ago. and came here a poor boy. After some
years he engaged in the manufacture of coir
or cocoa mats and mating and with small
success. He could not compete with the finer
hber that came from the east. He sold out
all his belongings. and with the little money
thus realized sailed to India, leaving his
irish wife and two daughters here This
was some twenty-five or twenty-seven years
ago He settled down in Allepy, a port on
the west coast or Hindostan, ruled by the
Rajah OF Travancore. The latter state runs
IN a narrow strip down the coast to the
extreme point of the great peninsula. Cane
Comorin being situated at the extremitv m
IraVencore. Here the Brooklyn man re-.
sumed the old manufacture of coir fiber
INTO cordage. mats and mating. He pros.
pered and gained the confidence of the
raJah. to whom he finally became indispens.
able He was allowed to coin money. and
gradually acquired extensive tea, cofYee
ana cotton plantations and established fac
tories in Allepy and Madras He estah-
lished the importing house OF Darra oh e
small at No. III Water street. New York.
winch does an extensive business in tipay
ana other skins, Indian and Persian stuffs
ana rugs, cocoa fiber manufactures and. in
%
meantime Darragh forgot his ties here and
married high-caste Hindoo woman. whose
daughter was married to Mr. Small The
iatter Is a Scotchman and was Darragh 9
oookkeeper and manager here Becoming
MI. Darragh's son-in-law, he also became
MS partner and looked after the New York
END or the business. A factory was erected
on spencer street, which was burned down
some Tune ago and rebuilt by Mr. Small
The frst Mrs. Darragh and her danghtar
returned to Ireland, where they now reside
Some twelve years or so ago great trouble
arose between Darragh and his consisnees
mere, VINO We're then George w. Dow &
sons. They brought suit against the East
Indian for settling. Judge Fancher was his
counsel Darragh won and the case NO /.
taken TO the supreme court where he NJ, .
ultimately successful. His counsel wired
MIN, and he got the dispatch in forty-airS.
hours. He came on here and on his ret,,rn
went to his old home in Ireland where he
made his will. appointing Judge Fancher
one Of the executors
AS a matter OF fact, II the stories told n,
him on the ships he used to send here were
true. James Darragh lived like a fulfilled eaS
East indian petty potentate and kept a
regular harem In true oriental style. About
four years ago one of his ships. an old
Black Ball liner. came into the Atlantic
dock with an immense cargo of coir nro-
ducts skins and Indian tea. She was A
wonderful flyer. too, and passed ona oS
Skolfeld's crack American clippers IN
rounding the Cape of Good Hope as though
the latter was anchored. 1t always was a
grievance with him that his ships had to
san under the British flag instead of the
stars ard stripes Although the Snencar
street factory is still running in full blast.
Few Brooklynites now think of this remark
able and adventurous exile from the civ or
Churches. ' Va