The Washington times., 1894-04-25
TOO LATE FOR PREPARATION
William McGarrahan Expires Still
Fighting for His Famous Claim.
STORY OF CRUEL DELAYS
When Victory Seemed Nearest the Grim
Reaper Took Hand in the Contest
Was Good Natured and Buoysut to the
Last-story of His Life.

William McGarrahan. the celebrated claim
ant to the new Idria mine, died at Providence
hospital at II. As a. m. yesterday.
Death was due to a complication OF diseases,
which began to show their effect about yea,
ago. Dropsy developed few days SINGER
and after that he sank rapidly until death
came
For the past quarter of century Mr. McGarra-
han has been one of the most familiar figures
about the National Capitol. He was the claimant
for the Mexican land grant in Southern Califor-
MIA known as the Rancho Panoche Grande, ard
had been prosecuting the claim in the courts, the
departments, and Congress for the past thirty
five years. and the history of his efforts to secure
what he and his friends believe was his by right
would make story as thrilling as a novel
McGarrahan came into possession Of the claim
grantee, paying S1l,O00 for it There was vast
tract of land, but it mountainous, and at
that time the agricultural and mineral possibili-
ties of that part of California were not known
Soon after McGarrahan made his purchase the
New Idria quicksilver mines were discovered
on the grant, and it was not great while before
the mine was found to be one of the most valua-
BILE deposits of this mineral in the world.
The locaters Of the mine refused to recognize
McGarrahan's right TO the property. He took
the matter to the courts, where he received two
combinations of his title, but the New Idria peo-
pie still resisting, he appealed to the Interior
Department at Washington during the first
his Secretary of the Interior had twice ordered
patents to issue, himself made an examination
Of the claim and passed favorably upon it.
Still there were obstacles in the way and Nc
Garrahan appealed to Congress Since that
time a bill for McGarrahans relief has been In
troduced at the beginning of every term of Con-
gress, and there have been few, if any, terms in
which he has not received favorable report
from the Senate and House committees having
the bill In charge.
Time and again the bill has been passed by
houses. Fiffy-sacOnd
Congress did it receive the simultaneous sane
tion of the two houses
When the bill passed both houses in the Fifty
second Congress President Harrison found 1t
unsatisfactory in some Of its details and refused
his approval The bill remodeled SO as to meet
the Presidents objections was Immediately re-
introduced in both houses 1t passed the Sem
ate but failed to get through the House that
Congress.
The bill had again passed the Senate this
Congress, and was unanimously reported by the
House committee having it in charge the day
the health OF the claimant broke completely,
about ten days since, rendering 1t necessary that
he should be taken TO the hospital
McGarrahon was about 81 years Of age He
was horn in Ireland, and came TO America when
lad He went to California in 1919, and went
into business in San Francisco where he was
very prosperous, being worth saJO,0OO, when he
bought the Panoche Grande grant
This money he spent i'll his litigation and leg
fslation. and he had been dependent upon the
kindness of his friends and those who believed
in the justice of his claim for several years past
He was bachelor and had no relations in this
country
Mr.. McGarrahan's death is deplored at the
Capitol, where he was universally known and
much esteemed He remarkable for his
Uniform good nature and his buoyan: spirits
He was man Of education and Of much natural
refinement
He visited the House for the last time last
Friday in the interest of his BILL and when he
returned TO the hospital was completely ex-
hausted He did not get out again.