Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-24


developing SO rapidly that It was soon ap-
parent that the days Of the poor old claim
ant were numbered. On Saturday he saw
number Of friends and told them that he
would be out in few days. The physicians
decided on Monday to perform the operatio
OF tapping. but In the afternoon DR.. Sewers
determined that the patient was too far
gone and too weak. and that an operation
would but hasten his death. Still 1t was rot
thought that the end was SO near.
When the End Was Near.
This morning the sisters gently told the
old man that he couldn't live through the
day. and asked him IL he would like to see
any particular friends. He took the news
as cheerfully as he has all of his many dis
appointments, and asked that Senator Hun
ton Of Virginia, who has been his faithful
friend throughout all the litigation, should
be sent for. A telephone message was sent
to the Senate and Senator Hunton. who
was then attending a meeting of the COM
mittee on post offices, sent back word that
he would be at the hospital shortly after
neon. Fortunately he changed his program
and reached the sick mans side little
after 10 o'clock Mr. McGarrahan was very
weak, but he recognized his friend and
took him by the hand and held II until he
died. He retained consciousness until, at
HIS. he breathed his last. The sister at
the hospital was at the bedside until the
end. Senator Hunton requested that In
dertaker Lee be given charge Of the funeral,
arrangements for which will be perfected
later.
Billy" McGarrahan was probably with
out a kinsman. No one has ever heard
OF any member Of his family In this coun-
had lived in New Orleans before the war.
but who was probably killed during the
struggle. But II must not be thought that
he was friendless. for in his forty years
Of attendance on Congress he formed the
acquaintance Of hundreds Of men in pub
lie life and made many fast. firm friends
There are probably today more genuine
regrets expressed a, GROUND the Capitol at
would be heard over the death Of any pub
lie man in Congress. He was quiet. kindly
and refined. and with that peculiar pathos
in his bearing that endeared him to the
hearts OF nearly all who met him. 1t may
,,e that II was the American love for a
good stout fight or the American fondness
for plot that caused all who knew McGar-
rahan and his claim to take an interest
in him. Never before has a fighter for his
rights, as he firmly believed them to be-
made such q determined stand before an
adverse fate.
4 His Appearance at the Capitol.
McGarrahan used to make the office Of
| the official stenographers Of the Senate his
headquarters for the day at the Capitol.
and he seldom missed a visit there when
ever the Senate was in session. All Of the
reporters and stenographers knew him as a
midst Several years ago the stenographers
held banQue. at which McGarrahan was
the only outside guest. To them he was :,s
| a brother in the crowd. and he gave a toast
on that occasion that will be always re-
membered by all who heard 1t.
1t Ii not probable that the McGarrahan
claim will ever be pushed by any heir or
| successor to the poor old man. 1t is doubt
terrible responsibility that this single in
dividual has upheld for two score years. 1t
has always been problem just where his
funds for ntint-n"rce came from. III.
own means were was:ad years ago In the
effort TO secure the settlement Of his clam
| and for several sessions back he has been,
| 1t Is known, dependent upon some secret
| charity, the source Of which he has never
divulged. Always temperate in his habits,
| he made what little he had 60 to the fur
| thest. and his attire was alwasy neat and
clean and his linen immaculate. None of
his most intimate friends ever knew just
whore he lived, but there were no creditors
ever bounding at his heels, and in many
Lother respects McGarrahan was a paradox
famong claimants.
| story of the Claim.
McGarrahan was the claimant for the
Mexican land grant in Southern California
known as the Rancho Panoche Grande, and
had been prosecuting the claim in the
courts. the departments and Congress for
nearly forty years, and the history Of mis-
eUorts TO secure what he and his friends
believe was his by right would make a
sorry as thrilling as a novel.
McGarrahan came into possession of the
claim In 1858 through purchase from the
original grantee. paying $1,000 for 1t.
There was a vast tract Of the land, but 1t
| was mountainous. and at that time the ag-
ricultural and mineral possibilities Of that
part OF California were not known. Soon
after McGarrahan made his purchase the
New ldria quicksilver mines were discover
| ed on the grant, and 1t was not q great
while before the mine was found to be one
| of the most valuable deposits Of this miner
| al In the world.
The locators Of the mine refused to recoR-
nize McGarrahans right to the property
He took the matter to the courts where he
| received two combinations Of his title but
the New Idria people still resisting he ap-
| pealed to the Interior Department at Wash
ington during the first administration of
President Lincoln. who, after his Secretary of
| the Interior had twice ordered patent TO is
sue, himself made an examination of the
claim and passed favorably upon it.
Still there were obsts cles in the way and
McGarrahan appealed to Congress. Since
| that time q bill for McGarrahan's relief has
been introduced at the beginning of every
| term OF Congress, and there have been few.
| II 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 Inv
| the two houses, but never until the Fifty.
| second Congress did II receive the simulta-
neous sanction Of the two houses
h When the bill passed both houses in the
FFifty-second Congress President Harrison