St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-01-23
Multitudes Of People Attend
the Funeral Of Detective
Dan 0'Connor.
THE POLICE AND FIREMEN
And Pioneers Send Delega-
tions to Eeap Witness OF
Their Regard.
The CATHEDRAL PACKED.
Deeply Impressive and Sol
emn Services at Church
and Grave.

In more respects than one the funeral
of Daniel O'Connor, held yesterday,
was remarkable. 1t will be referred to
in years to come as an event that may
be termed milestone in the memories
of those who participated in it or wit
messed the final ceremonies. Compare
lively a young man, he was with no
particular fame outside his chosen call
ing; yet, to pay the last tribute Of re-
spect, men in all walks of life stepped
aside from business and pleasure alike
to reverently bow the head or bend the
knee while the solemn service for the
dead was being carried through.
Perhaps the true explanation of this
extraordinary interest will be found in
these facts: Dan O'Connor was of st.
Paul-child of its soil; son of pioneer
parents respected and beloved through
all the years of their lives in this city;
here he first drew the breath of life,
here grew and lived, and moved to and
fro among our people: here his true
nature and real merit We're known of
all; here his faults We're analyzed in the
light of fairness and friendliness, as
well as with the eye of criticism here
his heart qualities had been often
tested; here the lines of his life We're
laid in sunshine and in storm; here he
gave up his last breath, beneath the
same sky that covered his birth spot
Many knew and loved and played with
the man Of giant frame and kindly
nature in more recent times; and who
had not love for him could find much
to respect. The manner of his taking
off-the boy nature bubbling over in
the man, impelling him to vigorous
pastime-made a deep impression.
He was not q great man, nor g rich
one, rot yet even at his best in the So
luton of life's problems; but Dan
OConnor was a good mothers kind
son, brother cherished and true, q
man among men, without pretense to
seem aUght he was not. Sol accord
with the customs of men, his funeral
was notable one.
MuItitueGcs at the Home.
Despite the cracking frost, Fourth
street, from Cedar almost to Jackson,
was lined with carriages as early as
o'clock. They were maSsed so thick
ly on the block in which the O'COnnor
home stands that the cable cars had
barely room to move along. On the
sidewalks stood multitude of people,
not drawn by curiosity as much as by
the feeling of acquaintanceship and the
closer tie of friendship; and young and
old were alike numerous.
In the old stone house familiar to all
St. Paul people, where he slept as a
babe, the death-sealed features of the
dead man were being viewed for the
last time by the more intimate friends.
There mOurned the aged mother who
had so much of her life wrapped up in
the span of years since the lost one
was a child at her knee. And there
two noted men, strong physically, but
weak through emotion, gave full play
to the heart beats of regret and sOr-
row unappeased.
When the rich black casket had
been closed and carried to the hearse
the cOrteEe moved into order. BY way
of Minnesota the mounted escort OF
police, with Lieut.. Budy at their head,
led the line to Third street. Behind
the mounted officers was SeibeTt's full
band, playing the slow and plaintiVe
measures Of a funeral dirGe. The
hearse was next, drawn by a team Of
richly caparisoned black horses. The
pallbearers walked. They were De
tectives VI. H. Daily, Thomas Koran,
Thomas Kenalcy, Henry Meyerding,
Daniel i. Ahern, and Nfessrs. Patrick
Conley, John T. Kelly, James H. Bell,
p. J. Casey and John Rogers Jr. Five
walked on either side of the hearse.
Last of the five on his side was De-
tective Dan Ahern, for years the side
partner and close chum of the dead
man. They had in reality been COM
rades since they were boys, and had
Shared Iife5s Ups and Downs
together through a long series of years.
Ahern's face was pale as ashes almost,
and his eyes had in them none of the
world-wise expression usual to him. He
was mourner in heart and deed, as we'll
as being pallbearer for his dead friend
Several platOOns of police followed
ON foot under command of Capt.
Rouleau, and Sergeants jerry Sullivan
and John Zirllebach, and Assistant
Fire Chief Hart n. Cook was in com
mand of the platoOns of firemen, next
in line, and then came d surprisingly
large turnout of the Junior Pioneer
association. Up Third TO st. Peter the
procession went, and thence to the
doors of the cathedral.
Long before the hour announced for
the services every available seat in the
body of the church, except those re-
served for the policemen, firemen and
Pioneers, was taken. Even the CALLER
les, from where the services could not
be seen, We're full, and the choir gal
- lery was invaded by a large number OF
people.
o. h.
was borne up the main aisle of the
sacred edifice and placed on pedestals
at the foot of the chancel steps. I'M
mediately behind the bier walked Chief
of Detectives John J. O'Connor and
Richard T. O'Connor. The aged
mother could not attend the public
ceremonies, but the brothers were fol-
lowed by two female relatives in
deep black. During the seating of
the city and county officials and those
who had been in the funeral process
sion, the
Organist Played Softly,
ceasing when the officiating priest
and his assistants took their places at
the altar.
An expectant hush fc;f on the con-
gregation when Rev. DR.. Heffron, earn
est and intellectual, stood before the
great floral piece that had been placed
at the altar rail, to speak. lie had
just blessed the bier and was robed in
the full canonicals prescribed by the
Catholic church for such an occasion.
The pastor of the cathedral in which
the dead man had assisted at the altar
when a youth, spoke feelingly and with
deep earnestness. He said:
The services at which we are assist