The record-union., 1899-01-01
FATHER WALSH'S SAD DEATH.
sUFFOCATED By GAS WHILE
HE SLEPT.
In Turning or the Electricity He
Accidentally Turned ON q
Gas Jet.

When the great bell In the Sceeple
of the Cathedral OF the Holy Sacra-
ment rung out the Angelus at 5:3O
O'Clock yesterday morning it did
double duty, for it also tolled requiem
for the departed spirit of Rev. Michael
Walsh, rector Of the Cathedral Parish,
whose death had just occurred under
distressing circumstances.
George Burke, the sexton, had arisen
to go from the episcopal residence into
the Cathedral to perform his early
morning duty of ringing the bell, when
he thought he detected the odor Of il
Eliminating gas, He instituted an in
vestigation, and finally, by the aid of
the housekeeper. located the escape Of
the deadly gas at the door Of Father
Walsh's ROOM
Through the transom Father Walsh
was discovered in his bed, apparently
in a peaceful slumber, but on entering
the room it was found that he was in
sensible, the room being filled with the
gas, which was escaping from one of
the Jets.
Bishop Grace and the rest Of the
household were aroused, and physi-
clan sent for, but he found on his ar
rival that Father Walsh was beyond
human aid-there was nought but his
lifeless body An inspection Of the gas
fixtures revealed the manner In which
his death occurred.
Father Walsh had reached the
parochial residence at a late hour, COM
ing from Oakland, where he had been
spending Christmas with his sister.
The night was very cold, the coolest
Of the season, and he closed the tram
som, and presumably lost no time In
retiring. The house is provided with
combination electric and gas burners,
the buttons of the one being very
close to the stop-cocks of the other
Father Walsh had evidently used the
electric light, and on retiring hurriedly
turned off the current, but in so doing
his hand must have touched and
turned on the gas, as the thumb-piece
was found to be quite loose.
Being weary after his long ride he
probably fell asleep too soon to notice
the odor of the gas. and once asleep
his doom was sealed.
Father Walsh was modest and re-
firing gentleman. generous and open
hearted, with a bright and sunny ma
ture that endeared him to all who
knew him, irrespective of creed. AS
rector of the parish he responded cheer
fully at all hours of the day or night
to calls to attend the sick, the dying
or those in distress. He had been
connected with the Cathedral for about
six years, coming here from Wood
land, where he served for a time as
assistant to Rev. Father Hines of that
parish, prior to which he was in charge
of the church at Carson, New He was
native of Waterford Ireland, a grad
uate of All-Hallow's Ecclesiastical Col
lege in Dublin and had resided in this
country twenty-three years. His age
was 46.
The sad news of Father Walsh's
death was made known to the Catholic
clergymen throughout the diocese by
telegraph, and during the day many
responses were received, all containing
the kindliest references to the de-
ceased's nobleness of character, his
piety and goodness Of heart.
| Bishop Grace and the other members
of his household were terribly shocked
at the death of their beloved associate,
In referring to the sad affair Bishop
Grace thus expressed himself:
I'm the sad and sudden death of Rev.
Father Walsh, the Cathedral Parish
loses one Of the most amiable, efficient
and devoted pastors. His loss will be
oAhSCiCiy AC6lCItSA ~ eiO WhOAS ScAA'
munity, not only his co-religionists, to
whom he had exceedingly endeared
himself by kindness, courtesy and
readiness ever to oblige, but also by
others, for whom he had always
pleasant word and a kind thought. He
sacrificed himself at all hours of the
night attending sick calls and was in
cessant in his duties in the church and
parochial residence His disposition was
cheerful, his heart generous, his acts in
conformity with the Divine Model, and
thus. while we bow to the inscrutable
ways of Providence, we may well hope
that his beneficent spirit Is enjoying
the reward of his good works."
Tuesday morning at 8 o'clock has
been selected as the time for the fu-
neral, when Bishop Grace will officiate
at the requiem mass in the Cathedral
It is expected that many priests will
be present from other parts of the do
cese, San Francisco and elsewhere.
The children of st. Joseph's Acad-
envy and the Sunday-school classes
will meet at the convent at o'clock
this afternoon to make arrangements
for attending the funeral. All the chill
dren have happy recollections of the
deceased pastor who often spoke to
them in his kindly way.