The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-03-18
The CELEBRATED cOA1RovERsIAlIsT.
Extract From His Speech on
St. Patrick's Day.
AN INCIDENT OF The IRISH FAMINE.
His Remains Conveyed to
Erin for Interment.

Coming across all old time stained
volume, published by Donallue in Boston
in 1855, the other day, titled First
American Edition OF Rev. D. w. Callill's
Addresses and Sermons" l thought per-
haps little sketch OF his life might prove
good reading just now-so close to ST.
Patrick's Day, says r. C. Cleaner in the
Catholic Columbian. Dr. Cahill's name
was household one among Catholics in
the early sixties, and his every word was
listened to by hundreds and read by
thousands. He was born i'll Queens
County, ireland, i'll 1888. On his moth
er's side he was OF Spanish descent,
while his name indicates his fathers Gel
tic blood, and in his after life DR.. Calil
exhibited marked characteristics OF both
races While quite young, he was in
tended for military life, but he rejected
this calling and enlisted under the ban
ner Of the cross. He spent few years
at Carlow College, and later entered
Maynootln, where he left a record OF wor-
deriul scholarship. and after ordination
was chosen for a professorship in Car
low, then under the Presidency of Dr.
Doyle, the o. X. L." OF the prc-emanci-
patton period. He became noted as a
great orator, and his services were in
constant demand over the entire country
He was OF striking personality-standng
six feet and five inches-and his appear
ance either in the pulpit or on the plat
form was remarkable one. His love for
his native land was soul-consuming, and
his public letters printed in all the promi-
nent papers OF the United Kingdom,
were such powerful pleas for justice to
the people OF ireland as to cast disnay
uoon her oppressors.
One of his greatest speeches was made
at Glasgow on St. Patricks Day and
few sentences from it may serve to give
an idea Of his powerful language. He
said: "The history OF other countries is
learned from the cool pen OF the his
the crmsoned tombs OF the dead. The
history of other nations is collected from
the growing population and successful
commerce. but the sad story of Ireland
is gathered from the deserted village, the
crowded poorhouse and the mournful-
swelling canvas OF the enigrant ship"
Speaking OF his public letters, he said
81 dated them from the grave-pits OF Sill
go and the fever-shcds of Skibbcrcen. If
| seemed to weep, it was because l fol-
lowed to coffinless tombs tens OF tllous-
ands OF my poor, prosecuted fellow coun-
trymcn; and il my descriptions appeared
tinged with red, it was because l dipped
my pen i'll their fresh bleeding graves,
in order to give suitable coloring to the
terrific page on which a cruel fate has
traced the destinies of Ireland. 1t was
not my mind, but my bosom that die
tated; it was not my pen but my heart
that wrote the record"
In this same address he told this
pathetic incident of the famine days in
Ireland: did you ever hear of the case
of the Widow Burns? Her first boy died
and the ncighbors came and dug the
grave very deep. He died OF famine
fever Then the second boy died and she
carried him on her back, and with COM
mon shovel she lifted the fresh clay and
deposited the second son over the first.
The third son died and she carried the
third upon her back and deposited him
in the grave over the second, and the
fourth and fifth died and the coffin came
near to the surface, and finally the poor
widow died And when the men quailcd
and were afraid to enter the door of the
dead, two women came and they laid the
handle OF the shovel along her dead body
and surrounded her with wisps OF grass
taking hold OF one end OF the shovel and
the other taking the other end and laid
her on the collins of her FIVE sons. There
is famine fever for you and there is ex-
termination"
In 1850, he crossed the Atlantic and
received a warm welcome from Arch
bishop Hughes, Of New York, and from
the day OF his arrival until his last illness
in 1864, he was constantly employed in
lecturing and speaking to crowded houses
and churches. In the fall OF 1864, he was
taken ill and died at Carney Hospital
Boston, Oct 18th, 1864. Present at his
bedside was young student, now Rev.
P. B. Murphy, of Saxonvillc, Mass, and
Chaplain of the famous 9th Massachu-
sets that saw service at Siboncy Father
Murphy never forgot that one Of DR..
Gahil's last wishes was desire to be
buried in his native land. His remains
were placed temporarily in Hollywood
Cemetery. Brooklinc, awaiting final dis
Dosal by his friends in Ireland Shortly
after the news Of his death reached Ire
land lot was set aside for him in the
famous Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin, in
what is called the "O'Connell Circle"
Rev. P. Murphy finally aroused inter
est in the matter and the remains were
removed February 22, 1885, with appro-
pirate ceremonies to the Boston Cathe-
dral and from there to New York, where
they were placed before the altar of the
Cathedral! While the remains were be-