The times., 1899-11-03
DEATH OF COLONEL KERRIGAy.
The Nenturesome and Eventual Life
of "a BoNyery uox

I anu ~ NhNAAA AsAAf
of Bowery BOY
NEW YORK. Nov. AFTER a life as fll
of exciting incidents as that OF any man
who has passed the three-seore-and-ten
mark Col. James E. Kerrigan. formerly
| Congressman, politician. and soldier Of for
tune. died late Wednesday night in ST
Marys Hospital in Brooklyn from the ef-
fects Of a surgical operation. Colonel Ker-
rigan was a veteran of two wars and count
less hlibustering expeditions. and sine his
boyhood days had been a conspicuous figure
wherever there was trouble to be settled
or glory TO be gained James E. KerTigan
was born in this city, OF iTisl parents on
Christmas Day, 1928. He was one OF four
brothers. and his mother claimed descent
from Lord Hill. who was next in command
to the Duke of Wellington at he battle o.
Waterloo. KerTigan showed, when stu "a
boy signs of a venturesome spirit lie
was the leader of the youth OF the Bow
cry, a member OF Hose Company a. OF
which Harry Howard was foreman. and tee
commander of the boys OF his ward in ali
OF the famous fights with the ''Dsad Bab
bits which was the name the SIKH
warders were known by. When kerriga1
was seventeen years old he ran away T. ON
Fordham College to go to the Mexican war.
I ne iuuuNeQ several IellON SluQEutS 10 Ahi-
low him, aud they enlisted as privates. and
[ he won laurels at Monterey and ChapulJe-
pee and at the taking OF the City Of Mexi-
co. Returning to this city with a war rec
ord, ne plunged at once into politics, and
after the hottest kind OF fight he wrested
the leadership of the Bowery from Pat
Matthews. He entered into an alliance
with Matt" Brennan, and the two did the
best work ever done in that section OF the
city for Tammany Hall.
Mr. Kerrigan remained in politics for
several years and then began TO pine for
excitement of a more violent character.
His reputation as a fearless man and a
soldier came to the ears OF Gen. W. A
Walker. who was planning a hlibustering
expedition to Nicaragua, and he offered
Mr.. Kerrigan a captaincy if he would raise
a company OF men. Mr.. Kerrigan recruited
his company in the BOwery in about two
days and it sailed away with the expe-
ditiOn. The venture was an unsuccessful
one but il had a little success at the start
A town or two was captured and Captain
Kerrigan found himself the alcalde Of a
large village, The revOlutiOnists were fin
ally routed and General Walker was cap
tured and executed. Alcalde Kerrigan felt
his throne trembling and decided not to
waste any time. He sailed out into the cen
u VI AAlt NlildHt VIII Ills udluluI OF men.
rounded up all Of the prominent Nicara-
guans in town, drove them into a church,
filled the cellar with gunpowder, and de-
clared that he would blow the place up un-
less he was allowed TO depart He was
allowed TO go. and although hOtIy pursued.
managed TO make his way to the coast
He returned to this city with only q few
OF the company of Bowery boys ne had
taken away with him.
Mr. Kerrigan went into politics again
was elected an alderman from the Sixth
ward and then served a term as clerk OF
the Old Tombs police court. When the
Civil War began. Mr. KerrIgan organized
the Twenty fifth Regiment, New York Vol
unteers and became its colonel Just be
fore the advance on Miners Hill in Sep
tember, 1861, Colonel KeTTigan, riding out
from the Union camp. fell in with some
Confederate officers. He talked with them
for a time and then returned to camp. He
told the story himself maintaining always
that as the Confederates were alone and
he was without followers, they decided not
to fight. but to have a drink together.
The story was repeated in exaggerated
form and Colonel KeTrigan was arrested
and dismissed from the Army for holding
intercourse with the enemy.
In 1862 Colonel KerTigan was sent 10
Congress by Tammany Hall. serving one
term, and on his return to New York he
became an enthusiastic Irish Nationa ist
When the invasion of Canada was planned
in the early seventies he led company Of
one hundred men across the border and
captured small town. They he'd it about
a week, and were then driven back to the
United States by a superior force. For
years after this he was power in politics.
but of late years had been almost forgot
ten. Last spring he went 10 Dawson City,
in the Klondike. looking for adventure
despite his seventy one years. He was too
old to do much mining. and the hardships
of the journey told on him. He returned TO
New York a few weeks ago and shortly
afteTward was taken i'll.