The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-23
MICHAELCAFANAGH dead
A Fall Down Stairs Results in Con.
cussiOn of the Brain.
The Noted Historian and Poet Pnsses
Away Mt His Fourth Street Home
Prominent in Ireland and Amer
len in the Feninn Movement
Funeral Services to BE Held Today.

| Michael Cavanagh, well known as his
torian. litterateur, and poet, and conceded
TO have been the greatest authority on
and translator of Gaelic in the United
States, died at his home, 1859 Fourth
Street northwest, at 2:30 o'clock Thursday
afternoon as the result Of injuries due to
a fall down flight of stairs at an early
1 hour Tuesday morning. Death, which was
caused by concussion of the brain, fol-
lowed hours of suffering and came while
Mr.. Cavanagh was unconscious. DR.. Philip
S. Roy, the family physician, was called
| Immediately after the accident, and be-
cause of the serious condition of the pa
tient remained in almost constant at
tendance. When the end came Mr.. Cav
! anagh was surrounded by all but one mem-
| Der of his family.
The deceased was seventy-three years
old and is survived by a widow, seven
children. and four grandchildren.
The accident which resulted in the death
of Mr.. Cavanagh followed an attempt to
pursue an old custom. He had for years
been accustomed to arising at night when
he could not sleep and repairing to his
library to read He was heard to arise
| early Tuesday morning and move about,
and Mrs. Cavanagh. thinking her husband
| intended to go to the library, paid little
heed until she heard a heavy fall She
instantly left her room and was shocked
to find her husband lying at the foot of
small flight of stairs leading from the
hallway outside the room. Mr.. Cavanagh
was unconscious and 1t was seen at 4
glance that he was seriously injured. The
household was aroused and a messenger
despatched for DR.. Roy. Despite his efforts
the injured man showed no Improvement
and his wife was prepared for the worst
Messages were then sent to various men,
bers OF the family acquainting them with
the accident
Arrangements for the funeral were COM
pieted last night. Services will be held at
st. Aloysius Church at 10 o'clock this
morning and requiem high mass will be
said for the repose of the soul of the de-
ceased. The interment will be at Mount
Olivet
Michael Cavanagh was born in Coppa-
quinn. County Waterford Ireland, in 1927
AT an early age he was apprenticed to a
cooper and, while working at his trade,
completed his education. The occupation
selected was not suited to him and was
soon abandoned for long and bitter po-
liticai fight in the interest OF his country.
So brilliant was Mr.. Cavanagh and SO
earnest and assiduous his endeavors that
he won distinction among his fellow-men
with the result that his never-failing en-
ergy and fearlessness established him as
q leader.
With Thomas Francis Meagher, after
ward general Of the United States volun-
teer Army during the war of the rebel
lion. Sir. Cavanaugh was prime mover
in the Fenian outbreaks OF 1SiS-49. After
the failure OF the movement he came to the
United States and located in New York
City.
The undaunted spirit of the man was
soon in evidence in his new country, and
before long he was again prominently
identified with Fenianism. During the
years 1865 and 1866 he was Secretary of the
Fenian Brotherhood in the United States
and private secretary to the celebrated
Fenian leader, John 0'Mahoney. While
acting in those capaclties he contributed
TO the daily press many articles on the
subject OF Irish home rule and the op-
preston to which his people were sub
jected. In 1870 Mr.. Cavanagh. then mar
RED. came to Washington to accept posi-
ton in the War Department. which he held
at the time of his death As a servant of
the Government. however. he never lost
nrdor or zealousness in the furtherance of
the cause for which he had so long strrg-
Sieu, ana II was only a snort time before |
his contributions to the Boston Pilot"
then edited by John Boyle O'Reilly; THE |
Irish World. THE Celtic Magazine" the I
Chicago Citizen" and other Irish Ma
tionalist publications. attracted Widespread |
attention. |
In later years Mr.. Cavanagh devoted |
most of his time to historical works, fic- |
ton. poetry, and translations from the |
Gaelic into English and vice versa. Only |
recently translation of his OF an English |
poem into Gaelic was quoted widely by
the American. Irish, and English press.
There are many of the works of Mr.
Cavanagh which might be mentioned, but |
those most generally known and which won
him fame. are his Memoirs Of Gen. Thom-
as Francis Meagher" and "Our Lady's
Well Of Coppaquinn." The latter is an epic
On his birthplace, while the former is a
work in the life and career of
the man with whom he was first asso-
ciated in Fenianism, and who later won
fame as a major general OF volunteers in |
the American Army.
The deceased was the father Of tai
anted family, prominent among the men,
bers of which are Mrs. John Collins Q<ath-
arine Francis Cavanagh), whose contribu-
tions TO the magazines are Gell known.
and Michael Cavanagh. jr.. former private
secretary to the late Librarian of Congress,
John Russell Young. and who is now in |
the service Of the War Department In the
The other children are Mrs
Charles West. Richard and Thomas Cav-
anagh. and Misses Julia, Mary. and Nellie
Cavanagh.