Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-03-18


That He Would Play Tunes Dear to
the Irish Heart. Upon His Cornet.
Over His Grave. Once Every Year
When the Clocs< struck Midnight
and Announced 81. Patrick,s Day,
READING, Pa. March 17.--At last
micight just as the clock indicated the
birth of another st. PatriciSs Day,
hundreds of people residing in the
vicinity of the Catholic cemetery in
this city were startel from sleep by
the sound of a cornet.
In the stiffness of the midnight hour
the music of the horn was heard In
many homes. The sound. evidently
came from the graveyard on the hills,
and many marvelled at its meaning.
Others wondered not at the footing
of horn at the ghostly hour, but
knew it was blown in ful1llment of a
sacred promise made a dying man.
When on his death bed, three years
ago, TON" Hannahoe asked his
friend. Alva Schaeffer, 10 go to his
grave in the Catholic cemetery, on
the eve of each st. Patrick's day. and,
when the bell in the church tower
tolled the hour of II, play on his cor
net the Lass O. Galway" Schaeffer,
who is cornet sololst in the Ger
mania Band of this city, promised.
Tom also asked that the cornetist
take with him on each OF these visits
a number of clay pipes and a quantity
of tobacco to place upon the grave.
A Quaint Character.
tom" Hannahoe was one OF the
most unique and picturesque charac-
tiers this city ever knew he was
jovial, whole-souled Irishman, beloved
by all his associates, liked by every
body who knew him, always smiling,
always happy and ever rsady u help
any one needing assistance. Tom
was known as the Mayor Of lrlslk-
town, the latter d section OF Read
ing in the southeast district II was In
1rishtown he lived and in lrishtown
he is buried.
The Mayor" conducted a hotel.
known as the STARS and Stripes" one
of the most extraordinary hostelries
on earth. 1t was a little bit of brown
frame building, containing n bar-roon
so small that a dozen people would
crowd It, Nevertheless, there was
many dance and jollifcation in THAI
room, on these occasions the orchestra
and those who did not dance occupy
ing seats on the bar. The room was
decorated, walls and ceiling, with the
American and Irish colors. including
large number of shamrocks cut from
green silk; old pictures of important
happenings in Ireland's history and
other interesting and novel decora-
tions, and last, but not least, IL was
always made cheerful by the contlnn,
GUS smile upon the good-natured face
of the landlord.
The Stars and Stripes" and its pro-
prietor were important factors in the
ward s politics, and the place was Wis
tied, during its existence. by many
men prominent in State political cir
cles. tom" had many friends, and
Toms" wishes on election day count
ed a great deal with these friends at
the time of balloting.
81. Patrick's Day IN The Morning
On St Patrick's Day the Mayor Of
Irishtown" was simply in his glory.
1t was the day of all days to him.
Dressed in light green cutaway coat,
green vest and green silk hat. wearing
an immense shamrock and carrying q
cane that came from where the sham
rock grows, tom" sailed forth early
in the morning for promenade. He
would cover the principal streets OF
Reading, bowling and smiling 10 every
one he met and distributing large NUM-
bers of shamrocks After his walk he
kept open house" at the Stars and
Stripes" for the rest OF the day, and all
callers were welcome 10 a drink free
Of cost. He treated with absolute.
genuine pleasure. giving the drinks
away, and not with the business ex-
pectations of having others return the
treat
FuInIIed a Deathbed Request.
When Tom died a wake was held
after a manner ne wished and indicas
ted before his death. II was a wake
at which his friends assembled around
the corpse, telling tales Of incidents
in the Mayors" life. eulogizlng him
FOR his many admirable qualities and
enjoying themselves as far as they
could in their grief.
tom" wanted no Borrowing, OF
tears to mark his wake. He wanted
his friends to do around him dead as
they did when he was in life.
A large number OF people went 20 tha
grave tonight TO see and hear Cor
netist schaeffer fulfill his promise. The
Lass o. Galway" was always one %
Toms fayorite songs, and IL was
rendered beautifully.
If the spirit Of the dead returns 10
earth that OF good old Tom Hannas
hoe" certainly lowered about his grave
last night