The times., 1901-03-28
FUNERAL OF W. ]. MURTAGH.
The Arrangements for the 0bsequies
Not Yet Completed.

Arrangements for the funeral of VII
liam J. Murtagh, who died yesterday
morning at II clock at the National
Hotel, have not yet been completed. Mr.
Murtaghs death resulted from stroke
OF apoplexy. Monday morning he went to
his office in the Corcoran Building as
usual In the afternoon he went 10 the
Baltimore and Ohio station. AS he
stepped upon a street car to return home
he was stricken, and never after recov-
cred consciousness.
He began TO sink very rapidly Tuesday
night, and it was found necessary TO use
oxygen to prolong life. He was sixty-ffyc
years of age, and leaves a widow, but no
children At the bedside were his sister
in-law, Mrs. a G. Wright, her daugh-
ter, Miss Matilda d. Wright, and her son
Lloyd Wright.
Mr.. Murtagh was a citizen Of Washing
ton for over forty years. He was born
in New York, near New York City, and
was the son Of lawyer. His father died
when he was very young, and he became
the sole support of his mother. With her
he came to Washington, and was made
page in the Senate, where he became
acquainted with such men as Clay, Web
ster, and Calhoun.
He was for number of years q page,
and then took up newspaper work with
the National Era" which then had an
office on Pennsylvania Avenue near
Four-aud-aHalf Street The Era was
at that time publishing Harriet Beecher
Stoves Uncle Toms Cabin, and other
books Of a similar nature. Mr.. Murtagh
espoUsed the Abolltionist cause, and was
a party to all the controversies in which
his paper was concerned over the sub
jcct. He took part in a sensational fight
in which the office Of the Era was
stoned and was obliged to fee TO the roof
TO save his life.
His connection with the Era brought
him into so much prominence that he was
able, in a few years, to start "A paper
for himself. With two men who furnished
the money, Hanscom and Weston, he
started the National Republican" to
be the organ Of the Administration. The
first Republican building stood on the site
occupied by The Times office, and was a
small two-story brick structure
1t was soon moved into larger quarters,
on the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue
and Thirteenth Street. The building was
erected at an expenditure OF $250000. and
the investment proved the paper S down
fall The mortgage on the property in
Volved the business in various compiica-
tions, and finally Mr.. Murtagh closed cut
his interest in the paper to the late Almon
NJ. Clapp, who had been Public Printer
Mr.. Clapp conducted the National Re
publican for some years, but IL was
finally bought up by Mr. Stilson Hutchins
and consolidated in the Washington
POST
After relinquishing his share In the
Republican Mr.. Murtagh took an Of
flee in the Corcoran Building and engaged
in various kinds of business. During the
latter years of his life he was the repre-
sentative before Congress Of the Cramp
shipping interests. Then he became in
terested in pneumatic gun carriage
and several other military and naval in
Ventions which he pressed before the de
partments. His last venture, which turn
ed out successfully, was with the Holland
II GOmnInN " he.
was a large stockholder.
Having never had any children, Mr.
Murtach and his wife have always lived
at hotels For the past fifteen years they
have been living at the National. Mr.
Muitagh often expressed wish to be
buried from the hotel and desired that
some of the walters who were his friends
during the last few years should be pail
hearers