The Irish standard., 1902-12-27
Recollections of Meagher.

.... Helena. Mont.
Prominent among the lrishmen of
Helena is General Curtis, who has
been in this western country over
thirty-fve years. He is ~ Cork man,
has held important public Offices, and
is still in the prime of health and full
of business activity. He speaks enter
tainingly of General Mrayhcr. and it
is hoped may be induced to write out
and publish his rccollcctions of the
Irish patriot who was his guest for
three months in Montana. General
Curtis, who was in the military ser
vice ut the time, enjoyed greatly the
companionShip of General Mulgher,
who was at all times overtiowing with
good humor and entertained his
friends With incidents of the Irish
revolutionary movement I'm 1913 as
we'll as with stirring narratives Of the
campaigns of tie Irish Brigade in the
Civil War. His power of description
as we'll rs his Huemcy was wonderful.
! lie had the art Of investing public af-
fairs or military conflicts With a charm
entirely his own
General Curtis is fully convinced
that the death of General Meagller
was entirely accidental. He was in
Montana at the time and made full
inquiry then and since from every one
qualified 10 speak accurately on the
subject. His persistent desire to
learn tie truth and nothing but the
truth has resulted in his firm convic-
ton that General Nlcaylcr got out of
his berth on the boat for Il moment.
stumbled on the coil of rope that was
on the deck and fell into the raging
waters Of the Missouri to he seen 10
more. General Curtis considers that
there is not the least ground for as
Stunning; that General Meagl,cr commit
ted suicide. The suicidal tendency
was entirely foreign to his nature.
lie had passed through },cris in Ire
land eliminating in the sentence for
high treason. lie had endured tho
years of penal seryitud" to whc,, that
sentence WAS committed and had gone
through artluolls campaigns in the
advance on Richmond without ever
Waverin& on amy occasion in That
manly courage which distinguished
him from the outset of his public
career. lie was never moody or
morbid. AS General Curtis points out
the letters which he sent from Mon
tana to lIarrer's Weekly and the ar
ticleS which he wrote ut the time for
lIarpers Magazine all Indicate buoy
amt spirits and rrrprrssihlc artlor
Some Of these letters were signed
Colonel O'ticcfe." which was the
tiinc who WAS an intimate friend of
General AIcaGhcr and WHO Subsequent
ly WAS Il member OF the Montana
legislature Which he cnlvcncd With
his abundant wit.
General Curtis recalls the memorable
address Which the latc Richard O'Gor-
man delivered in IL" tnnppr Union.
New York, on the Career of Genera
Mea&.cr. In the eloquent tribute
O'Gurman said: NO stain rests upon
the last moments Of Thomas Francis;
Mragher." This declaration, which
elected an outhurst Of applause. was
made by O'GornEn with full knowl-
edge of the fate OF General Mraghcr
Which was then fresh in the public
mind. Much as O'G0lmHn loved the
friend Of his youth" and rcvcrcd his
memory. lo would rot have made that
statement lad he not been fully con-
WINGED that Alcaghcr'S death was cll-
tirely accidental. OGormun was on
friendly terms at the time With Mrs.
Meaglcr as well as with army com,
rades Of the general who had gathered
information concerning his death i'll
the Missouri The information at his
service was ample and he Sifted il
with n legal mind. So while sadly
we may repeat the words, "Ie sleeps
his last sleep; his last battle is over
: he will wake to the sound of tho
trumpet no MORE" we may feel con
soled by the conviction that Meagher's
death was honorable and unco,ldcG
by any fault on his part.