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

RecollectlonS OF Meagher.
Helena, Mont.
Prominent among the lrishmen of
Helena is General Curtis. who has
been in this western country over
thirty-tive years. He is Il 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 Meaghcr, and it
is hoped may be induced to write out
and publish his recollections of the
Irish patriot who was his guest for
three months i'll Montana. General
Curtis, who was III the military SER
vice at the time, enjoyed greatly the
companionship of General MGayher.
who was at all times overlooking with
good humor and entertained his
friends With incidents Of the Irish
precautionary movement Fin lSiS as
we'll as with stirring narratives Of the
campaigns of tie Irish brigade in the
Civil War. His power of description
rs we'll rs his Huemcy was wonderful
lie had the art Of investing public af-
fairs or military conflicts with Il charm
entirely his own.
General Curtis is fully convinced
that the death of General Meayher
WAS entirely accidental He was in
Montana at the time and made full
inquiry then and since frcm every one
qualified 10 speak accurately on the
subject His persistent desire to
learn the truth and nothing but the
truth has resulted in his firm convic-
ton that General Mcaghrr got out of
his berth Oh the boat for !, moment,
stumbled on the coil of rope that was
on the deck and fell into the raging
waters of the Missouri to hc seen no
more. General Curtis considers that
there is not the least ground for as
SNninG that General Mpag!lrr commit
| ted suicide. The suicidal tendency
was entirely foreign to his nature
lie had passed through pcrils in Ire
land eliminating in the sentence for
high treason. Ito had endured the
wears of penal srrNitut!H to which that
sentence wHs rummutcd and had gone
through arduous campaigns in the
advance on Richmond without ever
W"Nerin. ON amy occasion in That
manly courage which distinguished
him from the outset of his public
career. He was never moody or
morbid. AS General Curtis points out
the letters which he sent from Mon
t;lm to llarpcr's Weekly and the ar
ticles which he wrote ut the time for
1Iarpcr'S Magazine all indicate buoy
ant spirits and irrcprrsShlc aulor
Some Of these letters were signed
Colonel O'Eccfc." which was the
ramc of Il wrll-knowl lriShman at the
timr who WAS an intimate friend of
General Mca: sl!cr and WHO subsequent
ly WAS Il member OF tho Montana
legislature Which he rnlivrncd with
his abundant wit.
General Curtis recalls the memorable
address which the l,tc Richard OGor-
man delivered in tMr Cnnppr Union.
Sow York. on the Career Of Genera,
MeaGlrr In the eloquent tribute
O'Gorman said: 40 stain rests upon
the last moments of Thomas Francis
| -:
elected an outburst Of applause, was
made by O'GornAn with full knOwl
edge of the fate of General AiragIlci
which wlS then fresh in the publ,
mind. Much as UEornHll loved til,
friend Of his youth" ana rcvcrcd his
memory. l!c would rot have made that
statement lad he not been fully con
WINGED that Mcaphrr's death was on
tircly accidental. O'Gorman was OF
friendly terms ut the time with Mrs
Meagher as well us with army com
rades of the general who had gathered
information concerning his death il
the Missouri. The information at Iii.
SERVICE WIS anlple ana ne SlItcu j.
with legal mind. So while s;ldl!
we may repeat the words, "He sleep.
his last sleep; his last battle is over
he will wake to the sound of til,
trumpet no MORE" we may feel con
soled by the conviction that Meagher
death was honorable and unclOudct
: by any fault on his part.