The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-07-05
MONTANA H0NORS
MEAGHER, PATRIOT
EQUESTRIAN STATUE UNVEILED
AT THE CAPITAL.
Secretary of the Territory
of Montana by General Grant in 1866
Sketch of His Romantic Career in
Two Worlds and His Tragic Death in
the Waters of the Missouri.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal
Helena, Mont July 5-The equestrian statue
erected in honor of Thomas Francis Meagher,
the noted Irish soldier and orator. was unveiled
here yesterday In the presence of one of the
largest assemblages known to Montana. 1t was
shortly after o'clock when Miss Anastasia
OMeara of Butte, the 13-year-old daughter of
]. J. O'Meara, member Of the executive board
Of the Thomas Francis Meagher Memorial as
ISOLATION, pulled the cord which gave the public
its first view Of the splendid work Of art
The statue which Is Of bronze and about twice
life size, is the work of Artist Charles J. Null
lgan of Chicago. Its cost was about $4,000.
General Meagher sits astride charger, with up
lifted sword in his right hand and the reins in
his left. ..y =.
; Beneath the horse is a. disrnantled cannon,
which has the appearance Of having been shat
tered by a shell. On the base beneath are ex-
cerpts from some Of the more noted addresses
of the dead soldier, both in Ireland England
and the United States, as we'll as chronological
: Mayor Purcell Of Helena introduced Governor
Toole the chairman Of the day, after which
President Lynch presented the statue to the
state. Then came the actual unwilling and the
singing Of the ."Star Spangled Banner" by the
audience. Governor Toole accepted the monu-
ment. after which America was sung. "A
salute fired by a squad from the Twenty
fourth infantry.
Former Congressman John F. Finerty Of Chi
cago was then introduced by Governor Toole as
| the orator Of the day. Mr.. Finerty was in fine
voice and paid glowing tribute to the memory
ii
Of letters. The Declaration Of Independence
| was then read by former United States Attorney
Weed
General Meagher was born in Waterford. Ire
land, In 1928. He received a splendid educa
| ton in the colleges of Clonmel and Lancashire
and among the coterie Of highly educated
| and polished gentlemen who formed the Irish
confederation. In 1S4S. he was sent by this con
| federation to Paris to congratulate the repub
| licans, and upon his return was arrested on
| charge Of sedition and convicted of high treason
being sentenced to be strung and quartered
| This was later committed to life Imprisonment
| and he was embarked for Tasmania. He es
| capped in 1852, reaching New York in 1866
| served as an editorial writer the Irish News
With the outbreak of the civil war, he or
ganiZed band Of zouaves, which became par
! Of the Sixty ninth New York volunteers. H
participated at the first battle Of Bull Run ant
| was breveted major. Returning to New Yorl
| at the expiration of the ninety-day call o
| President Lincoln he organized what afterwar'
became noted as the Irish brigade, which serves
| with great distinction. g.
1t was at the battle Of Fredericksburg tina
this brigade achieved undying fame. More thai
half his command lost and the genera
was wounded. which caused his temporary resg
! nation Later. he was made brevet major gen
eral and given command Of the district o
Etowah. At the close Of the war he was mus
tered out and In 1865. upon the recommended ito
of General Grant. appointed secretary 0
the territory of Montana.
It was the night of June 20, 1867, tina
General }Meagher lost his life by falling from
steamboat at Fort Benton dock into the Mis-
sissippi river. His body never was recovered
although $4,000 reward was offered.