The Irish standard., 1905-07-08
A GREAT EVENT
Tho Equestrian Statue Erected
in Honor Of
Gen. Thos. F. Meagher, Unveiled
at Helena, Mont.

orator, was unveiled at Helena, July
4, in the presenceof one OF the largest
assemblages known to Montana. 1t
was shortly aftt! 5 o'clock in the after
noon when Miss Anastasia O'Meara
OF Butte, the I3-year-old daughter Of
]. ]. O'Meara, member of the ex-
ecutiyc board OF the Thomas Francis
Meagher Memroial association, 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. Mulligan OF Chicago.
Its cost was about $4,000. General
Meaghcr sits astridc charger, with
uplifted sword in his right hand and
the reins in his left
Beneath the horse is dismantled
cannon, which has the appearance of
. having been shattered by shell. On
the base beneath are excerpts from
some OF the more noted addresses of
the dead soldier, both in Ireland, Eng
land and the United States, as we'll
as chronological dates in his career.
Mayor Purcell OF Helena introduced
Governor Toole as the chairman OF
the day, after which President Lynch
presented the statue to the state. Then
came the actual unveiling and the sing
ing OF the "Star Spangled Banner by
the audience. Governor Toolc ac-
cepted the monument, after which
America was sung. A salute was
fired by squad from the Twenty
fourth infantry.
Former Congressman John F. Fin
erty OF Chicago was then introduced
by Governor Toole as the orator of
the day. Mr.. Finerty was in fine voice
and paid a glowing tribute to the men,
Cry OF the dead general, both as a
soldier and man OF letters. The
Declaration OF Independence was then
read by former United States Attorney
Weed.
General Mcaghcr was born in
Waterford Ireland in 1923. He re-
ceived splendid education in the col
leges OF Clonmcl and Lancashire, and
was among the cotcrie OF highly edit
Gated and polished gentlemen who
formed the Irish confederation. In
1913, he was sent by this confedera-
ton to Paris to congratulate the re-
publicans. and upon his return was ar
rested on a charge OF sedition and
convicted OF high treason, being SEN
fenced to be strung and quartered.
THIS was later committed to life I'M
prisoiimcnt, and he was embarked for
Tasmania. He escaped in 1889, reach
ing New York i'll 1855, where he en-
gagged in the practice of law and serv-
ed as an editorial writer on the Irish
News.
With the outbreak oi the Civil war,
he organized Il band OF zouavcs, which
became a part oi the Sixty-ninth New
lnrl: volunteers. He participated at
the first battle OF Bull Run and was
brevctcd major Returning to New
York al the expiration OF the ninety
day call oi President Lincoln, he or
garizc,l what altcrward became noted
rs the Irish brigade. which served with
$reat distinction.
1t WAS at the battle OF Frcdcricks-
burg that this brigade achieved undy-
ing fame More than half his COM
mand was lost and the general was
wounded. which caused his temporary
resignation. Later. he was made a
brevct major general and given COM
mand OF the district OF Etowah At
the close OF the war he was mustered
out, and in 1860. upon the recon-
mcndation of General Grant. was ap-
pointed secretary OF the territory OF
Montana.
1t was on the night OF June 20, 1867
that General Mcaghcr lost his life by
falling from steamboat at Fort Ben
ton dock into the Mississippi river
His body never was recovered. al
though $1,000 reward was offered
Reference to the movement of 1S4S
having in view the freedom of Irelan 4
and wherein Meagher and other patri
OTIS of that day took active part, will
prove Of interest at this time.
William Smith O'Brien was arrested
in Thurles on August S, 1S4S. Thomas
Francis Meagher, Patrick Donoghoe
and Maurice Leyne near Backgammon
on the 18th, and Mr.. MacManus on
board an American ship, the N. D.
Chase in the Cove of Cork, on the 3Oth
of that month. All these gentlemen
were, Immediately after their arrest
conveyed to Kilmainham prison, Dub.
lin.
Mr.. Smith O'Brien's trial was the
first called. opening on September 2S
and closing. a week later. He was
found guilty. When asked if he had
anything to say why sentence should
not be passed on him, Mr.. O'Brien, in
a calm and firm voice, addressing the
court, said:
my lords, it is not my intention tc
enter into any vindication of my con
duct, however much might have de
sired to avail myself of this opportu
nifty of doing so. ! am perfectly salts