Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-19

JOnn Callahan, confederate veteran,
steamboat manager and man OF affairs.
died suddenly at 7:2O o'clock this morn
ing at his home, 1917 Fairmout street
Mount Pleasant. Mr.. Callahan was out
and about yesterday and visited the Of
fees of the Norfolk and Washington
Steamboat Company. of which corpora
ton he was second vice president and
general manager.
Mr.. Callahan was attacked by angina
pectoris about five years ago and appar-
emily recovered. But the malady after
ward developed into arterial cirrhosis,
which was the immediate cause of his
death:
The funeral will be held from the Cal.
lahan home at $40 o'clock Thursday
morning, thence to ST. Paurs Catholic
Church, where requiem mass will be
sung. The active pallbearers will be the
agents OF the Norfolk and Washington
Steamboat Company at Washington,
Alexandria, Old Point and Norfolk The
honorary pallbearers will be selected from
his former associate members of the di-
rectorate Of the steamboat company. In
terment will be in the family lot at Mount
Olivet cemetery.
A Native Of Ireland.
John Callahan was born in the city
Cork, ireland, sixty-eight years ago He
came to this country when he was
eleven years of age and was self-edu-
Gated. He learned the trade of ship
smith at Richmond, Va. When his term
Of apprenticeship was nearly completed
the civil war began. At the age Of
twenty years the Irish lad enlisted in
no LET m, In
his regiment was assigned to that noted
Confederate command. Pickett's divi-
sion. which gained worldwide fame by
it's desperate charge at Gettysburg
With his regiment. Mr.. Callahan par
ticipated in the first battle of Bull Run
and the sanguinary battles along the
Virginia peninsula.
His company was commanded by
Capt. Sherman Of this city, and In it's
ranks were a number of former men,
bers of the National Rifles and other
Washington militiamen whose Sympa-
thies and services had been cast with
the southern cause. He was intimately
acquainted with Maj John Il. Callaghan,
a clerk in the Post Office Department
here, who served in Pegram's battery
of the Confederate Army.
Owing to the similarity of their names,
the two soldiers often found themselves
in mix-up. Before the close of the war
Mr. Callahan was assigned to duty in
the Tredegar works in Richmond because
of his valuable knowledge of ordnance
matters.
Pioneer Steamboat Man.
He was the pioneer in the establish
ment of the Norfolk and Washington
Steamboat Company. and at the time of
his death was an active member of the
Washington Board of Trade, the Chamber
of Commerce, and director of the Ma
tional Bank Of Washington.
At the close of the civil war wearing
a scar Of the conflict-a slight wound he
received while on picket duty-Mr Gala
han worked at his trade in Richmond,
subsequently moving TO Portsmouth. Va.
where he was appointed master snip
builder in the navy yard. Because of his
ability he was retained in the govern
ment service long time.
He was afterward elected state senator.
representing the county of Norfolk ana
the city of Portsmouth in the Virginia
legislature. Later Mr.. Callahan was APP
pointed superintendent of floating prop
erty of the c. 81 o. railroad, with head
quarters at Newport News. He held
that position until he began the organi-
cation of the Norfolk and Washington
Steamboat Company. which has been In
successful existence more than nineteen
years.
At the close of the civil war, he devoted
himself increasingly to the steamboat
business and lived TO see his fondest
hopes in that direction realized.
His Friends Legion.
He was a man of fine appearance and
pleasing address and had the happy fac
ulty of making friends and retaining
them His acts of charity were countless.
but he adopted the motto to never let
his right hand know what his left hand
was doing" He was a raconteur. and one
of his favorite themes was to relate
stories of the camp. the march and the
firing line while wearing the southern
gray under dashing Gen. Pickett.
His wife, Mrs. b. Callahan. and three
children survive him. The latter are: d.
]. Callahan, assistant general manager Of
the Norfolk and Washington Steamboat
Company: w. II. Callahan. general pas
senger agent Of that company, and Mrs.
William 7. Ring.
The news of the sudden passing of
Mr.. Callahan came shock In local
commercial and financial circles. in
which he was most popular. The flags
on the steamers of the line he pioneer
ed and at the agencies Of the company
are flying at half mast in honor of
the pioneer steamboat man. Many
members Of the Confederate Veterans
mi off ho Pm