The Washington herald., 1918-09-26
DEATH CLAIMS
ARCHBISHOP
Rev. John Ireland Sue
cumbs to Heart Attack
in St. Paul.

St Paul, Sept 25.-Archbishop John
ireland. of the st. Paul diocese of the
Catholic Church, died at S:55 O'Clock
To-Day after a long illness of heart
disease and stomach trouble. He was
80 years old.
Archbishop John ireland recently
celebrated his s0th birthday. Shortly
afterward he suffered a second re-
lapse within six months and his con-
dition became grave.
Death Comes Quietly.
Death came quietly. A score OF
prominent Catholic clergymen were at
the bedside.
For three days Archbishop Ireland's
physicians had kept their patient
alive by the use OF oxygen. Late last
night the final relapse came and in
the darkened room where priests and
nuns softly chsnted prayers for the
Dying the end came without a percep-
tible sign.
The arehbishop's sister. Mother su-
perior Seraphine; Sister Rose, Father
Thomas A. Welch, the archbishop's
secretary; Vicar General j. c. Byrne
and Bishop Joseph Busch, OF st.
Cloud, were kneeling beside the bed.
The prelate's sister had been in al
most constant attendance for more
than seventy-two hours.
Members Of the archbishop's house
hold said arrangements for the fu-
neral would not be completed until
word was received from a number Of
church dignitaries vino attended the
funeral of Cardinal John NJ. Farley
in New York yesterday.
IRELAND - HOLD FOR RELEASE
John Ireland. Archbishp of st. Paul,
Mimi, was 50 years old. having been
born September II. lS3S. in Burnchurch,
County Kilkenny. ireland. His long
career as an American prelate and
the report, three times circulated, that
he was to be elevated to the College
or Cardinals, made him an interna-
uonal figure. He held radical views
on religion and established a reputa-
ton for aggressiveness and tenacity
OF purpose that won him countless
friends and many enemies, for he
never lacked courage OF his convic-
tlons. He was as outspoken in de-
claring war upon what he regarded
as evil as he was whclehearted In his
advocacy OF what appealed to him
as good.
He came to America with his par
ents at the age of II. settling in Chi
cago. His brilliant mind was marked
even In his early school days. His
family moved to st. Paul, where the
youth attracted the attention of
Bishop Cratin. After finishing his
studies at st. Paul he was sent to
France for further study. Returning
in 1851. he was ordained a priest.
Chaplain In Civil War.
He volunteered as chaplain in the
civil war and served for fifteen
months with the Fifth Minnesota
Regiment. He shared the soldiers
discomforts and even Joined in the
engagement at the battle of Corinth,
Miss, to the extent OF passing cart
ridges to the fighting men. Bad
health forced his retirement from
army life.
Father Ireland vas made archbishop
May 10, 1888 He won distinction by
his unremitting fight to upbuild the
church in the Northwest and as an
unfiinchiug adyocate OF prohibition.
In 1911, when il was expected he
would be made a cardinal, there was
much Indignation expressed by Catho-
Hes in his own archdiocese and those
IN the Northwest, when ii was learned
lhat ne had been passed over by the
rope. \ virtual promise was said
10 nave been made by Pope Leo XIII
shortiy before 1902 that Archbishop
ireland should receive the red hat
Ireland had been the author Of the
negotiations between the Holy See and
the United States regarding the phil
lppines and was instrumental in hay-
ing VIM. Howard Taft. then Presi--
dent-elect, sent to Rome to set them
afoot. The Archbishop held the warm
friendship of Taft and Theodore
Roosevelt. His candidacy for the
cardinalate was backed by many in.
iuential Catholics. and Gen. di Ces-
nola went to Rome to advocate his
election. The failure of the mission
was a keen disappointment.
Pope Baked Press PIan,
In 1903 there were dispatctres
from Rome newspapers stating that
Ireland would be elevated to the
eardinalate IL President Roosevelt
should SO request. The report re-
cetved semi-officiaI denial from the
vatican. from which emanated the
statement that 'the Pope would not
maze cardinals because OF news
paper support" Strong opposition
developed to Ireland's prospective
eIsvation among persons who re-
called that in 1899 he was severely
ClltfelZAd