The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1918-09-26
DEATH CLAIMS
JOHN IRELAND;
ILL FOR YEAR
Eminent Catholic PreIate Aware
of Approaching End for
Forty-eight Hours.
MONUMENTS TO ZEAL
Erection of Twin City Edifices Crown
ing Achievement of Archbishop's
Sees Archdiocese of ST. Paul
Develop From Log Chapel.

DSNS'OP FiO" Ivy SIdpCa
st. Paul, Sept. 25.-Archbishop John
Ireland died Wednesday morning at
3:55 o'clock at his residence, 226 Sum
init avenue, st. Paul.
The eminent Catholic prelate had
been i'll almost continuously for nearly
a year. He suffered a relapse ten days
ago and became gradually weaker un-
til his death. The end came peace
fully.
Knew End Was Near.
Archbishop Ireland was aware for
more than 4S hours before his death
that the end was near. His counte
nance was continually lighted with a
smile, which throughout his life had
been one of his most charming char
acteristics. He said several times dur
ing the last two days that his life work
had been accomplished and that he
was ready to GO.
His recent serious illness became
known last Thursday when Father
Thomas A. Welch announced that the
archbishop's condition was very low.
He sank gradually Friday and on Sat
urday hope was given up by those at
his bedside.
Went South for Health.
The first information that the arch.
bishops health was failing came last
January when it was announced he
was going to Florida for his health.
En- route, he was snowbound at Chi.
cage for n day. This is believed
to have been very detrimental to his
physical condition.
He gradually became better and
early in April returned to his old
home at 977 Portland avenue. On
April 20 1t became known that the
archbishop had suffered a relapse.
Physicians in attendance at that time
announced that the strain of the long
trip to Florida had been more detri.
mental to him than the climate was
beneficial.
Rallied From Illness.
Archbishop Ireland rallied from that
illness and was able to leave his bed
late in May. In July he moved to his
new home at 226 Summit avenue,
which had been bought by commune
cants of the st. Paul diocese.
Archbishop Ireland was honored on
May Is by the Military Order of the
Loyal Legion of the United States by
being elected commander of that body
at a meeting at the West hotel. 1t is
the highest gift within the power of
the Loyal Legion, a militant and pro-
gressive body composed exclusively OF
officers of the Civil war and officers
sons.
Eighty Years Old.
Archbishop Ireland was 80 years old
September IL. He spent the day at
his residence, but there was no cele-
bration Of any kind. He received a
few of his friends and many congratu-
latory messages from various parts of
the country.
His new home on Summit avenue is
considered one of the finest structures
on the avenue. 1t is built on the emf
nence overlooking st. Paul and the
Mississippi river, while the front of
the building faces the st. Paul cathe-
dral.
Ft0tOuA GtICs
It was learned Saturday night that
stimulants had been used to keep the
archbishop alive since last November.
Oxygen has also been used during the
past week in an effort to sustain life.
Mother Superior Seraphine, sister of
Archbishop Ireland; Bishop Thomas
O'Gorman, of Sioux Falls, and Bishop
James Trobec of st. Cloud, Mimi, had
been at the bedside of the prelate
since Saturday.
Foremost Figure Gone.
The passing of Archbishop Ireland
removes a foremost figure in Mime
sofa and the Northwest, a national
figure for many years. As priest,
army chaplain, colonizer, temperance
advocate, educator, diplomat, friend of
presidents and popes. and leader in
religious thought, he had been among
the most widely known Americans OF
his time.
Erection of the Pro-Cathedral of st.
Mary in Minneapolis and the new Ca
thedral in st. Paul, both works OF
the last decade, was a browning
achievement of the archbishop's. He
had seen the archdiocese of st. Paul
develop from a log chapel erected by
his church in st. Paul to a great mis-
sionary field with six suffragan bishops
and great edifices as monuments to his
zeal and faithfulness.
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