The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1919-07-24
Michael j. Galligan, One
Time Miner In Jeweled
Fields Of Africa, Dies AT
Willowbrook Today.
SET FIRST DRILL ATKHARTOUM
Kenoshan Had Won Fame In Dark
Continent AS Greatest Diamond Drill
setter-Dies of Tuberculosis Con-
tracted From Fatal Congo Fever.

Far from the diamond fields Of
Khartoum and from the jewel mines of
South Africa, where he had lived for
years and won great reputation as a
diamond drill setter, Michael j. CALI
gan, native Of Kenosha, died early
this morning at the Willowbrook SAM
forum as result Of an attack of the
Congo fever which he had contracted
while on his last journey to the dark
continent. After partially recovering
from his illness, the deceased returned
to Kenosha more than seven months
ago and in his weakened condition he
fell an easy prey to tuberculosis, which
is very similar to the disease known
over the seas as the fatal Congo fever.
Michael j. Galligan had lived a very
interesting life. He was born in Ke-
nosha in 1871, the son of Mr.. and Mrs.
Michael j. Galhgan, Sr. He was edu-
Gated in the schools Of Kenosha and
learned q trade IN the factories here.
in 1898, hearing of the great diamond
mines of South Africa, he left Kenosha
for the city of Kimberly in the Congo
district and since that time he has been
employed by the English government
as a mining engineer in many of her
far provinces He was also the repre-
sentative of the Sullivan Mining Com
pany of America, and had established
many machines manufactured by that
company for the great diamond fields
of the Orient and Africa.
Mr.. Galligan holds the distinction of
being the first man to set drill in the
great desert at Khartoum which has
since then proved to be one of the
greatest sources Of wealth of the EN-
pire Of Great Britain. For years he
was sent to India by the English gov
eminent and more recently had been
returned to South Africa. Tt is said
that he was known among mining cir
cles of Africa as the best diamond drill
setter in the world. During war times
he had broken down his health by
heavy work in the African fields in
order to meet the demands for iron ore
made by the English government and
this was one cause of the illness which
brought his death. He sailed for
America on the day after the armistice
was signed and returned to Kenosha
several days later.
At one time the deceased had been
employed in the Panama Canal Zone
for the American government, but he
later returned to his previous work in
British mining fields. He was in the
Traansvaal at the time of the Boer
War and had had many interesting ex-
periences during that time. In his
travels he had at one time become ae-
qAainteC with Harry Lauder, the fam
Gus Scotch singer, and he was counted
as one of the close friends of the artist.
Mr.. Galligan was married to Miss
Elizabeth Carey, of Highland, Wiscon-
sin, who during the time that she was
not with her husband in foreign lands
had made her home In that city. He is
survived by the widow, by three sis
tiers, Mrs. j. II. Martin, Mrs. a. Grove
and Mrs. R. H. Walsh, all of Kenosha,
and by two brothers, Stephen A. CALI
gan and P "A. Galligan, also of this
city. he had been frequent visitor
to Kenosha and has many friends here
to whom his death has come as a great
personal sorrow.
The funeral services will be held on
Friday morning at nine O'Clock at the
st. James Church after which inter
ment will be made in the family plot
in the st. James cemetery.