Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-10-25
'M'SWINEY DEAD
AFTER DAYS
WITHOUT FOOD
Length Of Fast Without
Parallel In Medical
History

LONDON, Oct. 25.-(By Associat-
ed Press. Lord Mayor Terence
MacSwiney died at $40 o'clock this
morning after hunger strike con-
tinuing more than seventy-three days
and eclipsing any in the annals of the
medical world. The prisoner did not
recover his faculties before he died.
Father Dominic, Lord Mayor McSwin-
ey's private chaplain, and his brother,
John MacSwiney were with him
when the end came.
When notified to go to his broth
er's side, John MacSwiney asked the
privilege of communicating with rel
atives who were not present, but the
prison officials, it is said, refused to
permit him the use of the telephone.
After the death of the famous pris-
oner both his chaplain and his broth
er were detained at the prison until
6:15 o'clock.
Immediately on leaving the prison
John MacSwiney conveyed word to
the widow of Lord Mayor MacSwin-
ey, who is staying at West End no.
tel, that he had died at the hour
stated. Members of the MasSwiney
family arranged during this morning
for the removal of the body to st.
Georges cathedral in London, after
an inquest has been held. The body
will lie in state in the cathedral until
it is taken to Dublin. where the fun
eral and interment will occur.
Mrs. McSwiney and his two sisters,
Misses Mary and Annie MacSwiney,
who were not present when the end
came reached the prison shortly at
8 o'clock. A friend who accompan-
led them said they kissed the dead
lord mayors cheek, knelt silently in
prayer for a few moments and left.
This friends said not tear was shed
my the lord mayoress, who preserved
the stoical sel-possesSion she has
shown throughout the long ordeal.
MacSwiney was unconscious dur
ing Sc hours before his death oc-
Cured, it is stated. Father Dominic,
who remained with the prisoner con-
stantly, was unable to give him COM
munion, but administered the sacra-
ment of extreme JUNCTION, according
to the rites of the Catholic church.
The cause of MacSwiney's death
was heart failure, according to a
statement issued by the home office.
This statement is considered an indi-
rect answer to the criticisms of DR..
Josiah Oldfeld, eminent physician
and publicist, who had declared that
it was wrong for the prison physic-
ians to administer meat juice and
brandy to MacSwiney in periods of
delirium. DR.. Oldfield said that
handy is a poison and that a man at
the point of death is very susceptible
to any form of poison.
MacSwiney was 40 years old, and
although he was elected as Sim
Fein member from Cork to the Brit
ish parliament in 1918, he never took
his seat in that body. He was pres
ent at the first session of the social
ed Irish parliament in 1919, when the
establishment of the republic" was
confirmed. He was elected lord
mayor of Cork this year. He had
been in Jail for various political Of
fenses, with only brief intervals of
liberty, since 1916. In October, 1917,
MacSwiney, confined in Jail upon
political charge, secured his release
by hunger striking
MacSwiney's grave, it was stated
this afternoon, will be alongside
those of his official predecessors,
Thomas MacCurtain, Sheamus Nc
Guirke and Jeremiah McNeaty, all of
whom succumbed to hunger strikes.