Year: 1870

publican says:


On the night OF July 1867 MaorGen. Thomas Francis
warks OF the steamer Thompson into the Missouri River
st Fort Benton and 1 was drowned % The wife OF Gen
5000 additional for the recovery of the remains But
tsee Of il could be FOUND Finally All search was
given up as useless, and Mrs. Meagher returned to
enabled to give the relics of her famed husband
honorable obseqnes In the month OF August 1867 Jas
ceeded up the Missouri River intending TO reach the gold
mines in the mountains of Montana Above Fort Buford
their boat struck upon rock and broken to be
unseTviceable While waiting to remedy the evil they
met an old pioneer who was engaged in telling timber
company and proceed further up the river but the old
man declined the ground that the Indians in the
path. In the course of conversation the pioneer
stated that the day previous to meeting the
white man. which he had found floating in the stream Of
the Missouri. the left bank. The remains were
stouty built, with dark hair, turning gray and slightly
curled; thick brown mustache and imperial, marked
and massive features and having altogether tne appear
ance of being all that mortal OF an army officer The
remains were attired only in q shirt and drawers,
and were very slightly decomposed The old man
showed the party the mound where he had buried the
body and they marked the spot The pioneer had heard
nothing of the melancholy fate Of the acting Governor
and thought OF the affair because he did not
know there reward offered for the body of Meagher


James Tobin knew Gen. Meagher when IN the mesh,
and had learned before leaving 1ankton OF his untney
death He became convinced from the pioneers de
lonely river those of the famous but hapess com
mander of the NewYork Irish Brigade He told as much
his companions and they agreed to send the news to
day Tobin left his companions 10 go hunting with the
aged pioneer, hoping to return before evening BY
some accident the hunters were delayed longer
than they anticipated. Returning whence they left,
to find the mutilated eorpses or the nve
men they had left but few hours previously In health
and yigor. Evidently the numbering Indians or that
region had come upon the luckless party while they
slept and murdered and mutilaed them; Iee sur,
yyors dug trench the grave OF Thoin1s Francis
Meagher and laid the five victims side by side. Then
Tobin and pioneer struck nOrthward out OF the In
dian track, and after months OF wandering reached te
they came down Helena Montana, hut could get no
one 10 take an interest in the matter most OF the people
thinking they were imp0stOrs.


About six weeks ago Tobin returned 10 fankton ana
Times That gentleman, knowing Tobin TO be an honest
man. published portion OF his statement and sent an
account the present Government OF Montana Ter"
ritory The officials being busted with other matters
no heed Of the matter Therefore Mr. Collins offers to be
OF exploring party 10 go up to Fort Buiord and
investigate the affair He and Tobn have little doubt
that the dead found by the pioneer In August 1867
ing this many First the pioneer had heard moth


ing whatever OF the catastrophe and did not know
that Meagher was Governor OF the Territory
Second description Of the remains tally with the
appearance OF the dead soldier, whose personnel was
known perhaps better to millions OF Irish citizens
than that of any man. living dead Third Gen. Meagher
fell overheard the Thompson after 10oclOck on the night
OF his drowning He had retired to rest diyestng him
self OF everything excepting the garments found upon
the floating body one month afterward- "a shirt and
drawers Fourth, the story can be substantiated on
OATH and Tobin will accompany any committee 10 the
OF massacre point out the Of his hapess
cOnpani0ns and that OF the luckess Irish
Mr. Tobin reward, and Will form one OF the
Committee from purely patriotic motives