From The

 

 

From The

IRISH-AMERICAN

Front page February 17, 1877

COL JOHN O'MAHONY

Death of the Ex-Head Centre.

His Remains to be sent to Ireland.

 

The muster-roll of those who were prominently identified with the Irish National movement of 1848 is fast being reduced by death. Within the past eighteen months Mitchel, Martin and Ronayne have passed away. And now the grave has claimed another tenant, who in his day filled no small space in the public mind and in the history of his time. Colonel John O'Mahony, ex-head Centre of the Fenian Brotherhood, died on the 6th inst. at his residence, Sixth Avenue, in this city, after a lingering illness, of dropsy super-induced by disease of the kidneys. His last appearance in public was on the occasion of the meeting at the Cooper Institute, on the anniversary of the execution of the Manchester Martyrs. At that meeting — at which he presided — he contracted a cold which at once prostrated him, and was the proximate cause of his death, as he never rallied from the effects of it. During his illness he was attended by Drs. John Dwyer and Denis Dowling Mulcahy, and was visited by a few old and attached friends, who saw that he wanted for nothing that his condition required. For the root it is hot justice to his memory to state that be died a poor man — the most emphatic refutation of the idea — if any such were ever entertained — that he profited in any way by his lifelong devotion and service in the cause of his native land.

Colonel John O'Mahony was born in 1816 in the neighborhood of Mitchelstown county Cork. The earlier portion of his life was spent in the same locality — a small estate which, had long been in the possession of his ancestors and where his family — an ancient and respectable one — had resided for many generations exercising a sort of chieftainship over the surrounding peasantry. This property was originally worth about £1,000 a year, but the extravagance of some members of the family had reduced it down to a value of £300. This relic of his paternal property O’Mahony inherited, his elder brother, Thomas, having died early; but when he became an outlaw, to save it from forfeiture, he was obliged to convey it to his sister, Mrs. Mandeville, who now holds it.

The members of the O’Mahony family had always been remarkable during the period of the Penal Laws for strenuously taking the side of the people against the Earls of Kingston, who were then noted for their oppressive conduct. His father and uncles were also implicated in the insurrection of ’98, and escaped execution I only by the sudden death of their chief enemy, Lord Kingston, who was moving heaven and earth for their destruction.

John O'Mahony and his brother both received their preliminary education at Hamlin's school, in Midleton, county Cord, and after time proceeded together to Dublin, where John attended lectures at Trinity College for several years, though he finally left without obtaining a degree. His early manhood was spent at the place of his nativity, where the family's feud with the Kingstons and their hereditary championship of the peasantry seem to have early infected him with a strong tinge of national sentiment. He attended many of the great Repeal meetings which O'Connell held in Cork and Tipperary in the course of the years 1843 and 1844, and soon became  imbued with a strong admiration for the Great Agitator, who also happened to be a friend of his father.

On the secession of the "Young Ireland " party from Conciliation Hall. O'Mahony himself with the revolutionary element of the national party; and when William Smith O'Brien and the chiefs of Young Ireland "took to the hills," after John Mitchel's arrest and transportation, O'Mahony was one of the first to join them at the head of a considerable body of the peasantry of Tipperary and Cork. O'Brien's failure at Ballingarry ended the short campaign, as far as the main body of the revolutionists was concerned; but even after the capture of his leader, O'Mahony, favored by his knowledge of the country, managed to keep the field with a small number of followers for several weeks, and at last effected his escape to Wales, from whence he was able to secure passage to France, where he joined the little knot of rebel leaders who had succeeded in reaching the Continent despite the efforts of the English Government for their capture.

In 1854 John Mitchel effected his escape from exile, in Van Dieman's land, and made his way to New York. O’Mahony immediately left Paris and hastened to join him. The Irish national movement here had then taken shape as a semi-military organization, under the name of "The Emmet Monument Association," of which Mitchel was chosen the leader, with plenary powers; and hopes were entertained, at the breaking out of the war with Russia, that a good blow would be stuck for Ireland's deliverance But the hoped for "opportunity" came and passed unavailed of. Mitchell left New York to reside in Tennessee; and soon after the "Emmet Monument Association spit into two factions at the Astor House Convention, one party retaining the old name and organization under the lead of Michael Doheny and John O"Mahony, the other — of Robert Tyler (Son of ex-President Tyler) was the nominal head, — the name of "Emigrant Aid Association," and including the nationalists of Pennsylvania and the Eastern and Western states. Both continued to regard Mitchel as their chosen leader; but the division was fatal to the organization; and it languished until the breaking out of the so-called "Phoenix" movement in Ireland, in 1858, imparted new vigor to the national aspirations of the members.

Previous to this, however, O'Mahony had undertaken the translation of Dr. Keating's "History of Ireland" from the Gaelic, and to this work he devoted about two years of constant labor and study. While engaged on this work his health broke down; his mind gave way completely; and for some time he had to be placed under restraint in a lunatic asylum. Here after a short period of medical treatment he was restored to health and sanity and returned to the busy world, pronounced entirely cured. Subsequent events, however, render it doubtful whether his mind ever regained its original healthy tone; and many of the aberrations of which ever his warmest friends had to complain during his later career, are most easily and charitably construed as being due to the effect of an intellect subject to periods of partial disorder. His book, which had been delayed by his illness was published in 1857 but the protraction of its publication, and the heavy expenses attendant on its issue rendered it of no pecuniary benefit to him; nor did he derive any from a second and revised edition which be get out in 1866. The stereotype plates were paid for and presented to him by a few of his friends and admirers in the United States. Where they are at present we know not.

The origin of the "Fenian Brotherhood" in American may be dated from the explosion of the "Phoenix" conspiracy in Ireland, in the later end of 1858. Up to that time the "Emmet Monument Association" had been a recognized organization; and as Mitchel had neither resigned nor been removed from its leadership, he was still regarded as its actual Chief. A new organization was started at a meeting held in old Tammany Hall. O'Mahony was elected its chief officer, and as the "Emmet Monument Association," for want of proper direction, had ceased all practical work, the new body quickly absorbed all the active elements of the older one. O'Mahony had been commissioned by James Stephens, — then in Ireland, — and for some time continued to act in subordination to the Irish revolutionary executive. But this condition of things was not only repugnant to his own feelings, but proved an insuperable barrier to the progress of the movement at this side of the ocean. The breaking out of the American civil war, in 1861, drew off the great bulk of the young Irish-American military element into the ranks on either side, and, in 1864, it became necessary to reorganize the Fenian Brotherhood, in order to place it on an effective footing. This was begun at the Chicago Convention, in which the representatives of the Brotherhood declared it distinct from and independent of all other bodies while ready cooperate with all having the freedom of Ireland in view. The Chicago Fair, at which a large sum of money was raised, followed, and the organization of the Fenian Brotherhood was completed at the Cincinnati Convention, in January 1865, where the organization was rendered a strictly representative body, governed by an elected Centre and council, and having in no sense the characteristics of a secret society. Its territory was also limited to the United States and the British possessions in North America.

At this time, O’Mahony held the rank of Colonel of the 99th New York State Militia, which had been recruited from the ranks of the Brotherhood, also furnished a large proportion of Meagher’s “Irish Brigade,” the “Corcoran Legion” and, in fact, of every Irish regiment and company engaged during the war. The rapid growth of the organization, however, demanded the increasing attention of its chief officer: and, at the urgent request of the Central Council, O’Mahony resigned the Colonelcy of his regiment, which was soon after disbanded.

At this period the organization was rapidly augmenting in numbers and resources; but a coldness had sprang up between O’Mahony and Stephens, to remedy which envoys were sent to Ireland and mutual explanations were made which resulted I the promise from the Irish in America of more active aid to their brethren in Ireland, and on the Irish side the assurance of a speedy effort for National Independence. In the meantime, however, differences had arisen between O’Mahony and the Central Council, some of whom regarded him as too slow and hesitating in action; and these were referred to a general Convention of the Brotherhood, which was called at Philadelphia in October 1865, and was attended by representatives from no less than eight hundred circles, scattered all over the Union. At this Convention an arrangement was made by which the organization was to be governed, under a written Constitution, by a President and a Senate composed of fifteen members, whose special function was to see that the funds of the Brotherhood were properly applied to the object for which they were intended — the arming and equipping of the Irish people for the struggle for independence. O’Mahony was again elected President; and the prospects of the organization appeared to be brighter than ever. But the embers of discord were only covered up, not extinguished, and the flames of intestine strife soon broke out again. Under the influence of designing knaves, who had gained his confidence, O’Mahony ignored the supervisory action of the Senate, and set that body at defiance; and the result was a final and irreconcilable division in the ranks of the organization, which was fatal to its usefulness as a revolutionary body. The power it was capable of wielding may easily be judged from the fact that the Senate wing of the Brotherhood, acting under Colonel W. R. Roberts, in 1866, with only four months of preparation, was able to put in motion against the British possessions in Canada, an organized force estimated by the United States authorities at 30,000 fighting men; while during the years from 1865 to the arrival of the Fenian exiles, the other wing of the organization, notwithstanding the wasteful and extravagant administration of the affairs, under a number of irresponsible and incapable leaders, who grasped at its control after O’Mahony had resigned it in 1866, developed evedences of strength and plentitude of resources that surprised its friends as much as its enemies. Four years ago, Colonel O’Mahony was again called to eh leadership of what remained of the Fenian Brotherhood; but its power had departed; other organizations had started up to assume the functions it exclusively fulfilled; and the once powerful organization was scarce a shadow of the which, a few years before, was ready to measure its strength against he powerful empire of Britain. Such as it was, however; John O’Mahony took hold of it with as simple a faith as when he first engaged in the work of national organization, for with whatever other failings he may have been chargeable, his love for Ireland was sincere and all absorbing, and the dream of his life was to aid, by whatever means he could her redemption from bondage. But his health was broken down, and his energies were failing. Steadily the effects of years of toil and hardship, super-inducing disease, told on him. He sunk at last, having lived long enough to learn that the Convention of the Fenian Brotherhood, which met in this city the week before last, had elected Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa to the position he was no longer able to fill. During the latter days of his illness he was attended by the Jesuit Fathers from St. Francis Xavier’s Church, and by the Sisters of Charity. He received all the ministrations of the Church in whose faith he was brought up, and passed away peacefully from a world in which his life had been a stormy and eventful one. May his soul rest in peace. Amen.

On the announcement of Colonel O’Mahony’s death, the Council of the F.B. was called together and proceed to take measures for the proper disposition of his remains, it was resolved to send them to Ireland for interment with those of his family and kindred. On the announcement of this determination, Mr. P.W. Gibson, the generous and public-spirited agent of the William & Union line of steamships, at once tendered free transportation for the body and its escort on the splendid steamer “Dakotah,” the best vessel of the line, which sails on Tuesday, the 13th inst. The offer was gratefully accepted and arrangements were made accordingly. The officers of the Sixty-ninth Regiment tendered the use of their armory, in which the body could lie in state, and be viewed by the thousands of citizens who would naturally desire to obtain a last view of it.  Accordingly, on the completion of the embalming process, the body enclosed in a handsome casket, were on Thursday night removed to the armory, and placed in the officers’ room, the flags of eh regiment draping coffin, on which were also placed the military cap , belt and sword of the deceased. A guard of honor was furnished, day and night, by the 69th and the “Irish Brigade;” and the room and the front of the armory have been draped in mourning since the arrival of the body. The flag over the armory also floats at half mast. The remains have been viewed by thousands of sympathizing patriots since their exposition.

The remaining arrangements for the obsequies are as follows: — On Tuesday, 13th instant, at 9 o’clock, a.m., the body will be removed to the church of St. Francis Xavier, 16th street, where a Solemn Mass of Requiem will be offered for the repose of his soul. At the conclusion of the service the funeral procession will be formed, right resting on Twenty-third street. It will consist of the Sixty-ninth Regimen, the Veterean Corps of eh same regiment, the “Irish Brigade,” the various circles of the Fenian Brotherhood and representatives from nearly all the other Irish-American societies in the city and vicinity, and will escort the body through Broadway and Canal St., to the steamer dock at pier 46. Four representatives of the Irish Nationalists will accompany the remains to Ireland, and it is expected that the funeral pageant will be fully as imposing as that which attended the transmittal of the remains of Terence Belew McManus in 1861, on which occasion the late Col. O’Mahony aced as Chief Marshal.

 

PREPARATIONS FOR THE FUNERAL

            On last Sunday, a meeting of the Council of the F.B. and of representatives of various Irish Societies was held to complete the arrangements for the funeral of Colonel O’Mahony.

            The annexed telegram was received from Mr. James O’Connor, of the Dublin Irishman: —

Dublin, Feb. 11, 1877.

J. O’Donovan Rossa:

O’Mahony’s interment arranged at Dublin. Send on body.

O’Connor.

            It was stated that, owing to pressing business arrangements, Colonel James Cavanagh, of the 69th Regiment, would not be able , as originally planned, to accompany the remains to Ireland. His resignation, as a member of the delegation, was, therefore, reluctantly accepted and Colonel P.J. Dowling, of Washington, was selected in his place.

            The following gentlemen were named as pall-bearers: — Richard O’Gorman, John Savage, Captain James Mitchel, Thomas Clarke Luby, Thomas F. Bourke, Dr. Denis Dowling Mulcahy, O’Donovan Rossa, A. E. Costello, G. Smith, J. Barry, J. Foley, J. C. Sullivan, P. Ford, D. Conningham, Judges Daly, Murray, and Duffy, R. White, T. O’Loughlin, H. E. Talmage, Colonel Coonan, F. McKeon, W. Foley, and J. Murphy.

            The arrangements for the funeral are as follows: —

            The Body will be borne from the armory on Grand street, escorted by a guard of honor only, to the church of St. Francis Xavier, where the High Mass of Requiem will be celebrated.

            The procession of the various military and civic organizations will form on Twenty-third street, and will thence proceed down Fifth avenue, to the church.

            At the conclusion of the religious services, the remains will be placed in the hearse, and the procession, under the direction of Colonel James Cavanagh, will move to Broadway, down Broadway to Canal street and through Canal and Hudson streets to the steamer dock at pier 46, foot of King street, North River

            The steamer “Dakota” will sail at three o’clock sharp.