DEATH OF JOHN O'MAHONEY, THE FENIAN LEADER.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 211, 20 April 1877, Page 3

DEATH OF JOHN O'MAHONEY, THE FENIAN LEADER.

CoiiONEL John O'Mahoney, the Fenian leader, died in New York on Feb 6th. Col John O'Mahoney, the Fenian leader, whose exploits occupied a large share of public attention some ten years ago, was born in county Cork, Ireland, about 1820, md belonged to a revolutionary family, bis father and his uncles being implicated in the rising of 1798, and barely escaping hanging therefor. After receiving his education at Trinity College, Dublin, he removed to Tipperary, and in 1848 enlisted in the unsuccessful Young Ireland movement of that year which was led by Smith O'Brien. Young O'Mahoney had influence enough to gather around him about 1,500 peasantry, wr o encamped on the Tipperary hills and maintained their position for three weeks, till, being completely surrounded by the military the futility of further resist ance became apparent, and tney quietly dispersed. O'Mahoney and some of his friends escaped to France, and after residing there six years he emigrated to this country. From the Carbonari and other secret societies of the Continent, he learned the art of organising secret political societies, which he put into practice in this country. In conjunction with Corcoran and Doheny, he worked quietly for several years in organising the Fenian Brotherhood, which finally assumed such proportions that it held a convention in Chicago in 1862. The great strength which it there exhibited, together with the fiery declaration of principles published by the convention, kindled all the enthusiasm of the Irish residing in this country. Men and money flowed in a constant stream, and at the close of 1865 the Brotherhood numbered over 3,000,000 members, who contributed so liberally that the annual revenue of the organisation was then estimated at $2,500,000. Military companies were raised, balls and picnics were given, and all went on swimmingly. The arrest of the leaders of the movement in Ireland in 1 865 only gave fresh impetus to the Brotherhood here John O'Mahoney had been confirmed in the leadership by the Chicago Convention. The Moffat Mansion, on East Seventeenth street, New York, was hired to serve him as an executive headquarters, and Fenianism swiftly reached its highest tidemark. The surroundings of " President " O'Mahoney were brilliant and attractive for a time But before long, dissensions sprang up in the Fenian ranks, and in 1866, after a convention held in New York, a large section of the "Brotherhood," under Colonel Win. R. Roberts, separated from Colonel O'Mahoney, and founded that party which was afterwards identified with the Canadian raid. All wasnow chaos, the money melted away, andin IH6B John O'Mahoney, disgusted with the Fenians, resigned his head centreship and retired into private life until 1872, when he again consented to assume the leadership of the skeleton of the once formidable Fenian body — a leadership he continued to hold up to the time of his death. At one time Mr. O'Mahoney was recklessly charged with dishonesty, but we understand that he successfully vindicated himself and that his later years were spent in straitened rather than in luxuriant circumstances. Daring the Rebellion O'Mahoney assisted in organising the Corcoran Legion, and a militia regiment •>f his own, which he commanded for three months. In appearance O'Mahoney was formerly very remarkable. He wore his back hair in long ringlets, which parted at his shoulders and hung down to his breast in front. At one time he became so devoted to Spiritualism that his mind was deranged and he was confined for four months in a lunatic asylum. The body of John O'Mahoney, the Dead Fenian Head Centre is Vjd in state at the Sixty-ninth Regiment armory, corner of Ludlow jf/£* Grand streets. The room is appropriately dressed in mourning, ttnd over the body is laid the sword and. sash of the deceased. The Irish and American flags also cover the coffin. The remains will be in state until Tuesday morning, when they will be taken to St. Francis Xavier's Church, where the funeral services will be held. The remains are guarded alternately by the Sixty-ninth regiment, the Irish Legion, and the Irish Volunteers. The funeral procession will form on Fifth avenue and Twenty-third street, and the line of march will be down Fifth avenue to Sixteenth street, to Broadway, to Canal street, and then to the wharf. Large numbers of persons visited the armory yesterday and viewed the remains. — Catholic Standard.