Vol. X. No.1 Connecticut Irish-American Historical Society January-February 1998 Meriden Irish immigrant killed in heroic rescue A 33-year-old native of "He had not time to County Galway died a save himself," reported hero's death in Meriden the Meriden Morning on Jan. 4, 1909. Record, "for the locomo­ Michael Donlon was tive bore down upon him, killed when he stepped in striking him at the back of front of a railroad engine the head and hurling his to push a mother and her body to one side. Mrs. young daughter out of the Gauthier suffered only a path of the oncoming shock from the accident, train. having fallen one side of An employee in the the rails and her daughter baggage room at .the Meri­ the other side." den train station, Donlon Donlon was taken by was hauling an empty cart ambulance to the city toward the north end of hospital and treated by the depot to pick up lug­ Dr. Lockwood. The in­ gage and parcels from the jured Irishman was bleed­ 2:12 p.m. express when he saw tripped. Her mother, a Mrs. Gau­ ing profusely from a large gash at several women with a young girl and thier, had gone back to assist her, the base of his skull, but his body a baby in a carriage attempting to but was terror stricken as she saw was not bruised or injured in any cross the tracks to Colony Street the train approaching. way. He died around midnight ahead of the train. Donlon leaped from the loading without regaining consciousness. The women had time to get dock and pushed Mrs. Gauthier and across safely, but the young girl the young girl to safety. (PleBse turn to PBge 2) ()f lri~h Traditt • lOll Noted Irish folk singer. composer and poet Johnny Moran will be the master of ceremonies and the featured performer in the "Rainbow of Irish Tradition" which will be sponsored by our society at Quinnipiac College in Hamden on March 18. Also on the playbill for the evening of Irish cultural ac­ tivities are Gina Dunlop and her singing group. vocalist Mike McCann. Jim Chase doing an Irish monologue and students of the Irish language class in New Haven performing a skit. Look for more details in the neX1 issue of The Shenachie. Page 2 Granite monument in cemetery in Meriden honors Irish hero (Continued from Page 1) would be a source of inspiration to the grave and monument where Young Donlon, who boarded with all who might have the privilege of space had been provided for the his uncle at 116 Pratt St., had reading of his selfless bravery." speakers, the band and the Hiberni­ worked in the baggage depot for The newspaper said it would do­ ans. three years and in the freight depot nate $25 to begin a fund for a "Donlon's grave was covered with for several years before that. He was plaque, floral tributes and the monument described by the foreman of the bag· "It ought not to take long," said was veiled with the Stars and Stripes gage depot, Eli Munn, as a "young the Meriden Weekly Republican, "to and an Irish banner. Just before the man of good habits, fine disposition raise the comparatively small sum opening address by attorney Dana­ and conscientious as a worker," that will be necessary to procure a her, the band played with wonder­ He was survived by his parents tablet in memory of Michael Don­ fully fine effect, 'Nearer My God to and three brothers in Ireland and by lon. Here is an undertaking which Thee,'" three sisters, Mrs, J.E, Madden and ought to appeal to everybody irre­ After Danaher's eulogy, President Mrs. William Lally of Meriden and spective of race, color, religious Peter Corcoran of Division 2, Miss Annie Donlon of New York creed or political belief. Such a type A, 0,H., pulled a cord that unveiled City, of man, 'the noblest work of God: the monument honoring Donlon. An irony of the tragedy was that should be given general recognition, Mayor Reilly gave a dedicatory ad­ Mrs. Gauthier's husband had also A few hundred dollars will make dress comparing Donlon's sacrifice survived a railroad accident when, a possible a tangible evidence to all to those of the Meriden men who few years before, the horse and who come into the city of the ap­ served in the Civil War. "The one in wagon he was driving was struck by preciation of Donlon's fellow men, whose honor we are met," he said, a train at the Brooks Street crossing of his great sacrifice." "did not respond to the roll of the in Meriden. The horse was killed and Contributions for a memorial drum or the bugle's call, No martial the wagon torn to splinters, but Gau­ poured in and the 2nd Division of command sent him to meet death, thier was thrown free into nearby the Ancient Order of Hibernians in but it was a summons to manly duty, Clark Brook. Meriden, of which Donlon was a just as urgent as was ever heard on When word of Donlon's heroic ac· member, took on the responsibility field of banle. And response was in­ tion spread throughout Meriden, it of making arrangements for a stantaneous. Without thought of became "the principal topic of con· suitable monument, himself, without care as to what versation, " The A.O.H. retained W,J. Luby might be in store for him, this young The newspaper reported that, to fashion the monument and by man gave up his life that a mother "Representatives of all classes of so­ June, Luby had carved a handsome and her child might be saved, ciety have discussed reverently and granite shaft with a Celtic cross to "... This modest. unassuming appreciatively the heroism of this be placed over Donlon's grave in young Irishman faithfully following man whose only thought was to res­ Sacred Heart Cemetery. The in­ his daily duties was called upon to cue the mother and child who were scription on the monument read: face a situation that tries men's in the path of the train ... "Erected by A,O.H. and Friends of souls. Hesitation meant death to the "Not for one instant did the man Meriden, Conn" In Memory of helpless; action meant death to the consider for his own safety, nor did Michael Donlon, Whose Heroism helper.. he take time to think of the feelings Saved Two lives, 1876-1909." "Without a moment's faltering, he of those near and dear to him. His The monument was dedicated on leaped to the rescue. His strong, duty was plain. He saw it in a flash Sunday, June 6. Several thousand willing arms bore the fear-palsied and went out to do it ... This is the residents turned out for the dedica­ mother and her little girl off the t.rue kind of heroism, the kind which tion, track of death as the on-rushing train makes men and women who witness Two hundred members of the whizzed by. They were saved but it greater and bener members of so­ A.O.H., under Grand Marsha! the horror-stricken people who wit­ ciety. It shows the best side of hu­ Joseph S, Casey led a procession nessed the heroic act knew that the man nature and reveals men as linle which included a platoon of p""ice, brave young fellow was hurt unto lower than angels." a military band and a carriagE carry­ death." The newspaper suggested that a ing Mayor Thomas L. Reilly, attor­ memorial tablet be placed on the wall ney C.J. Danaher and Or, A.W. (Source: Meriden Morning Record. of the railroad depot as "an enduring Tracy and attorney P.J. O'Briel", Jan. 4, Jan. 5, June 5, June 7. testimony of the grateful remem­ "Just before entering the ceme­ 1909, Meriden Republican. Jan, 6, brance of a great deed. A bronze bas tery grounds," reported the Meriden 1909.1 relief which would show the features Morning Record, "the band played of the hero, with a fining inscription a dirge and the paraders marched to FAMINE JOURNAL January-Fobruary 1848 #15 Perspective People Swept Away Gloomy New Year Children Perish To Ihe editor or lhe Free­ To the Editor of the Um&­ Tesllmony, Kenmlre, Jan. It is difficult to imagine 8 mall from CUfden, Co. GII­ ritk Reporter from ElIlIlsty­ 4, 1848 - George Phelln, land in greater disarray than way, Feb. 11,1848-lnOctc> mon, Co. Clare, Jan. 7, 1848 master of Ihe Ke.mlre poor­ ueland was al the beginning ber 1845, famine, consequent on - Matters can hardly be worse; house, eumlned - Said that of 1848. the failure of the potato crop, the year just passed was ren­ Catherine Connolly with five While 1847 is often caused the deaths of many in dered memorable from scenes children were in the Kenmare marked as the worst of the these parishes - Orney and ofdistress such as are seldom poor-house; were put out on Famine years, reports from Ballindoon. Enwneralors of witnessed in the world, and Tuesday the 29th (of December) throughout the country in Kno\\lll probity were appointed such as could be heard or talked ... Catherine Connolly and her early 1848 revealed no eas­ by our reliefconunittee to 'take of nowhere but in Ireland. Yet, children went much against their ing of the !lUffering, no faIl­ an accurate census of the popu­ gloomy as was the year 1847, will; they left the house from 12 ing olT of the death tolls.