(i KKII.LV. ii KKIKKV. 449 knew him best during his military service. He was one of the founders and owners of the " Grand Army Record," published in Boston. He is a Republican in politics, quite active in public matters, and has been frequently sent as delegate to the state conventions. He is president of the Colorado Farm Loan Company, one of the directors of the Standard Coal Com- pany, and president of the Silver Light (las Company. In 1889 he was appointed by President Hamsun collector of internal revenue, to succeed John E. Fitzgerald. Captain Orcutt is a prominent Mason ; was thrice illustrious master of Melrose Council, F. & A. M., for two years, and has been a member of the Grand Council, F & . M., fifteen years; member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion ; char- ter member and first dictator of Guardian Lodge, Knights of Honor, and re-elected for many years; worthy chief templar of Guiding Star Lodge of Good Templars for seven terms ; charter member of Wash- ington Council Legion of Honor, also of Bethlehem Council, Royal Arcanum, and Prophet of Wononga Tribe, I. O. R. M., of which he was first sachem. Captain Orcutt was married in New Britain, Conn., May 17, 1865, to Lucy A., daughter of Henry E. and Harriet (Blinn) Rhodes. Of this union were three chil- dren: Louise H., Frank M., and Mabel M. ( (rcutt (deceased). O'REILLY, John Boyle, was bom at Dowtll Castle, county Meath, Ireland, on June 28, 1844. After serving an early ap- prenticeship to journalism on the " Drog- heda Argus," he removed, at the age of seventeen, to England, where he con- tinued his journalistic work. When only eighteen years of age he enlisted as a trooper in the 10th Hussars, otherwise known as the "Prince of Wales' Own." While there he became an apostle of rev- olutionary doctrines, was arrested for high treason, and in June, 1866, was sentenced to twenty years' penal servitude. He was confined in various English prisons until October, 1867, when he, with several other political com icts, was transported to finish his sentence in the penal colony of West Australia. After enduring prison life there for about a year, he made his escape in an open boat, was picked up at sea by the American whaling bark '•Gazelle," and finally reached Philadelphia in November, i860. In July. 1870, he became editor of the " Boston Pilot," of which he is at present editor and co-proprietor. Mr. O'Reilly's literary career dates from his arrival in America. He first attracted attention by his original and powerful bal- lads of Australian life. The "Amber Whale," " Dukite Snake," " Hog Guard," " Monster Diamond," " King of the Vasse," and others, following in quick succession, showed to the world of readers that a new and virile singer had come to be heard. It is worth remembering that it was not then as it is now in the literary life of Boston. It is less than twenty years since, but long enough for a wholly different school of poetry to have arisen. Then, it may be safely said, it required a voice of more than common strength and melody to reach the world. Longfellow, Holmes, Whittier, 1 ,i 'well, Bryant, were all doing work worthy of their prime. Bret Harte, with all his- fresh, strong lyrics, and Joaquin Miller, crowned with the praise of London critics, seemed to have pre-empted whatever field there might be for new singers. There was no room for another bard, except where room always is, at the top. The unknown youth, with no credentials but his talent, came into a community which did not then discriminate too kindly in favor of a po- litical convict whose politics were of the Fenian persuasion. Yet he took almost at once the place that was his by right of genius, in a literary circle which is always jealous, but never narrow, in defining its boundaries. Mr. O'Reilly's work is known to all readers. He prefers to be known by it and through it. Otherwise one might be tempted to write indefinitely of his personal character, his unbounded sympathy with the oppressed and suffering of every (lass, creed and color, his healthy robustness, mental and physical. But all these are patent in his writings, which reflect the man as in a mirror. In the scant leisure of an active journalist's busy life, supplemented by unceasing and earnest labors in the cause of Irish nationality, he has found time to write half a dozen or more books, including his "Songs from the Southern Seas." pub- lished in 1873; "Songs, Legends and Bal- lads," in 1878; " Moondvne," a novel, in 1879; "Statues in the Block, and Other Poems," in 1881 ; "In Bohemia," in 18S6 ; " The Ethics of Boxing and Manly Sport," " Stories and Sketches," in 1888, and one or two volumes as yet unpublished. Mr. O'Reilly dedicated his first book, " Songs from the Southern Seas," to his friend, the captain of the American whale- ship that rescued him ; his second he dedi- cated as follows : " To my dear wife, whose
