ST. PATRICK HONORED. / Observance of the Saint's Natal Day in Butte. / Procession of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Emmet Guards and Parnell Rifles Witnessed by Crowds — The Ball at Miners' Union Hall a Financial and Social Success.

# Transcription — The Butte Weekly Miner, 1889-03-20, p.4 **Source**: The Butte Weekly Miner (Butte, Montana), Wednesday 20 March 1889, p.4, col. 5. **Status**: Complete. **Method**: Read against the page scan (`archive/pages/1889-03-20_butte-weekly-miner_p04/fullpage.jpg`) at 3x, committee names at 4-8x, 21 Oct 2026. The article fills column 5 from the headline at the top of the page to the committee lists at the foot. It replaces a partial text of May 2026 whose deck, ode title, ode credit and several committee names had been taken from a faulty OCR layer (see the report in `research/docs/transcription-pass-2026-10-20/clipping-fills/`). --- # ST. PATRICK HONORED. ## *OBSERVANCE OF THE SAINT'S NATAL DAY IN BUTTE.* ### Procession of the Ancient Order of HiberniansIrish societiesAncient Order of Hiberniansin America from 1836The largest Irish Catholic fraternal order in America: sick and death benefits for members, St. Patrick’s Day parades, and steady support for Irish nationalism.More in Key terms →, Emmet Guards and ParnellIreland: movements, law & landCharles Stewart Parnell1846–1891President of the Land League and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party; the dominant figure of Irish politics in the 1880s, brought down by the O’Shea divorce case in 1890.More in Key terms → Rifles Witnessed by Crowds—The Ball at Miners' UnionButte: companies, unions & placesButte Miners’ Union1878–1914Founded on 13 June 1878 as the Butte Workingmen’s Union, reorganised as the Butte Miners’ Union in the 1880s, and later Local No. 1 of the Western Federation of Miners. It made Butte a closed-shop camp for a generation, until its own members broke it in 1914.More in Key terms → Hall a Financial and Social Success. GATHERING SHAMROCKS ST. PATRICK'S DAY. [From the New York News.] On a hillside in Erin, I met a fair maiden, Her eyes downward cast as she tripped o'er the dew; Her face with smiles laden, Her form arrayed in A sweet modest garb of her native sky's hue. Her cheeks they were glowing, Her hair it was flowing, In the March wind that blew o'er the hills fresh and clear; Bright daisies were growing, But the maiden kept going, Nor minded the daisies or primroses near. Low o'er the heath stooping, Still constantly looking, A sweet cry of pleasure the fair maiden gave; And then downward drooping, She quickly was plucking, The emblem of freedom, the badge of the brave. Her heart now beats lighter, Her bosom looks brighter, With that green bunch of shamrocks pinned over her heart; Her song is full blighter [sic], For there's naught to disquiet her, And she bounds o'er the heath like the fleet-footed hart. Monday was celebrated here as the natal day of Ireland's patron saint by the many warm-hearted sons and daughters of ErinIrish societiesDaughters of Erin / Ladies’ Auxiliaryfrom 1894The women’s side of Hibernian life. The AOH’s national women’s body was organised in 1894 as the Daughters of Erin and later took the name Ladies’ Auxiliary.More in Key terms →, who form a large part of the population of the great copper camp with the usual parade and attendance at the services held in the church dedicated to the patron saint of the "ould sod." The day opened auspiciously, and continued bright and pleasant until the outdoor celebration was over, when rain and snow fell lightly and intermittently making the balance of the day decidedly unpleasant. Large crowds assembled early in the morning to witness the parade, filling the sidewalks of Main street with a mass of happy humanity, most of them in holiday attire, bent on giving up the day to enjoyment free from care. The subsequent rain sent most of the women and children within doors, but Main street retained a more than usual complement of men celebrating each after his own fashion. Flags were displayed from the fronts and over the roofs of the houses of those of Irish birth or descent, and green emblems were visible everywhere, being worn by many other than the above in compliment to their fellow citizens who wore them as their right and duty. The exercises of the day opened in accroddance [sic] with the pre-arranged programme by the assembling of the Emmet Guards at their armory in Turner Hall. They turned out fifty-three rank and file with Captain Brannagan in command, First Lieutenant John O'Mara, Second Lieutenat [sic] Cornelius Hayes and Orderly Sergeant Gardner. Between 8 and 9 o'clock the members of the Emmet Guards surprised their worthy captain by presenting him with a handsome sword. The presentation was made by Lieutenant O'Mara, who accompanied the gift with a few hearty, appropriate remarks, expressive of the warm attachment of the donors for their commanding officer. Captain Brannigan, though completely taken by surprise, being kept totally in the dark as to what was in store for him, was too old a campaigner to be caught unprepared, and though his heart swelled with emotion at the generous testimonial, he returned his thanks with a sincerity that fully compensated his men for what they had done. The sword is a regulation army officer's sword, and is a handsome piece of work. The Parnell Rifles had also assembled at the same place. They mustered about half the strength of the Emmets, but made a very neat appearance in their handsome gray uniforms. Both companies fell into line about 9 o'clock, and took up the line of march for Hibernia HallIrish societiesHibernia HallThe meeting hall of Butte’s Hibernians and a venue for other Irish societies; meeting notices name it again and again.More in Key terms →, WalkervilleButte: companies, unions & placesWalkervilleA separate small city on the hill above Butte, grown up around the Alice and Lexington silver mines.More in Key terms →, where the members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians were waiting them. It was hoped that the Meagher Guard would be present from Helena to assist in the parade, but not arriving as expected the procession had to take place with the two local military companies mentioned alone participating. Arrived at Walkerville the column was formed as follows: Emmet Guard Band, Major Foley Commanding. Emmet Guard, Co. B., N. G. of M., Capt. John Branniga[n] Commanding. Parnell Rifles, (Independent Company), Captain John L. Sullivan Commanding. A. O. H. Division No. 1 of Silver Bow County, Ed Sheehan, Marshal. In this order the line of march for the depot at South Butte was taken up, there to meet A. O. H. Division No. 1, of Anaconda. The latter arrived in due time about a hundred strong. and the procession being re-formed the column marched up Main street to Broadway. west on the latter to Washington turning south to St. Patrick's church where they attended high mass. The church was crowded to the doors, and a profusion of emblems of the day of the patron saint of Ireland lent a picturesque effect. An eloquent panegyric on the life of Ireland's patron saint followed, at the conclusion of which the procession was again formed on Washington street, and marched down it to Silver, west on Silver to St. James' Hospital, where a salute was given. This ended the procession, the inclement weather beginning to manifest itself, and making further parade unadvisable. In addition, the two military companies had marched upwards of four miles, half of it uphill, which was enough for one day. The procession was witnessed by a great throng as it passed down Main street to the depot to meet the Anaconda delegation of the A. O. H., as well as on its return from there in its passage to St. Patrick's church, and was everywhere pronounced as fine a turnout as was ever seen here. THE BALL. The ball that followed in the evening at Miners' Union hall was a big success financially and otherwise. The couples began to assemble early, and it was soon evident that the capacity of the room would be tested to the full. They came pouring in until moving was an impossibility, and when the grand march was formed there was not room on the floor for all who were ready to take part in it. It is safe to say that never before on a similar social occasion was so large an assemblage in attendance there. Many of the best citizens of Butte were present. In spite of the crush, the utmost good humor prevailed and, although under difficulties, dancing was entered upon with zest and kept up until a late hour this morning to the lively strains of Burt's orchestra. The throng gradually thinned out and after midnight dancing was enjoyed in comparative comfort to those participating. Too much cannot be said in praise of the committees in charge for their efforts to make the occasion pleasant to all who were present. The receipts were very large of course, and will make a welcome addition to the funds in collection for the new hall the Order of Hibernians intend to build this year at a cost of ten thousand dollars, which will be situated nearer Butte than the present one at Walkerville. The following are the names of those on the various committees: Committee of Arrangements—J. J. Harrington, John Gilligan. E. Sheehan, M. Burns, M. E. Crosby, F. Foley, M. McKevitt, P. Doyle, D. J. Hennessy. Reception Committee—Pat J. Murphy, D. Driscoll, John Cadiga[n], John Downey, James H. Lynch, J. J. McHatton, Thomas Ferguson, Dennie Lync[h], E. D. Sullivan. Floor Committee—John McGill, W. Sha[n]ley, James A. Cantey, John Gilligan, M. McKeevitt, O. M. Nulty, James Murphy, P. Doyle, Jos. Hogan, Thos. Curtis, P. J. Brop[h]y. Floor Director—D. J. Hennessy; assistant, Ed. Sheehan. *[Text checked against the page scan at 3x (names at 4-8x), 21 Oct 2026, starting from the tile-by-tile page reading of 20-21 Oct 2026. The type of this copy is worn: its n sometimes prints like a u ("Cadigau", "Shauley", "Brannigau") and its h like a b ("Lyncb", "Bropby"); the intended letter is supplied in square brackets. Printer's slips "blighter", "accroddance" and "Lieutenat", and the full points after "strong" and "Broadway" in a running sentence, are kept. The second spelling "Brannigan" (against "Brannagan" four lines earlier), the period after "Gilligan" in the first list, and "McKeevitt" in the floor list (McKevitt in the first) are as printed.]*