Patrick Slavin, of 292 Ash street, said to be the oldest veteran of the Fenian raid and a resident of Winnipeg for a number of years, died Wednesday on the eve of his ninety-fourth birthday.
Mr. Slavin was born at Sydenham, Ontario, August 28, 1836. In 1853 he went to Kingston, Ont., to live. In 1861 the Fenian raid troubles began to startle Canada and the people in Great Britain, and among the first to volunteer in their suppression was Mr. Slavin. He joined a company which had been raised in Kingston by Captain Daniel Cottingham, who was afterwards promoted to the rank of colonel and placed in charge of the 14th Battalion Rifles, province of Quebec.
It was fully expected at the time that Great Britain would declare war against the United States over the "Trent affair," but reparation and restitution were made and the settlement was amicable, Mr. Slavin once told the Free Press.
Funeral services for Mr. Slavin were held yesterday at 8:45 a.m. from the home of his daughter, Mrs. A O. Marrin, 200 Kingsway, to St. Ignatius church. Burial was made in St. Mary's cemetery.
Manitoba Free Press (Winnipeg, Manitoba), August 30, 1930.