The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-09-27
Iha Elk County DoOceatt.
THURSDAY, Oct, 4th, 1866.
GcGy'y'S Humanity.

teVigenccr appeared the following arti,
Gle, which should be read by every
friend of humanity in the country.
When any Catholic is asked to vote for
the Known Nothing Geary,. let him re-
member this statement Of authentic
facts
BRUTAL TREATMENT or SISTERS or CHARITY |
BY JOHN W. GEARY.
John ". Geary with his narrow intel
lect and bigoted nature, we have no
doubt, made most acceptable member
of that infamous political organization
which prescribed men on account of
their birth Or religious belief His ha.
tired of Catholics did not end with the
short.lived triumph of the Know Moth
ing party. 1t adhered to him, and was
afterwards displayed in the most often
sive manner possible.
One Of the most intelligent, wealthy,
and respectable citizens of Frederick,
Maryland, sends us the following state.
ment of an occurrence, which shows in
its true light the bigoted and tyranical
character Of the vain upstart who is the
Radical candidate for Governor Of Penn
sylvanla. We give the facts in his own
language:
To the Editors Of the MteIEgencer:
DEAR SIRS. 1t occurs to me thai
justice demands that the rude and bru-
tai manner in which some Sisters of
Charity were treated by John w. Geary,
should be known, in order that the
Catholic citizens of Pennsylvania may
understand the character and the spirit
of the man who appeals to them for
support at the coming Gubernational
election. The facts will be sufficient
without any comment, though you are,
Of course, at liberty to use them as you
see fit.
In the fall of 1864, under protection
of Il pass from Gen. Scott, some four or
five Sisters Of Charity left the St. 10.
seph House at Emmittsburg, on their
mission to nurse the sick and wounded
soldiers Of both armies. They had per-
mission to visit any point along the line
Of contest from Winchester to Rich
mond, as theig services might be need
ed. While travelling on the cars of
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, un-
der permission from the Lommandcriu.
Chief at Washington to go where
they pleased in discharge of the duties
of their sacred mission, they were ar
rested at Point of Rocks by Col. j.
W. Geary. In a rude manner they,
with their baggage, were removed from
the cars and left among crowds of sold
iers and rough camp followers, sitting
without shelter on their trunks by the
roadside. 1t was not until after re
peated solicitations that Col. Geary
consented to grant an interview to the
principal sister, a lady Of education, and
refinement, as we're her associates. Fl.
nally this military dignltary gave or,
ders to have her led into his august
presence by guard.
In vain did she explain fully the
charitable character of her holy mission
in vain did she exhibit the general un
restricted pass given her by tho Com
|, nander-in,Chief at Washington, au
thorizinG her to 20, with her associates
, wherevc. their holy mission might cal
them, or wherever they might be need
cd to nnrse the wounded and console the
, dying in gain did she beg to be al
) lowed to proceed as several parties o
b Sisters had Decn allowed to do unmo
Tested before, over the same route il
1 vain did she speak of the crying want
Of the wounded, the sick, the dyin4
soldiers of the Union army, to relieve
and succOr whom was great part o
her mission IN vain did she assure thi
petty tyrant lGeary) that she had nurseC
, the sick aud wounded soldiers Of al
l parties in the Crimcan war, withou. mo
. lestation or hindraucc, receiving from
Turk and Russian no less courtesy aut
kindness than she did from FreuchmeI
, and Englishmen; in vain did she pro
test with fearful eu.reatics against sucl
e usage in her native land, after havm!
S travelled on a similar mission all owe
Europe unmolested. John w. Geary
a bigot by nature and petty tyrant il
/ his position, thrust her and her com
e panions into the cars and sent then
t back to Frederick City, on their way t,
= the House of St. Joseph from whence
. they came
The Surgeon General at Frederick,
e high,toned gentleman, and a native o
e Philadelphia, hearing of the manner il
which the Sisters of Charity had beel
/, treated by Geary, aud fearing the dana
c ging effect which such brutal eonduc
f would have upon the many thousands o
Catholic soldiers who were fighting il
y the front ranks of the army, at once dis
Z patched an orderly to Gen, Banks, a
c headquarters near Poolsyille, with lei
e ter containing statement of the cor
duct of Gen. Geary, which letter wi
Il be found officially recorded on the book
Of the Medica' Director, The Adjr
taut. after riding all night, returned I