Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-06-14
June 5, 1872.
An Interesting Scene in the House
SPRINGFIELD.

/
An interesting and unusual scene oc-
Cured in the House on Friday afternoon
last. A bill for the relief of Miss Sarah
5. Stafford was pending. 1t was to pay
her for the services of her father, Lieut..
James Bayard Stafford, an officer Of the
navy of the Revolution. Miss Stafford,
who is seventy-one years of age, resides
at Trenton, N. j. Her memorial was
presented to the Senate, and on May, l,
1872, Mr.. Pool submitted report on
the case, which fully set forth the yalua-
BILE services performed by Lieut.. Stafford
in the war of the Revolution Among
other things he was the secret messenger
from the American Government to Col.
onel Laurens, ambassador to Holland,
who had been taken prisoner and con-
fined in the Tower of London. He per-
formed this duty faithfully, but never re-
ceived any pay for the service. He was
volunteer officer on the Bon Homme
and Richard, and was severely wounded
in an engagement with British cruiser.
As he was a volunteer officer, his name
was not on the rolls, and his daughter
conld receive no pay for that service.
Miss Stafford first presented her claim
twenty-five years ago. A bill for her
relief would pass one House and then
another, but concurrent action could
never be obtained. A few days ago the
bill passed the Senate, and was sent to
the House, where it was taken up to-day
as above stated. As soon as the reading of
the bill and report was commenced this
afternoon Miss Stafford, who occupied a
front seat in the ladies' gallery, could
not restrain her excitement, and showed
such signs Of emotion that doorkeeper
was obliged to stand by her side to keep
her quiet. The old lady would rise upon
her feet and through her tears would
look imploringly upon the members be-
low, and then would sit down, and lay
ing her head upon her hands would for
moment weep most bitterly. She had
spoken to many members of the House
about her claim, and the fact of her
presence in the gallery no doubt aided
in leading to the final result, the almost
unanimous passage of the bill. Miss
Stafford could not at first realize her sue
cess, until Mr. Buffinton, Mr.. Hill and
other gentlemen, by wave of the hand,
treasured her whereupon the old lady
waved her handkerchief in acknowledge
ment. The members could not resist this
demonstration, and they responded by
loud applause and clapping of hands.
Miss Stafford could contain herself no
longer, and falling upon her knees in
the gallery she offered up a fervent
prayer of thankiulness and gratitude.
She was was so much excited that she
could only move with assistance, and one
of the doorkeepers led her to a commit
tee-room where she was enabled to COM
pose herself The bill now only requires
the Presidents signature to become a
low. The amount of money the petit
toner will receive is eight thousand dol
lars, and she says it is perfect God.
send to her, as unless the bill had passed
she would have been compelled to go to
the poor house. She was visited in the
committee room by several members of
Congress, who congratulated her on her
good fortune. The old lady was former
ly in good circumstances, but few years
ago she was robbed of twelve thousand
dollars. The incident was a novel one
in the House, and the old lady's impress
i've manner and excitement will not be
soon forgotten by those who witnessed il.