The National tribune., 1883-03-08
Flour Him GrilIeY.

There is no brighter page in history than
that which records the work of the Sanitary
Commission twenty years ago. Its labOrs
contributed indirectly if not directly, to the
success of our arms, and if they did not
avail to strip war of its horrors, they, at
least, alleviated many of its pangs. The pa
triotism of those who, for various causes,
other than personal cowardice or positive
disloyalty, remained at home during the
rebellion, found q practical outlet in the
work of the Sanitary Commission, and al
though the men who founded it and carried it
forward to the height of its usefulness have
passed almost entirely from public remem-
brance, they are as deserving of a monument
as those who perished on the field of battle.
There were many interesting incidents in
the history of the commission, but none, per-
haps, more romantic than one which the
Grand Army has recently undertaken to
commemorate in substantial and enduring
form. We refer to the exploit of r. c. Grid
ley-"Flour Man Gridley," as he came to be
known-who sold and resold a sack of -four
from one end of the country to the other,
until it netted the Sanitary Commission the
magnificent sum of S275,O00.
This is the story: Gridley, who was mer-
chant at Austin, Nevada, and Democrat in
do 90 hi II
low citizens, Republican, on the issue of
the local election, the loser to carry fifty
pound sack of -four on his shoulder through
the streets of the town. AS it happened,
Gridley lost, but he displayed so much pluck
and good temper in paying the forfeit, that
his march through the town became tour
of triumph, and at its close, in moment of
enthusiasm he put up the sack of flour at
auction and ran the price up to $500, at
which he bought it in. He then put it up
for the second time, but with the under
standing that the purchaser should donate
it to the Sanitary Commission, to be again
resold. The excitement grew, the idea took
like wildfre, and the news of what had oc-
CURED at Austin having been telegraphed
away, what might otherwise have remained
q mere local episode, became an event of
national interest. Gridley with his flour
sack started for the East, and his coming
was awaited everywhere with eagerness.
That sack of flour was put up, knocked down,
put up again, and again resold, in every
great city of the Union, until, as we have
said, it netted the Sanitary Commission
$275, 900 in hard cash. 1t made Gridley ia
nous, but it ruined him absolutely in pocket
and in health. 1t was Gridley's life rather
than the sack of flour which brought S275,-
00O He returned home only to find his
business gone to pieces and his health shat
tered. He died afterwards at Stockton, Cal,
in comparative obscurity and absolute pow |
erty, and nothing but plain head-board
now marks his last resting place. That is
Gridley's story-short, but sublime in its
lessons for all Americans.
The Grand Army, as we have said, now
propose to commemorate his services by the
erection of monument over his grave.
Rollins Post, No. %, of Stockton, Cal, is the
pioneer in the movement, and at the last an
nual Encampment of the Department of
California, the enterprise was heartily in
dorsed and the cooperation of all other De-
partments earnestly invited. a pamphlet
has been prepared containing a sketch of
Gridley's life, and is for sale at the headquar-
ters of the Department of California, at San
Francisco, at twenty-five cents per copy, the
profits, should there be any, to be devoted
to the monument fund. The movement has
our hearty Endorsement and we trust every
Post in every department Of the Grand Army
will contribute something towards the erec- |