The National tribune., 1884-08-28
SWEET CHARITY.
The Way lie Grand Army in yew York Cares for
Stricken 0HrS.


sfrIrieH 0RrS.
To TIE EDTT0R On the 25th day Of Sep
temher. 1881. while line whole country was
mourning oger the untinlely death Of the mo-
bic Garfield there was enacted tragedy upon
the banks Of the Hudson River which cast
gloon over the surrounding community and
threfy two families into the deepest sorrow.
While Mrs Garfield was bearing her loss with
that farlituGe and Christian heroisTn. two other
bereaved wives and their children were bowed
beneath a stroke SO sharp and 50 sudden that
oniy those can realize who have bad the hand
oi death laid heavily upon those they love. At
the ti1c above mentioned, VIM. Newman and
hm- srtton- both members Of Acker Post. O.
Ar. Department OI New York had been de-
tailed 10 Ere u suitable salute in honor Of the
lamentea Garfield, an cid s-P0und steel gun
being used for the occasion. The squad wheeled
thelF gnn 10 the firing piaces after seven rounds
had yfen fred, and while engaged in running
bone the eighth cartridge, the gun was sud-
denly discharged and Newman and Sutton
were blown into the air. AeWmap's right arm
was taken Of at the elbow and his right hand
~ the wrist; bis face was terrible lac rated aud
his clothing set on FIRE: be was picked up dead
about l5 lctf away, while some distance down
the street his arm and hand, the latter still
FraEpIEg "a piece of the rainroa, was found
sutton also bad his hard blown off. his right
Erm terribly shattered, aud the sight Of his
eyes entirely destroyed; for a long lime his life
was aespairel OF. but bic finally recovered, and
b. now bnt wreck Of his former self
At the lHBeral service ot Newman. Comrade
Canning. then pastor Of the Baptist Church at
Agaok. across the river frem Tagrvt0wn at
tended. and addressed the Post and the sorrow
ing friends in most eloquent and impressive
manner tpmrade Cunning Afterwards became
the Department Chaplain Of the State Of New
York, HBa at tine Encampmeut held the follow
ing Fear De was made the custodian Of fund
Of 500 which was appropriated by the Depart
melt igr tic benefit Of the children Of Newman
and for the family Of sutton. The iund was
renewed the following year, and now is ID the
bands 0 Ggnraae Geo. X Morse, Of Ayack N
y, who is paying ii out in regular monthly
insta manis To both families The four orphan
chliGr p uf hewman-fgr their mother died In
few weeks after her husbands death-are now
residlng with their grandfather in 5lsf street
n. d. The old people. hard working and poor
did not shrink from assuming the resp nsibil.
ity, but nobty have undertaken the care Of
these children. Were it not for the Grand Arms
Of the Republic they would to-day be ia deeT
distress. These children are growing up anc
learning 70 respect and love that noble organi
Zslti0H which hiss come 50 grandly 70 their aid
anG in few years, when they shall be able X
work and earn for themselves, our Order vii
have no more aetive and enthusiastic cham
pi0ns- AOnirade Sutton Is now living in Nyael
with his wife and children The Oldest boyi
are able % earn little but the care and aux
iety IN looking after their father, who is utterl,
belpiess, causes a drain upon All their resources
and the fund from the GAR. is used, ant
more too 10 supply the actual necessities o
life. G0mfaae Sutton could 20 TO the Soldiers
Home and receive a soldiers care, but his low
for bis wife aud children have increased as tn
darkness has settled down upon him, and hi
only source Of comfort is TO listen TO their con
Versalion and receive from their hands thei
afectionate tokens Of sympathy. C0mrade
who are prosperous and around whose camp
Gres there il all that tends TO make life happy
will do well 10 remember the orphan childrel
aud the blind comrade who sits in his chai
day after day; his marching days are over, hi
campfire burns low, his rafions are few hi
only wealth is his wife, children, and the mem
ory Of the past and the present charity Of tn
GAR