The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1884-08-08
SOLDIERS HOME.
A Seaside Home at PaseagOula
"A Lovely Location and "a
Healthy Place.

Healthy Place. Fl
Aberdeen Examiner.
During the Mexican war the
State Of Mississippi donated a sec
ton OF land on her beautiful coast
near East Pascagoula, to tue
United States government for an
invalid camp for the many wounded
and sick soldiers who we're contin.
ually returning from the scene OF
conflict. IL was expected that the
government would establish bar.
racks at uhe place aud that it would
become a permanent military sta.
tion, but other counseIs prevailed
aud il was thought better with u
yiew TO convenience OF movement
aud supplies TO establish the bar.
racks In Louisiana, on the Missis
sippi river, aud so the Pascagoula
tract was abandoned by the entire
military establishment except the !,
few who were carried from the hos.
pitals to the "eternal camping
grounds and whose graves can
hardly ut this late day be found.
In the course of time it was for.
gotten by the authorities at Wash. |
ington that the government pos.
sessed such u tract OF land, but the !
other day II suggestion was made
in congress that u suitable location |
should he touni in the Southern |
States for a home for oil AMI dis
abled soldiers, and q gentleman
who had spent the greater number
of his days ut East Pascagoula
wrote at once TO the Secretary OF
war telling him OF this donation Of
the long ago, its admirable loca.
ton, and the many advantages it
possessed over other locations for
the proposed purpose aud the re.
suit was that Secretary Lincoln re.
ferred the matter to the Southern
posts OF the "Graud Army OF tue
Republic requesting them to az
once make inquiry iuto the matter
aud report. The Grand Army ap.
pointed a committee consisting OF
that genial gentleman, Captain
Gray, customs house officer nc the
Rigolets; Capt. Ward, revenue
officer ut English Look Ont, and
other competent and reliable par.
ties, to visit the spot referred to.
They performed that responsible
duty last week, aud unanimously
and enthusiastically recommended
the adoption OF East Pascagoula
location on tho tract OF the land do.
mated to the government and for
gotten so muny years ago; and
now the people OF tho entire South
coast appeal to tie senators and
representatives of Mississippi TO
stand by the report OF this com.
mittee aud the accommodation
In conformity TO its findi:.. a that
the secretary of war has promised
to send in to congress next winter.
IL Is understood. that Atlanta,
Georgia, is making a fight for the
location of this establishment in
her vicinity, but We cannot see how
such proposition can I've consider
ed for u moment when we compare
the claims OF the contestants: Ad.
mittin5 that Atlanta can offer
every iudusement at command of
any other large interior town, we
contend that she can offer nothing
more-now how is 1t with East
Pascagoula' First we have u 10.
cation OH the seacoast where the
weather Is spripg time all the sum.
mer, aud autumn all the winter.
Then We have u beach almost equal
to that of Cape May, where the bath.
ing Is at all times delightful. There
We have in the rear grand forests
OF the -balsamic and health giving
Southern pines, with glorious mag
nolia groves bordering every little
streanlet that meauders TO the sea,
while all along the coast gigantic
live oaks offer their tempting
shade to those who are weary in
mind or body. In addition to
these charms, the Mississippi
Sound affords all the year round
the finest opportunities for rowing
and sailing, while its waters fairly
swarm with fish of every conceiv.
able variety, and every shallow is
natural oyster bed. The value OF
the Inducements we have nawed
can only be fairly appreciated
when it is remembered that these
homes are established for the oc.
cupaucy OF veterans whose days
OF usefulness are past, and who
require to be amused and employed
as well as fed and clothed; and
who must not be left to the soul
eating inertia of retrospection for
employment in their old age--va
ried perhaps BY the dividing Of
time between the pipe aud the hoe
Every comfort Is provided for the
inmates Of tho soldiers homes neal
Washington and elsewhere, vel
the old men languish aud are I'm
] happy and moody, and every few
J days some one Of them ssbreakl
! ranks through suicide, and th'
communicate aud board of direc
. tors express surprise, and the in
I cident would he forgotten but il
D recurrence.
Q Now the old meu die by thci
0 own hands for lack Of mind ON
l. ployment; many of them clnne
Y read or write; some few of thel
cannot even smoke; scores I
them are incapable Of the Iittl
manual labor essential to hcaltl