The National tribune., 1886-12-30
EX-PRISONERS OF WAR.
Meeting and Organizing.
CALIFORNIA.

SALlEOkNlA.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The recent
articles in THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE in regard
to ex- prisoners, together with the circular from
the National President, have so stirred up the
survivors of Southern prison pens on this coast
that they have formed local association, which
they hope will take in the names Of all ex-
prisoners within two or three hundred miles
of this city, unless there should be enough to
form associations at Sacramento aud other large
cities in the interior. In that case we pro-
pose to assist them, and in this way soon we
hope that we shall have the name, company,
regiment and length of time lin prison Of each
one now residing i'm California and Nevada.
The first attempt at obtaining the names of
ex- prisoners here was about two years ago,
when they were requested to send their names
in TO the Adjutants of the several Posts. About
three or four names were enrolled in Lincoln
Post but do not think anything was done in
the other Posts. The next attempt was about
a year ago, when Comrade Il. III. Howe, author
of THE Adventures of an Escaped Union
Prisoner" inserted notice in the daily papers
requesting all ex-prisOners to forward their
names to his place Of business, 81 Suffer street,
San Francisco Only few names were re-
ceived, aud the question of organization was
dropped; but when the veterans were gathering
here by the Sunset Sea " for the Goth National
EncampmeDt there came with them also one
from Southern California, who styled himself
Prof George Young, Acting President, Califor-
MIA Prisoners Association. Just what the
Professor was there for no one has been able to
find out.
The General Committee Of Management al
lowed him the use of table at the Headquar-
ters in the Chamber of Commerce, and he pro-
ceeded 10 enroll the names of all ex-prisOners
| to the number of over 100. he doing the talking
aud his wife the writing. To each, or nearly
every one he gave bit of ribbon. on which
was inscribed Prisoners of War;" at the
| same time almost every one gave the Profess
| sor half dollar. In the evening q meeting
| was held in Silver Star Hall, at which Miss
| Clara Barton was present. An admission fee of
\ % cents was charged. and the hall was packed.
| The use of the hail. including light, was given
/ free by the owner, Dr. Mcdonald. A President
and Secretary were elected.
| Another meeting was held the next evening
| in the same hall, at which Prof. Young deliv-
cred an address ON prison life in Cahaba. An
admission fee was not charged that night, bat
a collection was taken up TO help the cause.
The suppositon was that all this money
would be turned over 10 the Secretary, though
| il was noticed that the Professor" kept it all
in his own possession. and great was the indig-
nation when il was discovered that the g Pro-
| fessor" had taken his departure and every cent
Of the money. We afterward learned that he
turned over a certain sum to au association
at Los Angeles. which claims to be the State
Association Of California; but as there were no
receipts given or accounts kept, no one knows
how much was collected here. AS we are all
working for common purpose, viz, to secure
the passage of certain pension bills now pending
in Congress, we were willing TO submit, pro
vided the society at Los Angeles made proper
use of this money, but TO date we have not
heard of their organizing a single association
on this coast notifying our Congressman o.
the nature of our claims either by letter OF
circular. So thoroughly disgusted was every
one here that at meeting called a few day;
after the departure Of e" Prof. Young only tive
or three were present, and all hope of an or
ganization appeared lost; but the writer deter
mined 10 make one more effort. The first thini
was to secure a room for n preliminary meeting
On stating our case TO that generous, whole
souled comrade, Maj Hooper, proprietor of I'll,
Occidental Hotel, he told me that We coult
have a room suitable for our use free of cost
and here few survivors gathered one after
noon, representing nearly every prison-peI
from Belle Isle TO Tyler, Tex. w. 4. Searles
COZ Montgomery street, was elected President
and Samuel Flint, of Oakland, Secretary
Our second meeting was held in the sam
place Nov. %, at which larger number wer
present and several interesting letters wer
read from ex prisoners IN the country, desiring
To have their names placed on the roll-on
from Prof. j. G.. Lennon, of San Luis Obispo
and one from Gen. VandeyeF, just elected /
Congress from the Sixth District, which W
take the liberty TO insert:
SAN BuExAyESTURA, Nov %, 1856.
G. II. HULL, San Francisco. Cal.
5 DEAR CONRADE. . IL live to occupy the sea
G in Congress to which have been elected. you ma
De assured that shall do all that you desire
behalf OF the claims of Union soldiers who Ian
guished ia rebel prisons during the Wha
they suffered there entities them To peculiar relic
(Sigued) Truly, yours, WM. NANDEvER.
: Fearing that further use of Maj. Hooper
rooms would be trcspassiDg on good nature, tn
;, | President was instructed to secure permanent
J. quarters wherever he deemed best. This CON
! ing to the knowledge of Mas Hooper, he cam
: to our President and told him that he wishe
all 10 know that his house was headquarters
i for all old soldiers, and that any time we wshe
z. 70 meet there we could have nicely furnishe
- room aud IL should not cost us 4 cent.
!, So we may consider ourselves permanent
J. located at the Occidental, TO which We invit
:. all our friends once a month. Owing to tt
delay in forming orr association, our Senator
: and Representatives left FOR Washington befoI
/; we were able TO send a committee TO intervie
!; them. but we propose TO follow them by lett,
I, or petition, and viii follow it up till we a
complsh the end desiTed.-CLINToN Il. HUI
|. Co. G. 18th Iowa, 927t Jackson street. Sa
/; Francisco Cal.
: The annual meeting of the Toledo Associ
l. ton, Union Ex-Prisoners of War, will be he
at the Courthouse, Toledo o., Thursday eve
r, ing, Jan. q, 1857, at z o'clock.
;, Eminent physicians recommend Ayers Che
:. | ~ pactoral Ayaris Almanac at yonr Dr., gist