The Republican journal., 1888-08-16
Friend of the Soldiers.

DEATH OF A RENOWNED HospTrN. NURSE.
| MRS. SWIFT. TIE GOOD SAMARITAN OF THE
| VIRGINIA CAMPAIGN.
| W. y. Nickcr>on writes to the Boston Globe
| Last week the end of a life in Chelsea,
| the story of which, if written, would furnish
one Of the most remarkable as we'll AS roman-
tic tales of modern times. The person refer
| red to was Mrs. Joseph B. Swift, the rcnown-
cd hospital nursc and soldiers friend. whose
fame IL good Samaritan during the bloody
campaign in Virginia in 1863 and 1864. earned
her Worldwide reputation.
Mrs. swift WAS born in Calais. Me-. about 55
years ago. Of American parents. She received
Il COMMON school education and early in life.
while size was Yet in her teens. married John
Clark. Her maiden name was Lizzie Scott
After living i'll Calais, Me-. for a few wears
her husband left her to come to Boston to seek
work. Size heard from him regularly for some
time. tut soon his letters ceased to reach her,
and after waiting some time. she decided to
come to Boston in search Of him. She had two
children at this time. both girls. She arrived
in Boston and could learn nothing of her hliS-
banh'> whereabouts. so after time She engag-
ed with the family of c. II. Long. in Chelsea.
and rclI8iued with them until after the break
ing out OF the war.
When the call for troops was made and
nurse, were needed for the hospitals in the
field. Mrs. Clark spoke of going to the front to
do what she could for the defenders of her
country. She was di>Staded from going the
first year but after Il time Size oyercame all OBJ
starleS and was soon at her chosen vocation.
Ever since she was Il small girl she seemed to
have knack of alleviating suffering, and when-
ever any Of the neighborS We're sick Lizzie
was always one of the first to lend helping
hand.
She was with the Nineteenth Massachusetts
Volunteers al first but soon after arriving on
the field she was found to be so thoroughly
we'll Nersed in her work that She was attached
TO the hospital Of the Second Corps. and the
boys in bi;ie who were so unfortunate is to be
wounded or suffering from sickness. very soon
cane TO know the tender hand which minister
ell 10 their wants who it was that begged for
choice mor>cl of some needed food for him
who most needed ii: who il was that held the
cooling drink to the rarcheu lip, and who it
was that >moothed the hard pillow for the
weary head. Her efforts for the comfort and
for the iiyc~ OF the soldiers were untiriny, and
the surgeons often told her that she would
quickly wear herself out if she did not take
more rest She seemed to take rest onl; when
engaged in tEc work in which she could allcvi-
ate some suffering or supply some want for
the sick or wounded.
Stories are now told. hy hose whom she sue
cor''. Of her presence en- the field of battle at
tending the wounded and doing all that lav in
her power for them.
The advice Of the surgeons was not needed,
bat their words came true. for she was forced
10 returned home. emfeeblcd. in the spring or
summer of lSt4.
ono Of those whom She had come in contact
with while ri The front was Lieutenant Joseph
B. Swift. who Went out in IL Massachusetts
company. After her return home she received
letters from him. and some time after the close
OF the war the two We're married.
The couple lived first in the West End in
Boston, where Mrs. Swift was nursing, and af-
forwards removed to Chelsea. -Four children
We're born to them. one of whom has since died.
The other three. two boys and girl, are still
living in Chcl>,a
Mrs. swift for some years was forced to sup
port her entire family. her husband being now
an inmate ot the Soldiers Home in Togus,
Maine.
The brave woman struggled along to give her
chiltirrn a good e1ncatioh. and in this she
cec,ird ~ we'll As lay in her power She has al
ways hal that warm feeling for the soldier.
Whenever there WAS a soldier sick or in troll-
bic she would 90 any distance to lend him aid.
She WAS i member of the SomcrNille Won-
chs Relief Corps and was one Of the foremost
in forming the iir>i camp of the sons of Ncter-
ans il Chelsea. She also assisted in the forma-
ton nt i!.r present Camp. IL, Sons of Veterans
OF >o,Hcryilic. and always spoke of them as ''her
boys She cave thc camp its handsome silk
@uilon> which are used on parade and did
much towards building up and strengthening
the camp.
About :; year a-o She found that She was >uf-
fcring from cancer in the stomach. and last
October had an operation performed to relieve
her. She was obliged 10 have another opera
ton on March /. and from this she never re-
covered.
In her death the Grand Army AMI a true
sol,iiur> lose :, slanch friend. and one who has
ionc much and would have done more had it
been possible. for th" boys in blue.