Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-03-09
MRS. MARY 3. KlHBY'S PENSION.

The Washington correspondent
OF the Richmond Dispatch, rndel
date of Feb. 18th, refers to the pas
sage OF bill granting a pension t
Mrs. Mary Il. Kirby, mother o
Judge Kirby, Of Nelson, as follows
The arrears feature Of the bill, ha(
to be abandoned, in order to secure
consideration this session, although
Justice would have demanded its
retention
Representative YOst made his
maiden speech in the House to-day
on the bill to grant a pension Of
$50 per month to Mrs. Mary b
Kirby, widow of the late Major
ReynOld Marvin KIRBY. 1t was a
good speech in a good cause, short
and, as the result proved, effective,
Mrs. Kirby, who / am informed is
a Richmond lady, is now seventy
seven years of age, and for forty.
six years has been entitled to a pen.
sion which she has never received.
Her husband was one Of the most
distinguished officers of his rank in
the United States army, which he
entered in 1912, serving until his
death in lS42. The Committee in
their report say; 1T is in evidence
that Major Kirby participated In
many engagements which shed lus-
tire upon his character as a brave
and gallant soldier, among which
were the battle near Cornwall,
Canada, the battle of Chippewa,
the battle of Lundy's Lane, and the
siege of Fort Erie, where, as an aid
to General Ripley, he received him
in his arms when he tell wounded.
He was twice breveted for gallant
services in that siege. lie also
commanded the United States
troops sent from Fortress Monroe
to suppress the Nat. Turner insur-
rectiOn in Southampton county in
1882, and in the same year was
with General Scott in Charleston,
s. c., in defence Of the Government
during the notification excitement.
In 1S36-'3S he was actively engag-
ed in the Florida war with the Sem.
mole Indians, during which service
he contracted the disease which
terminated his life From various
causes-death of her attorney, loss
of papers, &c.-Mrs. Kirby has
failed heretofore to receive a pen
sion under the laws that at the
time authorized it, and it is neces-
sary to pass a special act IN her
favor. This is generally a difficult
matter, but Mr.. YOst to-day sue
ceeded in getting the unanimous
consent OF the House for its cOnsid-
Grafton. There was a good deal of
opposition to the bill, but Mr.. Wise
and Mr.. O'Ferrall came to the as.
sistance of Mr.. YOst, and persuad-
ed their Democratic friends to vote
for It,"
New York SUMS Washington cor
respondent:-The youngest looking
man in the llOnse, and one of the
very smallest physically, is Mr..
YoSt, Republican member from
Virginia. He jumped into the
arena of debate for the first time
to-day, and showed that he was
capable of making a good fight to
carry a point. He had a bill to
pay a pension of $50 per month,
with arrears from 1873, to the
widow OF Major Ralph Kirby, a
hero of the Florida and other wars,
who died more than forty years
ago. Some of the members at
tackled the bill, and many of them
crowded down into the area in front
OF the Speakers desk, and began a
crOss.fre debate. Mr.. YOst took a
hand III it, and made a lively little
five minute speech. 1t made many
friends for his bill, which he car.
ried by good majority. Mr.. Yost
claimed that the Government is IN.
debted to Mrs. KIRBY in the sum of
$4,000, but that, as she was Is
years Of age, and nearing her grave
he was willing that the pension
should be allowed IN lieu of what
was rightfully due her. AS the
small, slender, sallow.faced Vir-
ginian stood among the group of
members talking fearlessly and
well, he received hearty applause,
and when the vote was taken, it
was found that he had won.