The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-18

GEORGE HELMETS WIDOW.
History Of Another. Case in Which the Presi-
dent Vetoed Just Claim for q Pension.

Special to the Indianapolis JournaL
NoBLEsvILLE. Aug. 1I-Among the pension
bills vetoed by President Cleveland last week
was one granting pension to Lydia Heiney, Of
this place, as the widow Of George Heiney, who
was private in Company E. Thirty In
diana Regiment George Heiney. at the time OF
his enlistment, was in perfect health, in fact,
the examining physician says that he did not
examine any man who was in q more splendid
physical condition than was George Heiney.'
He served his country o soldier for three
years and three months continuously. and dur
ing all that time did bis full duty while in camp.
At Green river. in the winter Of 1862, he was
exposed to some very severe weather.
and afterward. whiie on the march with his
regiment to 'Corinth, Miss, was compelled. for
want Of better quarters, to lay ell night upon
the bare ground in q cold sleet and rain-storm.
with no other covering than the merciless storm
clouds which all that night poured their icy tor
rents down upon that band of heroes. one OF the
results of which was that George Hsinsy con-
tracted bronchial trouble that 80 affected his
throat that for months he could not speak above
. whisper, nor could he take any solid food
whatever, but was compelled to rely
wholly upon LIQUID food, and to
his throat trouble was now added
the excruciating pain of rheumatism, which had
attacked his limbs to such an extent that he
could not walk without suffering the most agoniz-
ing PAL rs, yet be was always at his post and
discharged his whole duty. He was at times
unable to keep MP with his company while
the march. He declined going to the hospital.
but upon bis own solicitation was placed upon
horse, and although suffering intensely was
thus enabled TO keep up with his command.
his afiictions grew constantly worse.
to the day of bis tragic death, which occurred in
December. 1879. His long-contnued service
and much suffering had made of him a complete
physical wreck; his throat trouble had become
so terrible that it had entirely eaten away the
roof OF his mouth; IL was then impossible for
him 10 swallow any solid food. and at least half
OF the liquids which he tried to swallow would
flow out through his nostrils. II was no unusual
thing for this brave soldier to sit the table for
an hour at time. his head resting on his hands.
and great tears streaming down his face. suffer
ing all the paDgs Of hunger; the very
food for which he huneered within his reach,
yet he could not swallow il, and dared not make
the attempt; neither could be talk sufficiently to
tell how terrible were his suferiugs. Over the
protests Of his friends be made repeated at.
tempts to work. but was compelled to abandon
his efforts and acknowledge the fact that he
could never more do the work Of a man. As .
last resort he tended bar. and was thereby ena-
bled 70 support his family for a time His
throat constantly grew worse. and he would fire.
quentiy stranels and fall A few days before
death he strangled and fell from his chair,
in his home; his wife, uuassisted, placed him
upon the bed. where he lay for a long time nt-
terly helpless aud wholly unable to speak One
cold, stormy night in December. 1879, this
brave soldier went up to barber shop in the
second floor Of building. for the purpose OF
getting shaved The room was close aud the air
rather hot and oppressive; he opened the door
and stepped ont into the hall to get better air;
he closed the door behind him, but be strangled,
was unable TO call for help, and fell headlong
down stairs on brick pavement The writer OF
this, with others at the time in the
barber shop. rushed 10 the front Of the stairway
to find him helpless and unconscious. He
fingered In that condition for two days. never
spoke a word and then died. Thus ended the
life of one of the bravest and best soldiers that
represented Indiana in the war for the preser-
vation OF the Union from the blighting grasp Of
the men who now compose the solid South The
widow was left with but little property aud
three children to support. She mortgsged her
property to procure money with which to engage
in business; fitted, opened and has ever
since managed restaurant. from which
she has derived support for herself
and children, but has never been able to pay of
the mortgage, which still hangs over her proper
". 1t WILL in the course Of time, be foreclosed.
She has worked hard early and late; economical
and tried to pay off the mortgage but it requires
all ner economy 10 support ner 1amlIy. Snc
made application for pension. but il was re-
jected on the ground that her husbands death
resulted from the fall, and not from injury con-
tracted in the service. The bill was introduced
in Congress by Congressman Cheadle; the case
was carefully and fully investigated by the
House committee on pensions, reported favor
ably by q unanimous vote o. the committee.
passed the House and Senate, but vetoed by
President Cleveland for the reason, as he SAYS.
that it Is not shown that death was occasioned
by injury disease contracted in the service.