The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-04-09
manitomof pilot.
THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1891.
QUEER PENSION CLAIMS.
Various Reasons for Asking for a Share
of the Great Fund.


The odaitv Of human nature has
found an apt illustration in some of
the many claims for pension that have
been received under the new law.
MANY men have stretched their mag
nations as well as their cOnsciences in
their efforts TO be placed on Uncle
Sans great and rapidly growing PEN
sion roll. They allegc every disease
and aiment known 10 the science of
medicine, and then urge the claims
with energetic persistency. Some of
the causes alleged are as odd as they
are interesting. An eX-soldier in Ohio
wrote:
Il don't exactly know what disease
am suffering from. but | do know
that deserve a pension, as am sHf-
fering the paius of death all over my
body"
Another veteran in West Virginia
thinks he should receive Il pension be-
cause. rs he states it. during the war
lie fell of 4 thirty-foot bridge, which
resulted i'll "A general breaking up Of
his systen.n A veteran of the Fourth
Wisconsin WAS saiyated by reason Of
an excessive use of salt pork during
his army career. aud now he applies
for pension because he got saliva
ton in the army" as he puts it.
Under the provisions Of the recently
passed dependent pension law 1t is
only necessary for Il claimant 10 show
that he is incapacitated from manual
labor, whether the causes are due to
army service or not. in order TO have
his name placed on the rolls. To show
his inability to perform manual labor
the ailidayits of neighbors are neces-
sary rccitiny that fact.
A veteran in Howard county. Md,
sent the testimony of ncighbor. who
no doubt meant we'll enough, but did
not know how TO express himself.
The latter sworc to the statement that
he had known the claimant for ten
wears, and that "he would not work
unless he was compelled to-" The
witness of course meant TO say that
claimant, while really unable to work
by reason of his physical iniirmities,
was frequently compelled to attempt
labor in order to sustain himself.
The widow of Il man who shouldercd
a musket in the Pennsylvania Reserves
wanted a pension. and was asked if
her husband was ever wounded.
On. yes" she replied. The received
an axe wound of the right foot"
Being asked to explain the circum-
stances surrounding the wounding of
her better half she said he cut his foot
while splitting wood. 1t was not dur
ing the war that this occurred, but in
1879, at their home in Pennsylvania.
Tho NV1ntaI n
what bearing such IN occurrence could
have upon the pension law, and the
widow answered CURLY:
Well. sir the axe he cut his foot
with is the same one he brought home
with him from the war. 1t was an
army axe.
A rather remarkable declaration was
made by Michigan veteran. He
stated under oath that he picked up Il
Shell on the battlefield of the Wilder
ness aud took il into his tent While
holding the missile between his knees
examining it the she'll exploded. bad
" shaitpring his nervous system" but
miracuouslv causing no other injury.
An cX-cannourr of one of the reg
ular batteries claims that he stopped a
cannon bali with his abdomen, and
has since been greatly troubled with
stomachic disorders The ball, he
says, was spent one, and came bound
ing along striking him squarely on
the exterior OF the inner man and
nearly knoehing him into the middle
of the following week.
One Gioranua. y member Of the we'll
kuonn Glribaidi Guard reciteS in his
application for pension that he was
project hy rebel hayonet at the
BuI! Run fight, and Il JERSEY cavalry
man SAYS hc was ''Sevcred' by rebel
sabre ut Spousylvania Court House.
These are only few OF the queer
causes for pension that are daily re-
ccivrd nj the department.. There are
thousands of others equally queer.-
IEsNII4gt39 Pest