Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-30

yer property. Here met General Fremont
and wife, and with them went to Pixies Peak
Trouble with the South then seemed immi.
nent and the General started for Missouri to
get his men together. After the Inauguration
of Lincoln and the mutterings of war had
grown almost into tumult, the news came
tary fire Of my grandfather seemed to be in
me, and could not stop. I hastened to St.
Louis and enlisted as q war nurse the first
in the United States. / was detailed to go
along with Grants army, 1 was in the
battle at Pittsburg Landing and also at
Shiloh. After we had won the victory at
Shiloh and the Confederates had retreated,
was busy attending the wounded. It was
about four hours after the battle when a
bullet from from some sharpshooter's rifle
struck me under the right arm. It glanced
knocked piece off my shoulder blade, and
lodged in my throat just in front of the main
artery. Feel, here it is"
Mrs. Mason pointed to lump half as
large as liens egg, OH one side of her
throat.
PAULINA OF THE POTOMAC.
"when got out of the hospital at Cincin .
natl, where they took me-" she continued,
81 went to Washington and Joined the Army
Of the Potomac. The soldiers nicknamed
me Paulina Of the Potomac there, and by
that name am often referred to in the his
tories of the war. The soldiers have often
made inquiries about me in their papers,
but have never told them where I was.
"After the war I came to Napoleon, O.,
and Toledo. I finished my medical studies
so could practice in Ohio for wanted to
keep busy, although did not need to work
SO far as money was concerned. But the
day came when my profession was a valua-
BILE help to me. had over $4,000 in the
banks at Napoleon and Toledo. The owners
Of them were old friends of my dead hus-
bands, and for % years or more our fam
lilies had been on intimate terms. I trusted
them to properly care for my money. Nine
years ago every bank failed. taking s3s 900.
l spent SIC, 600 more trying to get the rest
back. SO now I am poor and have a hard
battle to get along. 1t is a fearful blow. My
only object in living now is to see my sons
as well situated as possible. One of them is
Government business, one in Washington
and one in New York. They are all good
boys, and ! earnestly hope that they will
not sully the proud name of either the Reautr
or the Mason family. Never has there been q
black name among either of them, and my
effort as long as live is to keep the record
up. You see am proud, If am poor"
SHERMAN TO GET HER A PENSION.
The old lady is wrinkled somew hat, but
withal q remarkably well preserved old
lady. She has a small practice in this city,
and the infirmary directors do what they
can for her by giving her oity cases. She is
said to be good physician.
In connection with her story Mrs. Mason
exhibited the diaries which had been kept
by her grand father, one from Paul the Enl-
peror, two from Napoleon and dozens Of
them written by her uncle and husband |
She retains as heirlooms articles from the |
Reautfanotf castle and gifts from the poten- |
tates of the European nations. She says |
most of that which fell to her lot, however,
is now in the possession of the sons. The |
house she lives in is q story and a half frame |
cottage, plainly furnished. The gate is |
rickety, the fence is rickety, many OF the |
Stats in the window shutters are gone and |
to the door catch ones toes. Mrs. Mason, |
after declaring for years that she would not, |
has applied for a pension and sons of her |
friends here have gotten Senator Sherman |
interested in having it gran ted. |
She bids fair to need one for many years yet, |
for the longevity of her family seems to be |
in her. ARTHUR CAMPBELL