The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-01-02
A VETERAN SOLDIERS LETTER.
SOLDIERS AND SAILORS HOME,
ERIE, Pa, Dec. IL. 1900.

piGoSNS. isDlIONo
This is beautiful morning. lake
and bay as clear as crystal, not boat
in sight, save here and there a fish
boat. The large boats have all gone
into winter quarters, some here and
Others at Buffalo and Chicago. The
life-saving crew were paid off on Sat
urday and suspended until spring trade
opens up again on the Lake. Their
services here are highly appreciated in
saving many lives and large amount
of property. Their report appeared
in the Erie papers.
We have had no extremely cold
weather SO far this winter. The ground
in and about the city is partially COW
cred with snow around the Home
lot and buildings there is very little to
be seen, the wind blowing it away.
We noticed in the market but few
sleds on Saturday, spring wagons be-
ing used, The principal streets are
quite lively with sleighs-people from
the country and immediate vicinity
coming in the city to trade-laying in
their holiday presents, in spite of the
Mckinley tariff, which the consumer
in Erie has not yet felt. The laboring
classes in this city have no reason to
complain, wages being good and work
plenty. Mechanics are in demand, if
we may Judge from the ads. inserted
in the dailes. A Herald reporter in
terviewed some half dozen bank Off
GERS at their respective institutions on
Saturday and was informed that the
times and business with them were
never better in the Lake city They
had plenty of money, to be had at
reasonable figures, collections were
easily made, the mercantile and all
business of the city in fourishing con-
dition, and that the trade on the Lake
was exceedingly good this season, end
ing about the first of the month.
On Sunday after Thanksgiving, the
dedicatory services in the new chapel
took place before an audience of not
less than 100 people. Long before
the doors were opened the friends of
the institution commenced to gather
The Home has handsome chapel, and
every one present seemed to be i'm.
pressed with the beauty of the recon-
structed building. OF the city minis.
tiers present were: Rev. ]. l.. Stratton,
who opened the services by an invoca-
tion; Rev. Frazier, of the Tabernacle
church, followed with prayer; Rev.
Bray, Of the Simpson church, read a
passage of scripture; DR.. Luccock, Of
the Ist M. f. Church, preached the
dedicatory sermon, and used these
words for his text: The Dedication of
the Temple He made the sermon
a practical one, and applied it we ! to
the members Of the Home. Rev.
Cobb, Of the Central Presbyterian
Church, made few fitting remarks,
praising the sentiment that had origi-
mated such noble institutions as this
Home and said if this one was better
than similar ones, it was under the
christian management Of Major Tyson,
who is our worthy commander. Rev.
Wizard was also present, and after sing
ing pronounced the benediction. The
choir was composed of the command
er's daughter together with some of the
best vocalists in the city. The young
organist showed a great deal of skill
and proficiency.
In the month of November, if my
memory serves me correctly, we bur-
led but two comrades, viz: William
Sullivan, aged As years, of Pittsburg,
who died on a Sunday the day imme
diately after he entered the home, Of
consumption leaving wife and chill
dren. He desired to die in soldiers
home, and his wife brought him here
and remained to attend his funeral on
the following Tuesday. The other
death was that of George Ehret, Of
Bucks county, well up in years. He
served 4 years; was in number Of
engagements. He left an invalid wife
IN Germany to whom he was regularly
sending his pension money of $500
keeping $I.oo for his own use. The
usual number are in the Hospital but
we must say that the health of the
people at the Home is good.
At present those going out of the
Home, on furlough and ''for good"
about equals the numbers of new re-
cruits. Two were dishonorably dis
charged on last Saturday. Their re-
peated violation of the rules of the
Home, by imbibing too freely in
'tangle foot were the charges brought
against them. They were "railroaded"
by the Quarter Master, on Philadel-
phia train for that city, is my informa-
ton. There is class of comrades
here who do not seem to appreciate
that they have good home, and are
continually finding fault with this or
that until they are being summed by
the better thinking comrades. In
most cases the "crank" or 'grumbler"
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