The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-22
CONFEDERATE WIDOWS.
Thoy Draw 5000, 900 Out of Georgia.
Treasury in q Week.

They Draw $2OO,O 900 Out of Georgia's
Treasury in q Week.
More than 100000 went out in pensions
to the confederate widows Of Georgia laat
week. Nearly $4,000 more il yet to be
paid out to them, and the great work will
be pushed forward this week with renewed
energy.
This pension-giving marks a kind Of era
new, and to judge from the OK
preston Of unatterable happiness
plainly portrayed on the faces of
many of the good women applying for
their money, it is hard for them to realize
thsy ase not dreaming. It oil seems "too
f1atterine SWEET to bs substantial
When tho last general assembly passed q
bill to pension the confederate widows of
tho states, it took upon itself \ work as vast
ns it was noble. It was not then known,
and not believed, that 10 many would APP
ply for their support from the state. In
dcsd, no ono would have believed that there
were ~ many widows Of confederate sol
This very fact ia thu cause OF tho delay in
the payment Of tho pensions. There were
SO many to apply Chat ths authoritiss had
to wait for money to coma into tho treasury
with which to pay them. Thus tho payment
was deferred until the first day OF February
OF this year.
Last Monday Col. Tip Harrison, clerk of
the executive department., opened his big
hooks of warrants and got out his hugo
Reissors. ready to CLIP out on q seconds no.
toe the pink checks on tho state treasury,
each calling for 500 on demand.
A might lush war experienced in the
state house that day, sure.
Widows from every section OF Georgia
were there to get the money which their
state had delayed SO long FROM their hands
in recognition Of tho valiant services of
their departed husbands. whose lives were
sacrificed on tho teld Of honor.
Thots were rich women, poor women. fat
women, slsnder. frall womsn-all ciowding
in rnpid succession to the treasury, passing
in their beautiful little rose-c0lored checks,
which Tip Harrison had folded for them 80
carefully and so tendarly.
Ihe scene was truly inspiring. Col. Bob
Hardaman-genial, big-henrted g1ntleman
treasury to meet the widows us they hooked
there in great armies. A broad smile stole
over his face an the first one handed In her
warrant properly signed and carefully made
out. Ihs great seal stamp was prompt to
pounce upon tho little scrap OF paper, and,
with a fRco radiant with genuine satisfac-
tlon and happiness. Col. Fob counted out
the money in FLO bills.
How eagerly they were taken up and
rolled nshtly away in the empty purse
brought along. perhaps to old the biggest
money ever known within it's confines be-
fore.
And this is tho way things went on all
day. Before the first day ended, moro than
$40, 600 had been paid out.
Each day OF tho week carried out of the
treasury between $4,000 and $40, 600, and
last night when the weeks work was COM
pleted, it was seen that neatly S21O,O dO had
been spont in accordance with the bill in
tho Widows behalf.
There have been some very touching
scenes in the executive office while this
psnBion-giving has been going on.
Many Il poor woman upon whom the
hand Of poverty has been laid, alas, too
heavily, has bsen turned away without a
pension, for IL muat be rememhet cd that
the $4O0, 600 appropriated for tho widows
doeg not ut all cover the applications now
on file for ths money.
There are, perhaps, 1000 mora women in
Georgia whose husbands died fighting rs
hard AZ the husbands of these more fortu-
nate ones, and who are as nsedy, bat who
can not get a psnny because ii is not IN tho
troAsurs for thom.
One Of thssa unfortunate widows was
turned away thu other day by Col. Tip Har-
rison, and M sho started out n tear atolo
tricklinR down her wrinklsd face.
"Stor."' he exclaimed; tell me, who was
your huabAId?"
The mama waa given.
I'm what company did he servel'
Ths narns of tbs company WAS given.
How and when did he diepn
AT the battle Of Manassas. He was shot