The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-12-14
THE RELIEF CORPS.
Gleanings from National Headquar-
terS---NOteS from the Departments
OUR ARMY NURSES.
The National Relief Corps, Its Needs and
Services.

| Inc NatfOnai Re!1et corps, aus Neeus anu
Services.
AN APPEAL FOR HELP.
HEADQUARTERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
| NATIONAL WOMAN's RELIEF CORPS HOME,
MADISON, O.. Nov. "a, 1893.
To Members Of the Woman's Relief Corps:
|. The 18th National Convention of the
| Woman's Relief Corps referred the work of
prosecuting the claims of Army Nurses for PEN
| sions to the Board Of Directors of the National
Woman's Relief Corps Home. Hundreds these
| heroic women have not as yet received their
| pensions owing to the difficulty of obtaining
| evidence sufficient to establish their claims after
| the lapse of so many years. If they could get
| their pension claims through most of them
| would be able to take care OF themselves; but
! to accomplish this they must have aid in look
ing up witnesses and securing affidavits.
A large number of these claimants are in
destitute circumstances are old and feeble and
unable to support themselves. They must have
aid very soon or suffer.
ii. In addition to the demands of the Home
and its inmates upon the funds of the National
treasury, we have the pressing needs of the
large number of Army Nurses outside the
Home, varying from so to 100, who, by occa-
sional assistance from the Home fund, are
striving to maintain themselves and remain
with their friends. Every year since the open
ing of the Home large portion of our fund
has been devoted to this purpose; and they an
yticipate as only the needy and helpless can,
the coming of the quarterly allowance.
Unless the fund which is provided for the
maintenance of the Home and the other de-
mands devOlving upon it be increased, the PEN
soners upon our bounty will lie deprived of this
assistance, as the sum provided for the present
year will barely suffice to meet the present
estimate of Home expenses The Board of
Directors of the National Woman's Relief Corps
Home therefore appeal to the 134, 495 members
&c 49, "a
Nurse may die in neglect and restitution, or
suffer for lack of food, clothing, or fuel during
the coming Winter.
III. Owing to the feeble and disabled condi-
ton of many of the inmates, and the numer-
GUS applications for admission pending it has
been found necessary to open the original
Home Building once more for hospital for the
benefit of the sick and better care of those who
are comparatively well. Heating the building,
extra service and necessary equipments for
such department are among the many re-
quirements.
Old linen and cotton cloth, for use in the hos
pital, are greatly needed. Delicaces, such as
would be acceptable to the sick. will be thank
fully received, and should be sent to Mrs. Han
nah K. Plimpton, Matron, National Woman's
Relief Corps Home, Madison. o.
No other supplies are needed at the Home at
present
". Corps and members of the Order willing
to donate money for these worthy claims upon
our generosity will send their contributions
through their own Department Treasurer to
Armilla A. Cheney National Treasurer, "a
Brainard street. Detroit. Mich. to be placed in
the National Womans Relief Corps Home fund.
Immediate action is urged. Yours, in F., G.
and L.,
Sarah C. Mink. National President, Syracuse,
n. Y; Sarah E. Phillips, National Secre-
tary. Syracuse, n. Y. Ex-officio; Annie
Wittenmyer, Saratoga. Pa, Chairman;
Puma i. COwles, Geneva. o., Secre-
tary; Charity Rusk Craig, Viroqua, Wis;
Margaret T. Wilkins Sabetha, Kan;
Emma b. Lowd Salem, Mass, Elected Di-
rectors National National Woman's Relief
Corps Home Board.
Unanimously approved by National Council.
LET THE RESPONSE BE PROMPT.
1t is TO complete the,work as far as possible
which is being so ably pushed in the hands of
Mrs. Wittenmyer, in the furtherance OF Army
Nurse pension claims that the Board of Direc-
tors have issued their circular letter.
Most earnest appeals for aid daily coming
in from those whose pensions are delayed. and
who may never receive one. not coming under
the requirements of the law. These, with the
hospital needs of the National Home, call upon
the great heart of the Woman's Relief Corps to
give anu SeHeToub Ecspousc
RELIEF CORPS PENSION WORK.
In compliance with the request of the Board
of Directors National Relief Corps Home, Mrs.
Annie Wittenmyer, at the annual meeting in
October, furnished list of 81 Army Nurses for
whom she had secured pensions under the
Army Nurse bill. The names are on file with
Puma L. Cowles, Secretary, but are not pub
lished, as some of the Nurses have requested
that no publicity be given to their cases. Con.
tinuing, Mrs. Wittenmyer says:
All these passed directly through my hands.
In addition to this have assisted, by instruc-
lions and assistance in procuring estimony,
12l, who applied directly to the Pension Office;
also, secured pensions for six widows. making
total OF my work of PA.
/ herewith transmit the names of the widows
for whom / obtained pensions; also. list of
Army Nurses and widows in the Home
for whom. by direct effort, secured pensions
The entire expense of my work for the two
years in securing the passage Of the bill and
assisting claimants was $357Sj
The income from the four inmates who still
remain i'll the Home (amount paid towards
their expenses under pension rule) will be,
each year, more than / have expended in all
my hard work for them.
OF the $50 who have, up to Oct 90, 1893 re-
ceived pensions, / have been directly or mainly
instrumental i'll securing 208 Army Nurses
pensions.
Pension agents all over the country have
been very kind in reporting cases to me and
i'll aiding the Nurses in getting their papers in
legal shape free of charge.
/ must especially speak Of J. II. Johnston, of
Keokuk, Iowa, who was Hospital Steward
during the war. and who furnished at his own
cost the evidence of the services of about 20.
Also, of Maj Bickford, of Washington, u. c.,
who, when / was sick from overwork. sent his
best stenographer aud typewriter for gratuitous
work for 10 days more TO my room at the
Fredonia. ssi
1t is impossible at this time for me to make
out the full list. as / am overwhelmed with
work, as | still have 165 cases in nv
hands, and they are still coming in. Respect
fully submitted in f., c. and L.,
Annie Wittenmyer.
DIRECTORS TESTIMONIALS
Endorsements of the Board of Directors Ma.
tional W.R.C. Home, on receiving Mrs Witten-
myers report, are as follows:
] am much gratifed with statement, and rec
ommend its publication in Home report for
this year.-Emma b. Lowd.
l indorse Mrs. Lowds recommendation and
wish to express my qualification in reading the
statement of work accomplished by Mrs. Wilton.
myer.-Sarah G. Mink, National President,
W.R.C.
/ gladly indorse Mrs. Towd's recommends
ton as this report does Mrs Wittenmvar