The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-07-08
JANITRESS OF THE TREASURY.
The Romance That Brought the
Appointment to an Old
Negress.
BY Ida ROSE MCCABE.

The first colored woman ever Off
cially appointed IN the service of the
United States Government is Sophia
Holmes, janitress of the United
States Treasury.
When asked: How old are you,
Sophia? she said slowly: l don't
know, honey. | wouldn't like to
say. You know in them days we'ns
like cattle. They keep no record Of
the black folks.
Through thirty two years from the
subterranean corridors of the Trea-
sury building the old janitress has
witnessed the rise and fall of nine
administrations. Here was lite
appointment, and it was the reward
OF honesty. Sophia was born in
Washington. Her father was a
body guard to General Mason OF
Georgetown. l am not at all black
blood, said Sophia coyly. At I6
she married a slave, whom Colonel
Seaton the noted abolitionist, bought
to save him from being sold out of
the district. The price of her hus
band was 81, 900
Holmes became confidential SER
want IN Colonel Seaton's household.
His wages were S77 50 per month
and clothing. This money he had
put to his credit to purchase his free
dom, and it was doubled monthly by
Sophia from her earnings as laun-
dress.
The pair had paid 5000 when the
war broke out. Sophia's husband
went as body servant to Captain
Burns of the Fourth Marine regi-
ment. In the first battle OF Bull Run
Captain Burns was shot from his
horse. Arming himself with his
masters rifle, Holmes mounted and
led the column. The black mans
body was riddled with bullets, and
after eight weeks in prison he died,
leaving Sophia with two children to
support.
Her story interested such men as
Senator Wilson, James G. Blaine
and Lincoln's Cabinet. General
Spinner came to the rescue by em-
ploying her odd days as scrub
woman at the Treasury. There were
ninety w,me dubbed "Uncle
Sammy's Scrub Brigade"
1t was while thus at work that
Sophia entered upon her official
career. 1t came about in this way.
The sheets Of bank notes were then
cut by shears, and a certain night
found the floors OF the counting
room covered with shavings. In
sweeping that evening Sophia dis
covered a box packed with bank
notes that had been overlooked in
locking up the vaults at the close of
the days count.
With fear and trembling, when she
saw what it contained, Sophia COW
cred the box and pushed it out of
sight.
l keeps on sweeping right along
all the while | keeps on thinking,
said Sophia, swaying in her rocker
as she told me the story. The night
watch he passed to and fro-to and
fro. Is going to call him but some
thing kept saying like, Sophia, don't
you do it! Don't you dc it. You S
a poor black woman He may take
the bank notes and say you stole
'em
After while he stopped at the
door. You take a powerful time
cleaning up to night, Mrs. Holmes,
says he pleasant like. You work
yourself too much. Thank you, sir,
said |. | likes to keeps things nice.
When the watchman's steps once
more died down the corridor, Sophia
tremblingly examined the box
There were packs of two, five, ten,
fifty and hundred dollar notes. Dark
ness filled the Treasury. She
thought OF her two children waiting
their supper at home. But she coulc
not leave the building. She still
busted herself mechanically with hel
broom.
| prayef the good Lord to dlrec
and protect me, said Sophia.
She guarded the bank notes unit
o'clock in the morning, when shc
heard the familiar shuftline steps o