Arizona republican., 1894-01-05
APPOINTED, FOR LIFE.
The Janitress of the Treasury of
 the United States.
An Old Colored Woman Who Has Saved the Government a Vast Fortune Story of Her Life-Buying
 Her Freedom.

The first colored woman ever official ly appointed in the service of the United States government is Sophia Holmes, ianitress of the United States treasury.
 Through thirty-two years from the Subterranean corridors of the treasury building the old janitress has wit messed the rise and fall of nine admin istrations. Hers, writes Lida Rose Me Cabe in the Chicago Record, was life appointment, and it was the reward of honesty. Sophia was born in Wash ington. Her father was body guard to Gen. Mason, of Georgetown. q am not all black blood" said Sophia, coy ly. At sixteen she married a slave whom Col. Seaton, the noted abolition ist, bought to save him from being sold out of the district. The price of her husband was $1,000.
 Holmes became a confidential serv- ant in Col. Seaton's household. His wages were $22 50 month and cloth ing. This money he had put to his credit to purchase his freedom, and it was doubled monthly by Sophia from her earnings as laundress.
 The pair had paid $500 when the war broke out. Sophia's husband went as body servant to Capt. Burns, of the Fourth marine regiment. In the first battle of Bull Run Capt. Burns was shot from his horse. Arming himself with his masters rife, Holmes mounted and led the column. The black mans body was riddled with bullets, and after eight weeks in the hospital he died, leaving Sophia with two children to support.
 Her story interested such men as Senator Wilson, James G. Blaine and Lincoln's cabinet. Gen. Spinner came to the rescue by employing her odd days as scrub-woman at the treasury. There were ninety women dubbed Uncle Sammy's Scrub Brigade
 It was while thus at work that So- phia entered upon her official career. It came about in this way. The sheets of bank notes were then cut by shears, and certain night found the floors of the counting-room covered with shay ings. In sweeping that evening So- phia discovered a box packed with bank notes that had been overlooked in locking up the vaults at the close of a days count
 q keeps on sweeping right along all the whiles I keeps on thinking" said Sophia, swaying in her rocker as she told me the story. 1.-The night watch, he passed to and fro-to and fro. Is going to call him, but something kept sayin like: Sophia, don't do it! Don t you do it. You's poor black woman! He may take the bank notes and say you stole 'emr
 After while he stopped at the door. You take a powerful time a-cleaning up tonight, Mrs. Holmes,' says he, 1, pleasant-like. You work yourself too much Thank you, sir,' said I. I likes to keep things nice.'"
 When the watchman's steps once more died down the corridor, Sophia tremblingly examined the box. There were packs of $2, s, $1O, $50 and S10O notes. Darkness filled the treasury She thought of her two children wait ing their supper at home. But she could not leave the building. She still busted herself mechanically with her broom.
 q prayed the good Lord to direct and protect me-" said Sophia.
 She guarded the bank notes until two o'clock in the morning, when she heard the familiar shuffling steps of Gen Spin ner, the United States treasurer.
 When she heard the door of his office close Sophia made her steps thither and knocked.
 Gen. Spinner had dream that night that something was wrong at the treas. ury, and, restless and disturbed, he had at last come down to the building.
 He and Sophia carried the box to his office. All of the officials of the de. partment were summoned from their homes. Sophia was kept prisoner un til the money was counted. Then she was sent home in Gen. Spinners car riage to her children, who had been