The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-26
ATHON PENSION CASE
TURPIE HAD THE BILL PASSED BY
MISUNDERSTANDING
The Record of DIR. Afaon During the
War-A Letter to Congress-
man Waugh.

efforts of Senator Turpie the bill granting
a pension to Mrs Leyenia d. Athon, widow
Of DR.. James S. Athon, has passed the
Senate and is now before the House The
report Of the Senate committee is full or
Misrepresentation, and the efforts Of the
Indiana Senator show the attempt or the
Democratic Senators to throw discredit on
the pension system by putting people on
the rolls who have no just claims.
Col w. r. Holloway, who was Governor
Mortons secretary, yesterday sent to Con-
gresham Waugh a letter showing up In
true colors the attitude of Senator Turpie
in this pension case The letter, which is
self-explanatory, follows:
Hon Daniel Waugh, House of Repre-
sentatives, Washington, d. c.:
My Dear Sir-I notice that the report
of the Senate pension committee, in favor
OF granting pension to the widow OF the
late Dr. j. s Athon, says:
' Her husband surgeon in the
service Of the United States in the war OF
ice, but one of those who We're called
upon by Governor Morton, of Indiana, IN
January 1862 10 go to different hospitals
and fields after the battle of Fort Donel-
son and other engagements TO take care or
and treat the sick and wounded volunteers
armies of the Union The report also states
that he visited Fort Donelson, Cairo,
Nd. Washington, d. G, baltimore. Md,
as well as other points where Indiana sol
ders had been wounded or become sick
and were confined to the hospitals, as APP
pears from the reports now on file In the
office OF the Adjutant General OF the state
of Indiana.
Now, the facts are that Dr. Athon was
not in the military service of the Cnited
States or of the State or lnd1ana curing
the late civil war, and the only service ne
attempted 10 render the Indiana soldiers
during the was when he started to
Fort Doneson, in February, 1862, with four
other physicians, under DR.. j. Nj. Kitchen,
of this city, who says that on reaching
Cairo, ILL.,. Dr. Athon and two others de-
clned to go up the Tennessee river pc
cause the mode of transportation was by
tug, without BEDS and they would be
compelled to sit up all night. Inc report
further says
much hardship, incessant labor, loss OF
sleep and other deprivations ana When ne
returned he was suffering from disease IN
Cured therein, which resulted, as physi-
clans state, in his death.
'Inasmuch as he travelled on regular
Ohio river steamboat, stopped at regular
hotels and refused to go TO the battlefield
because he could not have all the comforts
of hotel and did not endure any OF the
hardshipS peculiar to army life, that any
one ever heard Of, and lived Tor eighteen
years afterward, and always appeared 10
be in the enjoyment of excellent health
during that period, makes the statement
that his death was due to exposure In the
service of the United States at least ques-
tionable, as it is not denied here that ne
died of apoplexy, and ii is stated here by
persons who are in position TO know that
his physicians did not state that his death
was due to disease contracted In visiting
Union soldiers in field and hospital
DIR. Athon received no conhnlsssl6on OF
appointment from Governor Morton during
the late war, and there is not line or
proof on file in the office of the AdJutant-
general of the State of Indiana OF any ser.
vice rendered by him to Union soloierS at
any time as is stated in the Senate re-
port ..u,.
daI in, Iudi ne bptWpQn
years 1861 and 1861 that DIR. Athon was d
prominent member of the Unreasonable so
was first exposed by a report from the
grand jury of the United States Court for
the District of Indiana, in May, 1867, ana
as l had personal charge or all matters
pertaining to the sanitary work so lar as
Governor MortonS office was concerned,
and wrote the instructions of all agents and
pitfalls regiments in the field, and 1 am
am certain DR.. Athon could not have been
connected with that service without the
fact coming TO my knowledge. The state
ment in the Senate report that ms laSt re-
port was dated Oct - ls02, VIII not sea-
investigation as the Doctor was the anil
war candidate for Secretary of State durinS
the summer and fall of 1862, and 1t will not
be contended that Dr. Athon visited any
Union soldier during that exciting period,
or that he would have been received by
such soldier or would have been perInltted
to enter the lines of the Union army during
that dark and eventful period. All agents
and physicians who visited the army or
hospitals by appointment OF Governor MOT
ton were required to make written reports
on their return, and 1 am conndent Or.
Athon made no report to Governor Morton
at that or any other time. If DR.. Athon
visited any hospital or Indiana troops In
the field after February, 1862, he did SO at
the request of private individuals TO look
after some particular person and 10 assist
that person to his home, and not as the
agent of Governor Morton.
1.-The only reference to DR.. AthonS con-
nection in the late war to be found in the
office of the Acknowledgement OF the State
of Indiana is in the report of that officer;
will be found in VOL 1, of Indiana in the
War; page S12, reciting the testimony or
Horace Heffren, in the treason trials,
summer of 1864, and is as follows:
Mr.. Heffren also testifes to the insrc c,
prisoners, and added two important fea
| lures: First, That Governor Morton was
to be taken eafe ot or t as Of those
| of the insurrectionists who might be taken
prisoners DR.. James S. Athon, member
| of the order and Secretary of State. was to
| become Governor, under the Flaw and the
Constitution Heffren understood. The
militia (Which would be composed OF the
armed members of the order, of courSe)
would be called out, and as Heffren said,
Eve should have everything our own way"
biz ige was se Intended to accomplish this result
| under the forms of law. and its defeat.
| doubtless, exerted no little influence in de-
| termining the adoption OF the scheme or
revolutionary violence which Mr.. Heffren
exposed
| Judge Acknowledgement Joseph Holt, in
his official report TO Edwin Nj. Stanton, Sec
rotary of War, dated Oct. s, 1854, makes
the following reference to DR.. Athon
in that State DR.. Athon, State Secre-
| tary and Joseph Ristine, State Auditor.
II take it that Mrs. Athon is receiving
pension on account of her husbands SER
| vices in the Mexican war, as do the WIDOWS
Of stonewall Jackson. Lee. Pickett. Hill,
| Pillow, Chalmers, ct al.
| Every honorably discharged veteran in
| this State is in favor keeping the pension
| roll a roll of honor, and in the name of the
| 2OS. $40 soldiers Indiana sent TO war TO fight
| for the Union, / enter solemn protest
| against the passage of the Senate bill
| granting a pension TO Mrs: Athon on &C
/ count of any alleged services to sick or
| wounded Union soldiers. If pension must
be given her, let it be given for aid and
| encOura cement given the confederate cause.
| There is ample testimony to support such q
| claim, but none to prove that he con-
| tributed anything to the cause of the Union.
| 'W. Il. HOLLOWAY.
| Indianapolis, May %"