The National tribune., 1896-11-19


tunate comrades.
Past Chaplain Hagerty participated in the
dedicatory services, and comments as follows !:
For years the W.R.C. of Missouri have been
longing and laboring to procure shelter where
the old soldier and his devoted wife could have
a home in the evening of life. The Post and
citizens of st. James, Mo-. offered them .
magnificent home. the former residence OF Col.
James, and 80 acres of ground. orchard, out
buildings. and all free from any membranes.
1t was accepted by the committee. and the
building has been put in repair and altered to
meet the new conditions. new rooms furnished
nicely, and was on last Sabbath dedicated by
appropriate services.
People came in from the country around for
go miles in their own conveyances, and from
the West by the cars. by the hundreds. st.
Louis started out train of IL coaches, but 1T
was unfortunately wrecked on the way. 1t
was said that there never had been as many
people in st. James as were there as it was, and
the dedication went on.
People marched from the village to the Home,
about quarter of a mile away, where the ex-
ercises were held, with music, both band and
vocal. dedicatory address was made by De-
partment Chaplain T. ii. Hagerty, and prayer
of invocation was offered by him before q
deeply attentive audience.
welcome address was made by the Mayor
of the city in very chaste language. DIR.
Headly, of the Citizens Committee, followed
with an address of rich, patriotic, and fraternal
sentiment Hon. Richard Bartholdt, N. g.,
made an address of strength on Patriotism
and It's Rewards"
The audience was then dismissed to view the
Home. being admitted and shown through by
Superintendent Comrade w. D. Crandall.
The Home has been nicely furnished from
top to bottom, by individuals, Posts, Corps, and
friends. 50 that it presented q fine appearance.
I,o fouu he kn
pleted for the reception of old soldiers and
their wives. who are approved by the Board.
No man would have dared to have guessed that
Missouri would have had such a magnificent
Home for her old soldiers and their wives in
the year 1896. No one but woman would have
accomplished this work.
This Home is the commencement, and as
demands increase and means multiply little
cottages can be built on the grounds, and each
one can have his own garden and chicken-coop
for himself if desired. 1t is desired that the
Home shall BIO carried on in such way that it
may be Home for every occupant, as the
Chaplain most earnestly prayed in the dedi-
catOry exercises.
HEROIC w.R.C. WOMEN.
Referring to the distressing accident, Chap
lain Hagerty says: Twelve coaches. full OF
happy people, pulled out of Union Depot St.
Louis, and before they got IL miles, in deep
cut and double curve, they were run into by
an incoming train. Both engines were knocked
into broken iron, several cars derailed and
broken into fragments, eight persons killed,
and many injured.
"Three old Surgeons happened to be on board.
They took car for hospital, and the women
of the W.R.C were the most heroic in looking
after and caring for the dead and wounded.
No bandages were there, and one woman
leaped barbed wire fence. ran to q farmhouse,
snatched sheets, and ran back and made band
ages.
Zone poor fellow was badly scalded, and a
woman called for come flannel to cover his
scalded body. A woman near by pulled her
new flannel skirt Of, tore it up, and bound up
the scalded form of the fireman. By the time
the railroad doctors came, army Surgeons and
women Of W.R.C. had the wounded nicely cared
for and the dead laid out to rest.
1t is sometimes thought that the days of
heroic conduct are over, and that noble doing
is thing of the past. This terrible wreck
has proven to the contrary"
DEPARTMENT OF MISSOURI.
Department President Hollen E. Day, writ
ing of the opening of the Missouri Relief Corps
Home, st. James, and the sad accident which
befell the st. Louis excursiouists, says:
"Our Relief Corps women and Grand Army
Surgeons arose to the occasion they established
"
pillows, improvised beds. freely gave their
linen and flannel skirts for bandages, and as
sisted the Surgeons in caring for the INJURED.
Only three comrades were slightly hurt, the
others being friends"
Our inspection week was delightful; nine
Corps in st. Louis and all in good trim. Each
Corps remembered our hard working Depart
ment President with an elegant souvenir.
Gen. Lyon Corps, No. AZ, presented her with
an elegantly framed picture OF the Soldiers
Home As this Home sprung from the perse-
verance of Lyon Corps, naturally we feel proud
of our share in the grand work that this De-
partment has engaged in-the establishment Of
a Home for old veterans and their wives.
OF the Department outlook, our correspond
ent says: Department President L. A. Scott
is trying and hopes to visit every Corps in this
State. She has already covered $4,000 miles,
and is still moving. Last Sunday she raised
the flag over the Home on behalf of this Depart
ment.
The Matron of the Home. Mrs. Crandall, was
formerly our Department Secretary, and con-
tributed greatly toward the growth Of our
Order in this State. We are all working stead
ily, for we feel that we have big burden to
carry, aud must bes it without wincing.