The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-18
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adjusted in one way. and Captain Curtin
Of the barn. where they We're allowed to
settle the question according to the pre-
vailing rules of the prize-ring. after which
the procession reformed, and the remain.
ing solemrities Of the military funeral
were carried out in due form.
Much has been written since Andrew
Curtins death about his unfailing gen.
erosity. and this trait in his character
has. in fact. become proverbial; But
General Hastings In his contribution
to the present volume narrates q new
anecdote:
I was crossing the street near his home
one bitter cold winter evening, many years
ago, In company with Governor curtin;
man, wearing nothing but the round
about clothes usually worn by wood-chop-
pers. He had been an old employe at the
Curtin Iron works.
us that YOU. Andy?" said the old man,
while his teeth chattered with cold.
'Yes," said the governor; "Is that you.
Tom? What In the world are you doing
out on such a cold day as this without
Bad said Tom: mighty bad. moth
ing to do. l have no money to spare for
oovereoats when meat is wanted AZ
home"
Here, take mine:" and sitting the ac-
ton to the word. Governor Curtin re-
moved his overcoat, and In moment II
was comfortably wrapped around the
shoulders Of the old wood-chopper, who
walked of. showering blessings on his
benefactor.
After his return as minister to Russia
Governor Curtin was importuned by
thousands OF old soldiers to assist them
In getting pensions. To every request
which he thought deserving. he re-
sponded with all possible diligence. and
often would go to washington to pre-
sent their cases in person before the
commissioner
On one occasion the commissioner sent
for the papers Of the claimant whose
case the governor was urging, and after
inspecting them, informed him that the
claimant was unable to file any proof ex-
cepting his own affidavit that he had been
disabled In battle. that under the rules
there must be additional evidence. that
nothing could be found in the hospital re.
ports or other records of the alleged
wound and the claim must therefore be
refused
II will All that gap myself said Cur
tin. II sent that boy to the army; he
came to me Immediately after the battle
OF Gettysburg and ! saw his wound. !
kept him at my house until he said he
had recovered somewhat from his injury
and was able to 20 back. but his health
had broken and ! had to send him home.
Now" said Curtin, in a voice of thunder.
III that Is not evidence enough to give this
man a pension, l say damn the rules Of
the department" The pension was grant
on the spot.
Two more anecdotes from the Hast
ings chapter and we shall have done.
That Curtin was man characteristic
ally alive to the spirit of things and op-
posed to all superfiouS accessories has
already been Indicated, but General
Hastings is informed of an incident
which brings this trait out in even
clearer relief:
In 1875, when the news had reached
Bellefonts OF the great fire which swept
out of existence the towE of Osceola,
situate on the boundary of Center county,
and left thousands of people homeless and
destitute, an alarm was sounded by the
ringing Of bells, and the people rushed to
the court house, filling it to Overlooking,
% take action with reference to helping
he sufferers. Some one moved that the
meeting should organize by the election
IF a president vice-president and secreta-
lies, whereupOn Governor Curtin quickly
jumped to his feet and exclaimed: MY
God, nelghbors, 1t is not presidents, vice
presidents and secretaries of this meet
ing that the people Of Osceola need. They
want bread and meat and clothing and
'helter Go to your homes and bring these
things to the railroad station as quick as
you can. and ! will furnish the cars to
'end them forward at once" 1t Is i'm
possible to describe the effect Of these
words. The court house was empted in a
minute. People rushed to their homes for
their contributions, and soon the car
loads of relief were on their way to the
unfortunate people Of the fre-swept town.
The last personal reminiscence Of An
drew Gregg Curtin to which we shall re-
fer is told by General Hastings in the
third person. but we shall take the lib
erty to repeat II as MIR. Curtin himself
related 1t to Colonel Harry Hall of the
PittSburg Times, Just q few days prior
to his death:
Immediately after the disastrous battle
Of Fredericksburg, I'm December, 1867"
said the war governor, II went down to
from Pennsylvania as might need care.
Things were In a terrible condition. Ev-
cry one was appalled, and disheartened.
The wounded were coming in from the
for so many. they were lying on the PotU-
mac wharves. almost on the bare snow IT.
self. / went to work and did what could,
and was In my room In the hotel one day
when word came that a woman wanted
to see me. She was brought In and proved
to be a woman l knew, the wife of "a
farmer In the central part Of Pennsylva-
MIA. who had come down to find out about
and a mothers love had brought her to
find him. She was poorly clad, and al
though 1t was In winter, I remember she
wore one Of the old-fashioned sunbon-
nets, StlUeneu WITH paSteDOaru.
She had got to Washington that morning,
could get no tidings of her son. and now,
the hotels being all crowded. could find ro
place to stay. She seemed almost heart
broken.
II told her I would endeavor to get
word of her son, and, learning from the
hotel-keeper where there was a reputa-
BILE boarding house. paid a hackman 81 to
take her there. Seeing her started,
stoppd on the street to talk to Governor
buckingham, of Connecticut, who was
In washington on the same errand as my
self. While we were talking ] heard
rough voice ordering some one, with Oaths,
to get out, and be quick about itv
looked around and saw the hackman l
had hired trying to get the poor woman
out Of the carriage. Inquiring what it
meant, she told me, with tears, that after
he had driven her little ways he had .,r-
dered her to get out, and on her refusing
not knowing where she was, he had
brought her back. asked him what he
meant by such conduct, but the fellow. a
big, burly ruffian. just cursed and swore
and asked me what I was going to do
about Ii.
II was at a loss. for I didn't want a
dis urbance with him on the public street
when l saw coming along big rawbonei
soldier with bucktail in his hat. / called
on him. and found that he knew me. So I
told him the story.
I" "'Come down Off that COACH he said