The evening times., 1896-12-24
WAR HEROINE'S PENSION
Mrs. Annie Wittenmyer's Works
Of Mercy ON the Battlefield.
FACTS BACK OF A MEASURE
Representative Pickler's Favorable
Report on the Bill to Pension Her.
Her Home Is Mortgaged, and
Friends Are Asking S25 Month
to Help Save 1t.

Mrs. Annie Wittcnmyer, president OF tie
Nom partisan Woman's Christian Temper
ance Union, will probably be given by this
Congress a pension of S25 month.
Mrs wittcnmyer has been for a great
many years leader in women's move
ments, and was tie first president OF the
woman's Christian Temperance Unicn. of
which Miss Frances willard has been the
head for the past fifteen years. She was
chosen for her present place at the recent
national meeting of the union here.
The bill granting Mrs. wittenmyer pen
sion was introduced a short time ago, and
lust before the Adjournment OF Congress
for the recess was favorably reported by
Major Pickler from tie Committee on In
valid Pensions. The report says:
The beneficiary named in the bin was
one OF the true heroines OF the late war.
Her err3nd of mercy took her along the
front lines OF the armies OF the republic, on
the great battlefields of the nation, and in
the hospitals and prison pens. From April,
1861, to the end of November, S65, she
not only ministered to the sick and wound
ed, but rescued from the harpies of the
war many hundreds of men who had been
given up for dead, and abandoned where
they fell.
THESE services were rendered in hu-
manity's name, without pay or hope oil Pc
cuniary reward. In fact, the claimant spent
$4,000 OF her own means on medicines and
medicinal stores, and even neglected TO
draw the rations to which she was enti-
tied.
Handled 100000.
During her service Mrs. wittenmyer
OO0 worth Of hospital supplies. In 1868
she founded the first home for the orphans
of soldiers, an Institution which fOurishes
today at Dubuque, la, and has given to the
country thousands of good and useful
citizens.
Since the war She founded the National
womau's Relief Corps Home-onein in Penn
sylvania and one in Ohio-for the support
and care OF army nurses, soldiers mothers,
widows and dependents, and others.
But the fame OF Mrs. Wittenmyer. out
side of her undauntcd work in the hospital
and field, rests more peculiarly upon the
establishment through her. by the secre-
tary of War of what is known as the ''spc-
ciaI diet Kitchen of which She WIS made
overseer and superintendent. In regard
to this institution, Mr Assistant Secretary
Reynolds, IN his decision OF June ~, 1913,
says:
The dietary nurse sustains rela-
ton to a patient which is much akin to
that of medical adviser. Physicians them
selves are constantly urging the efficiency
of diet as a safeguard against disease as
well as a remedy therefor 1t requires in
teiligence as well as delicate knowiedGe
OF the nature and effect of certain foods TO
fit woman for sIch position Theyo often
have for this a peculiar fitness, and the
services rendered by such women are in
valuable and entitled to great considera-
ton /, therefore, consider their pension
able status under the act unquestionable-'
Mrs. Grants Endorsement.
Mrs. U. s. Grant, in her introduction
to little book called Under the Guns
writes as follows:
The author Of this most interesting
and historic volume, Mrs. Annie Witten
myer, have often met on my frequent
visits to the headquarters of my husband,
Gen Ulysses $ Grant-she there on her
mission of mercy, as she came to the front
with supplies for the sick ami wounded; |
there simply to give the general a glimpse of
his dear ones, some OF the children being
always with me.
Mrs. Wittenmyer was ever deeply in
terested In efforts to relieve suffering,
ever appealing for the discharge Of the
brave men who were made helpless by
their wounds, ever braving dangers and
enduring hardships in the performance OF
her selr-assumed, patriotic heart duties.
~ used 20 look upon this brave, heroic
woman with profound respect and adnira-
yt-a a lD
greater in the thirty years that have passed
since then
Her Home Is Mortgaged.
Mrs. Wittenmyer'S home Is mortgaged,
hut until recently she has aged to pay
the interest thereon as it became due
Now, however, having attained the Psalm
lists age, her days of activity are over, and
it is only by cxertions far beyond her
strength and years that she is able to save
the property from the mortgage ana tax
gatherer.
"She had often appeared before this com
mittee, and we are well acquainted with
her history and disinterested efforts in be
half of others. The modest sum of SIS
per month is asked for in ORDER. as tie
claimant says, to keep within precedents.
of which there are several as to amount. but
none, so Iar as your CoHiihittct nave us
cerned, as to merit.
The notle work and self-sacrifice of
Mrs. Wittcnmyer should receive timely
recognition at the hands Of the government
which so directly and indirectly rcaped the
benefits of her devoted labors, and your
committee most cheerfully recommend the
passage Of the BILL
Western Paper Men May Combine.