The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1896-07-23
Pension Business.

The history of the Pension Burnau !
Washington would make a highly m
tcresting book. if it could ever be writ
ten. Tragedy and comedy would iy
tie each other in its pages. The y4l
York Tribune, in an extended accom-
of the business of the bureau, SAYS III,
great numbers of strange and ANN
ing letters are received. THIS m
man wrote:
"One night on picket duty at ID
siege of Nicksburg I saw by spiritu,
sight a light shining on the side Of mi
face and the bottom of my feet. ",
sanctified. and what allied me wa
Christianity. l have it in my head
heart and whole system, and it troubls
me most when | have the ague and ad
tending church. | feel there is soma
thing in my head which may run od
when it gets loose"
In the investigation of this case
was shown that the claimant had sud
fcred a severe SunStroke at the sled
of Nicksburg. and was insane. Til
pension vas granted.
Another man wrote to the Law d
vision of the bureau to obtain adycI
on what was to him a very important
matter:
Il took my money" he wrote, 'anJ
bought me a pig and some seed poa|
toes. and l kept the pig all SUMMED
and he has become a fat hog. and
dug my potatoes last week, and non
John Jones has levied on my PIC an}
he wants to take my potatoes. wan
the government to protect ne. Hal
he a right to take government prop
erty:"
What reply the lawyers made 10 tAll
inquiry we are not Informed. As AZ
example Of the pains taken by ~
bureau to get at the truth in all douDq
FIJI eases. the Tribune cites the follow
Ing:
\ man applied for a pension tf
wounded knee which he had recel'e1
near Lexington. Kentucky, while on
special detail. The man was asked
furnish the affidavits Of some WltnesseI
of the occurrence; but as the specialu u
tail had been taken from several reg7
ments. he did not know the names q
any of the persons composing IL nI
only remembered that his conlrau1
had called one of the men "Possum'
and that another was called LOON
a good illustration. by the way Oh y
superior memOrability of nicknaines
The mans story was SO strais""V1
ward. and his claim apparent! 81 JuI
that in spite of the difficulties a.'eu1
ing a search for ''Possum' and "CVVl
the bureau went about it sys'em'"
ally.
1t was found that there had beehoa|
Kentucky regiment at LeAin
After considerable correspondent 81
the non-commissioned officers III
detail we're found, except one nian
the name of Adams. 1t was s"
Uuently found that Adams had o',I u,
Mexico. A letter was Written ,.,,
him who "POssum" was. Inc
was returned uncalled for. a
1t was then ascertained that Ni,
ans, who was an engineer had you,
some mining town in Nevada WIZ ra|
was finally located. Wheh nc nal
written to-, it was found that lie au]
moved again. but no n knew WV.
1t was developed, however land
had told some IN that he lN' ,,a1
where in the vicinity of a certain
village in Maine. rosc cod
The postmaster of this own wa" I'D
responded with, and he INFORM 4
bureau that a family by the naT m,u}
Adams lived in the vicinity. NV snan |
Der of the family, he SAID hau an|
Kentucky. was a mining ens, wa|
was expected home soon. Ale'T nd
addressed to this Mr.. Adam, urarJ
care of The postmaster. VINO sfeI
it to him on his arrival SUM
ward. .,,ot thl
1t subsequently appeared tn' ns 4
Mr.. Adams was "POssum, anu mini
scribed the accident of the 'iaim |
tion-wagon so clearly that the
question was allowed.