Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-08-29

only hurt our order, a it gives an opportunity
for interruptions persons to place US in false
position. LEWIS SELLING,
department Commander.
Post Department Commander j. Wes-
ley Gilman, OF Oakland, in an extended
letter to the Somerset Reporter, says:
! wish to heartily corrohorate the article In Il
recent Issue of your paper relative to the con
-tant and successful work that has been ac.
compished for the old soldiers Of the Srd dis
trict by Congressman Bur etgh IN the time he
has served our rerresrutatiy sc at a-hiugton.
iie has. III al times. been 'oyal and true To
every rnidet'- intcrc=t a nj any man who wore
the blue, 10 matter what might be his station
OF his politics, could write ut any time in the
fun assurance not only of II prompt reply,
but also o hi- earnest aud energetic c,.opcra-
tion, scarcely day ha- gone by siucc he ha-
been iu Congress that has not seen pension
awarded some soldier In this district by
their fruits ye shall Know Them" and tie
official records show that no member of Con
gross has surpassed the splendid record OF re
suits for soldier constituents that has been
made by Congressman Burleigh. and those who
have any where near tquaed It are indeed few
and far between.
In this connection wish to tell little stO y
which came under my Immediate observation.
Many old soldiers in the third district can tell
similar ones. bu; this VIII serve to illustrate his
unselhsh devotion to the soldier interests com
mitted to his charse;
In 1877 the first year of Governor Burl.igh'-
service In Congress, very worthy widow
siding In This town md claim for pension
which had been pending at the bureau Of pen
sions for nine years. A blind daughter by a
former husband also resided with her a very
intelligent young la4iy who had been educated
In " csteru school for the blind. both were
In poor health aud in Strengthened financial cir
cum-tiucrs
Governor Bureieh took hold of the case with
his characterize energy and push. The dini
Guilty was that proof could not he obtained OF
the death OF her first husband. which occurred
In Baltimore In 1871 ls72. and thus establish
the Legality OF the marriage with the second
husband-the soldier-who was also deceased.
1t was Impossible for them to secure proof of
the husbands aud fathers death without the
expenditure OF money at Baltimore and this
they did not have.
A, this point ninety nine out of 100 members
OF Congress would have droppei the case with
an exl ression OF regret that owing to this lack
of evidence they could do nothing further to
advance 1t. But not 50 Mr.. Burleigh. His
sympaIhes were too thoroughly enlisted. He
went to Baltimore, where he put In two days
in the scorching heat of July securing the evil
dence necessary 10 place this poor blind girl
and her mother In a condition of Independence.
He employed, al his own expense, an attorney
and justice, and by an exercise of rare tact.
was able to secure all the evidence required.
The result was that the claimant was given
pension of IS a month, with over 800 in back
pay. When this money was received. the for
tunate girl fastened to Augusta to see Gov
ernor Burleigh, who was then at his home in
that city, to thank him for what he had done. She
urged that he should at least let her reimburse
him for the money he had expended In her be-
half on his trip to Baltimore. but he refused to
take penny, telling her that he had already re-
ceived ample pay for all he had been able to do
in the satisfaction he felt in his success.
AS a result OF this work, the g. A. r.
post OF Oakland on Nov. l, 1897, passed
resolutions heartily expressing its thanks
to Congressman Burleigh as "the true
and staunch friend OF the soldier and
soldiers wicow."
The Somerset Reporter, in news article,
calls attention to two misstatements made
in the circular condemning Congressman
Burleigh. 1t says:
The circular purporting to have been written
by Gardiner veterans, discredts itself In
striking manner. skowheaan is mentioned as
one of the places where a soldier was turned
down in the appointment of postmaster
Gen. Isaac Dyer. the recently appointed post
master of Skowhegan, was one of Names most
efficient and valiant regimental commanders.
He has the impression that he Is veteran, his
townspeople have that impression, and the men,