New-York tribune., 1900-04-01
VETERAN OF FOUR WARS DYING.
WILLIAM HARRINGToNs DAILY PRAYER IS
THAT HE MAY LIVE TILL JULY HIS
HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY.

On what probably will prove to be his deathbed,
William Harrington. a veteran Of four wars in the
United States. who is nearly hundred wears old.
is lying at his home helpless from paralysis. HIS
entire left side Is affected but although conscious
that the inevitable is slowly but surely approaching
he is peaceful and resigned Still his daily prayer Is
that he may live round century. which he
will do II his life is spared until July next he
having been born on the anniversary Of his coun-
try's birth, n 1900. Special prayers were offered
FOR him at his bedside in his home yesterday by
neighbors. OF whom is a member Of the Pros
pect Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church at One
hundred-and- sixty -irst-st., to which he also be-
longs Although deaf he propped up by pill
lows, and not only attentive but appreciative
throughout the touching and impressive services
for the dying man At the close his daughter
Mrs Sarah H Cooney. of No. 1868 Third-ave..
asked him Il he had made MS peace with God
This was shouted 10 him through trumpet
and he heard the question. In instant his eu1a-
ciated face lighted up, and with quivering lips and
in feeble voice he replied without hesitation
I believe in God Almighty and IN eternity. I also
oeEeVe RE saves from sins / trust all 70
Him
Mr. Harrington lives at No 1H7 Franklin-ave
near One -hundr observation-disclosures. He born
in Delaware, but the exact place is unknown even
70 him. his parents died when he small
child. His father. however, is understood to have
been Indian In early boyhood he came this
city and wandered into the country. A farmer
named Downing took d fancy TO him, and gave MIN
clothes on the farm which was on the outskirts of
the village of West Chester About that TINA the
War OF 1872 broke and the boy away He
sucGeeded In getting place as powder BOY on me
pacities the Brandywtne the Delaware and the
Winston. In one action a cannon pail struck the
deck and a splinter was driven into his head He
recovered from that awful wound. and f9Ight
hraveIy throughout the remainder Of the conflict.
When declared with Mexico the old dre
for dghting was rekindled and under General Win
neId Scott he into that struggle, served from
its start to its finish, and came out unscatned
The same Is true of the Seminole War, in which he
escaped without scratch. Although more than
sixty years old, he enlisted in the Goth New York
Volunteers in the Civil War, and was in many i'm
porLant engagements, notably Antletam. Five
FORKS Spottsylvania and Pittsburg Landing. In
the Mexican War he at the battles OF Chapul-
repec. Cherubusco and CerFo GOrdo, and even now,
to him wildly and he fights those battles all over
again. frequently imagining himself IN the neat or
a bayonet charge or in a hail or shells and bullets
the firing line
time his bride being Miss Phoebe Hayes, or Ford
ham Ten children born to them. FIVE boys
and five girls. but only four are living, and only
one grandchId survives, she a little girl or nVe
wears. the daughter Of Mrs Augustus G OdeIl, OF
not been seriously i'll all his life but then, while
pIavfrIIy tossing MS graudchild IN the air,
stricken with paralysis. fell and carried his
hed there ne has remained practically ever
since Mr Harrington never learned TO read or
write but he Is able. even now, 10 converse nIell-
ganflv on any subject with which he is familiar.
on account OF his Civil War record he has been
receiving a pension OF Si2 a month. Recently. how
@ ecSiV14s Ls 1aarnad +hat a Mexican War veteran
named Briggs an inmate OF the Home Tor 1ncura-
HES in E7orCihau had received s. 900 OF pension
friends to secure that for him. that instead
oP suffering the pangs or poverty ne may nave AT
len ar an extra pipeful of tobacco and few luxurles
in the few days ne may have remaining