The National tribune., 1903-05-14

nothing for that. for the Union had been
saved But when he was utterly incapaci-
tated physicallyto to do anything, his disease
slowly eating out his vita.s. his substance
wasted, and the Government that he loved
more than his own life, through some tech
nical rendering on his ailment which he
could not understand, let him die in
want-that was what bathed his face and
pillow with hot, burning tears and crushed
his heart. That of itself was Il curiosity,
but it does not end here.
Just after lie left home for the Union
lines squad of Confederates came along
and Il fine mare that was leftwith hefam-
| lily was taken from them, it was said, by
Il young man vino was a soldier wearing
the gray well known in that community.
Doubtless he did it under orders.
That young man afterward changed his
views on the subject of the war, left the
Confederate army, and became n Federal
soldier. He made q good soldier, serving
until honorably discharged at the close
of the war. He became Il pensioner, and
had very little trouble to get his claim al
lowed. He was entitled to the pen
sion. 1t was properly allowed;
but the curious thing is that the
man who stood for the Union and aided
in formulating opinion, sacrificing his all
on that side, should be denied, while the
boy who joined in on the other side and
afterwards recanted, who is now alive and
enjoying Il considerable degree of health,
should get his pension with little or no
trouble.
Stranger still, in this same case, after
the man was dead, his widow made appli-
cation for pension. Her claim was re-
jected also, while three of her nearest
neighbors were widows in exactly the
same conditions and circumstances with
her, except that one Of the husbands died
while in the service, and they were al
lowed their pensions without question.
She, too, died and was buried without any
recognition on the part of the Govern
ment of the services rendered by her hus-
band and the sacrifices made by her.
NEIGHBoRHooD oUARRELs AND THE PEN
SION BUREAU.
Another curious practice of the Pension
Bureau which is said to have prevailed
for some time is, when any neighbor de-
sired to do so, he could secretly send up
an affidavit affecting a pensioner, and the
Office would stop the payment of the pen
sion until the allegations of the secret afii-
davit were disproved, at the same time
carefully secreting the name of the per-
son making the affidavit and of the charge
In a certain neighborhOod there was
bitter quarrel, as often occurs in country
neighborhoods. A number Of the citizens
were pensioners, and their pensions were
suspended in this way. 1t was said that
when anyone of the old pensioners dis
pleased certain Of his nefghbors, the pay
ment WAS suspended and it went to that
extent that boasts were made "John
Smith must walk straight and not cross
my path, or lie will have his pension
looked into!" They could do this safely
for the Government officials would not
divulge the name of the swearing neigh
Dor, and there was no danger of having
TO meet the pensiOner face to face, or Of
prosecution for perjury.
Two more cases Of applications for pen
sioIs which afford rema rkable and unac-
coun;able curiosity when placed parallel,
are of interest. They were made about
the same time, and the history in the two
cases is similar in many respects. The first
was the claim of Il dependent mother for
pension on account of the loss of a son.
The family consisted of father mother
and son. The boy went into the army
and was lost. The father was Il giant in
stature and had been one in strength. Some
disease had taken hold in his right should
er ard arm, rendering that part Of him
almost helpless. Aside from this he was
strong. He could walk all over the coun-
try, but could not work because of that
cation, and he walked from place to place
and got up the afiidavits demanded. Il
was only short time until the pension
was allowed, very properly, under the
law.
DEAD IN TIE ENEMY's COUNTRY.
The other family consisted also OF faith
er, mother and only son. The boy enlist
ed and went with Stoneman on his raid
into Virginia, and OIL that raid was wound
ed or stricken very i'll, so that lie lad to
be left inside of the lines of the enemy.
As well as it can now be recalled. he was
very severely wounded. He could not be
brought away, and the command was com
PEELED to retire.
The soldier was left at house inside
the lines of the enemy, and 1t was learned,
unofficially, that soon after the departure
OF his comrades he died. 1t never was
known who was present or the circum-
stances of his death. He died there among
strangers in hostile community.
The mother then died, leaving the father
alone. The family was in utter poverty.