Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-03-29

$500
and the amount falls short S4s 900. they
say. There is an example of the aud.
iting.
My claim is audited at $3.50, but I
could prove, If l had the chance that
served yer three months longer
than the muster roll showed that I
was there (no fault of the auditory +
was in command Of the escort of the
train bringing the wounded and dead
from the battle of walla Walla more
than one month after the muster roll
shows | vas discharged, and deliv.
cred the bodies of Capt. Jas. A. Bur
nett, Lieut.. Barrows and Private Grow
to their friends two months after. So
you see we were not paid for too much
time. But I was one of those who was
too late in getting my voucher to Sa
lem. Now, what will the good people
of the great state of Oregon do about
these claims? It will be up to them
to say if we never shall be paid. One
more remark, | wish to refer to.
These veterans are old pioneers, who
mostly got a square mile of virgin ter
ritory in the heart Of Western Ore.
gon." We simply deny the charge.
There was not one out Of 80 who was
old enough at the time to be entitled
to a section of land, while that law ex.
listed or had taken such a claim. I
mean there we're few, If any Of the
privates "%non-coms." You will re.
member the commissioned officers
have received their pay, and are not
in this discussion. To understand
this matter more fully, we will give an
idea of the status Of these old pion.
GERS, who so promptly responded to
their country's call for help. Take us
for first example, Company A. Her
captain and second lieutenant were
journeymen followers. working for
wages for Mr.. G.. G.. Robbins. The first
lieutenant was a laborer in a livery
stable for Sherlock & Bacon. First
Sergeant Perkins vas a musician, Sec.
ond Sergeant Frazier was the son of
a leading Portland merchant, Third
Sergeant Roberts was a stone cutter,
of the firm of Roberts & Schandle.
Corporal Story was head of the firm
of Story Bros, druggist; Corporal
Fell, a laborer. Privates, two broth
ers by the name of Kelly and young
Prettyman, and four or five others,
were som of fortunate "old pioneers
who obtained section claims under the
old donation laws. The oldest private
in the company was a Mr.. Flemen,
who had also an old land claim near
Portland, and was killed in battle and
buriedaat Fort Bennett, and never re.
turned to his home or friends, and of
all the other members of the com.
pany, there was not one who had any
landed interest in Oregon, but were
in the country looking for homes on
which to locate or on some business
enterprise. Having called the roll ev-
cry morning for several months, I had
an opportunity to know of each mans
status. OF the up country companies,
there was a little difference. There
Were many young men, sons of "old
pioneers, and laborers from farms
and villages, while many of the cap.
tains and ~lieutenants were older men.
and some were land owners. as, for
instance, Captain Hembrie, who was
the first noble patriot to fall in battle.
Captain Cornelius and Captain An.
keny. Captain Burnett, who was the
discoverer Of gold in California, and
made his fortune there, was a steam.
boat owner, and a very wealthy man,
and vas shot to death at the front Of
his men, the first day Of the battle at
Walla Walla.
From the foregoing It Is plain to be
seen that the rank and file of those
who are asking for the long overdue
payment are not the recipients of any
extra favors from Oregon Territory OF
the United States government. And
please tell us, And just as the govern
ment at Washington was about to pay
all their claims" what action was be
ing taken at Washington to pay all
their claims" / was one Of the beard
less kids OF our company, but now,
thanks to the pure and braclng air OF
the Pacific coast mountains, / am. at
70. able for my regular beans" or
any other hard job that | can find, But
there are others less favored by
health, and others who have answered
their roll call" who have left behind
loved ones who are entitled to what
their fathers so nobly earned In their
boyhood days.
All honor to Democrats, Populists
,or Republicans who are honest enough