The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-03-16
Mr.. Carnegie's Benefactions.

/ Editor The Washington Herald:
I Though Mr.. Carnegie's name has not
! appeared in the papers recently in con
nection with donations 10 Libraries and
1 other Institutions. ne has been active II
a quiet way, by kindly remembranoes oil
numerous early friends Of the United
States Military Telegraph Corps by
/ founding an honor pension roll
through which each survivor Of the Tele-
graph Corps will be paid from the pri-
vate pension fund Of Mr.. Carnegie the
minimum service sum Of SI2 per month
during life.
There are few residents OF Washing
ton, well-known "old timers" who viii
be entitled 70 this benefaction, among
them being the writer, who is author OF
the war story OF the telegraph, The Boy
Spy"
II was through the recent publications
in the Century and the interesting book
Lincoln in the Telegraph Office" by a
former Washington telegraph official. Mr.
/ D. Homer Bates, that public attention
has been called 70 the fact that Mr.. Car
negie was an "old-timer," one Of the
! band OF patriot boys of the Pennsylvania
Railroad who was the first 10 reach
Washington in response 70 the call OF the
President.
1t Is not so well remembered that il
was these civilian volunteers from Penn
sylvania. under the direction Of Col.
Thomas A. Scott and Mr.. Andrew Car
negie who rebuilt the destroyed telegraphs
and the railroad over which the first
armed troops from Pennsylvania reached
the Capital.
Col. Scott drove all night from Hagers-
town. Nd. while Mr.. Carnegie. finding il
impossible TO get through by rail. took a
boat from HaYre de Grace 10 Annapolis.
from where he took an empty engine 10
Washington. It was during the ride in
the cab that he found the telegraph wires
cut, and stopped the wild ride 10 repair
the break. While making the connection
without the tools, the taut wire slipped
and cut his face, causing pain and pro
fuse bleeding, Notwithstanding which he
continued the advance on Washington
Mr.. Carnegie jocularly declares his was
the first blood shed, for which he is en-
titled TO a pension
The United States Military Telegraph
Corps, inaugurated by Mr.. Carnegie.
grew during the civil war into mighty
arm OF service. It's life was marked here
and there with tragedy and exceptional
cases Of heroism, and everywhere by pa
triotic and self-sacrifcing service unex-
eelled by that OF any other arm.
The service performed was analogous
TO that Of the Signal Corps Of the army.
combined with that Of the scout and field
couriers. described so fully in The Boy
Spy and to a considerable extent it re-
heved the cavalry arm. TO which the
writer was attached as signal officer at
ff,a. -. 4 80
The members in the civil duties Of
operators in the field shared the perils.
privations, and sufferings OF the private
soldier, but thus far they have been de-
prived of the soldiers reward
For a quarter of a century the sur
vivors have appealed 10 Congress for a
pensiOnable status. SO that they might be
on a parity with all other soldiers of
the war, but the only thing accomplished
has been the granting TO them Of GER
tifcate Of honorable service by the act
of January Is, 1897.
In response 20 an appeal TO Mr. Car
negie, knowing his love Tor the craft OF
his youth. and feeling that he takes a
virtuous pride in the achievements Of the
corps of his founding Mr.. Carnegie re-
piled as follows:
David Homer Bates, secretary executive Committee.
United States Military Telegraph Corps
Dear Sir: consider il great privilege 70 furnish
the indicated. Slii. each year to such members
Of the Military TeSgraph Corps as the committee
recommends. Nh. r A. Franks president Of the
Home Trust Company, Hoboken. n J. has been
instructed to place on the pension roll those the
committee recommends. and mail them checks each
year, beginning January l. 1905 Very truly yours.
ANDREW CARNEGIE.
From the beginning to the end OF the
civil war about 100 names appeared upon
the rolls OF the corps. but of that number
less than 200 survive. Many OF the sur
vivors have passed the psalmist's limit
of life Of three-score and ten. while the
others are rapidly moving toward it.
Some are in impaired financial circum-
stances, and this help viii be timely.
J. ORION KERBEY.