New-York tribune., 1909-04-24
ARMY AND NAVY NOTES
Hrs Tbom psOn Nurse, Not q
Soldier.
IRON The Tribune Bureau
NE-,-l- -. -

Washington. April -.
TIE KILLING or MORGAN.-The War De-
a-r7eu4 had occasion TO act to-day on the unusual
l.rrssr 70 furnish military escort at the funeral
:. woman. Mrs. Sarah z. Thompson whose
,i.,5s believed her 10 have been soldier" 10 have
led with distinction in the Civil War and 10 have
-, instrumental the capture Of the Confederate
General John H. Morgan L was said thai Mrs
-5o--rScn had received special recognition for bcr
-era0tr-- and services in the form Of 2 pension be
,,r-e5 bz Congress. II proved on investigation.
,,y-ever that Mrs Thompson's service consisted
~ less than six months experience as a hospital
rurse her service was only 107 days. II required
special act Of Congress. passed in 1895 10 grant
b.r the S12 . month pension which she received
until her death The act granted the pension 10
Mrs sarah z Cotton. according 70 the records Of
Pension Office Mrs Thompson served faithfully as
nurse. and attempt. Of course, made by the
War DEPARTMENT 20 lessen the value of her work
ast she was not IN any sense soldier nor did she
have anything 70 do with the capture Of Morgan
That officer was captured in 1858 before Mrs
Thomson became hospital nurse. which service
--ss rendered by her in 1855. General Morgan met
his death in 1864. in Cireenyille Tenn The official
reports Of that affair. compiled from both federal
e7d Confederate sources, show that Morgan tho
day before his death established his HEADQUARTERS
~ the home Of Mrs. Williams in Greenville Tenn
snd 1t has been supposed and is alleged in the off
rl reports that tho information Of his nresence in
GTeenville vas made known 10 the federal officers
hT Williams. : a
gar and his officers surprised body of fed
e-sl soldiers under General Gillian Morgan vas
shot by private soldier named Campbell who e1F-
dsnt~ did understand that the Confederae lead
Or was about to surrender when he appeared from
place n hiding i'm the garden AZ the back of Mrs
Tfliamss house. General Morgan was killed and
ali his staff officers. with one exception were capt
ursd The reports on hle in the War Department
show that Mrs Thompson had nothing 70 do with
the capture Of General Morgan The nature Of her
service did not enttie her 4 military escort at
her funeral.
BITTEN BY 4 BEAR-A remarkable bear story
Incorporated in the brief and formal official
port Of naval surgeon. The officer is Passed AS
sistant Surgeon g g Grieve, in command of the
naval hospital at Sitka. Alaska. The incident which
pg. Griere describes occurred last August. when
Le was called one day to administer treatment 10
Ire captain II fishing sloop who had been brought
in. bearing numerous Ia2eratons his body II
proved that he had been bitten less than sixty
fcur times by female brown bear and had re-
oeived in addition many deep scratches The fish
ing captain landed day Oh the shore Of Rod
Bay 10 hunt for deer. On his return at night
ne stumbled the bear with her two Young cubs
Before he could use his rife the bear upon
him In the struggle that ensued the man was hit
ten IN all parts Of the body. For three days he lay
where IL had fallen. without food or drink except
few berries he able 10 gather ana the
moisture he could get from leaves. He began his
trip down the mountain. crawling inch by inch,
and reached the beach the evening Of the sew
euth day He vas pestered by MOSQUITOES. which
a. that time Of wear i: Alaska are frgstful and
the wounded and almost naked man was compelled
u burrow in the leaves and moss of the woods
His companions went in search Of lin. hut they did
not hnd him until he reached the beach. He was
brought al once the Sitka hospital where he J
vas found 10 be delirious and eraaciated. Treat
ment vas administered although there seemed 1T
te cnence that he would recover lie was out Of
ths hospital. however. within thirty-seven DAYS
surgeon Grieye- in sending the report which is in
ihs simple language Of an official communication
ssJS his case is Interesting in that il shows the
reinsrkab bic nerve Of the man. his powers of ell
oaTsnCe and the resistance OF his system to In
iectlon- Il also serves dsprove the time hon
sd fallacy originating II the claim Of old hunters
that bears never bite man