The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-04-13
SALT LAKE WOMAN
LAUDS CLARA BARTON
Mrs. Mary Roby Lacey Pays
Loving Tribute to Founder
of Red Cross Society.
BELOVED BY SOLDIERS
AS Nurse Was Ever Ready TO.
Share HardshipS of Those
Who Fought.
"Clara Burton was beautiful oman

'IClara Burton was beautiful oman
beautiful in every way, She WAS
loved and admired by tho rank and
file of the army without exception and
by the band of one hundred nurses
under her leadership in the Army of
the Potomac
The above estimate Of Miss Clara
Barton, founder of the American Red
the age of 81, WAS expressed last
night by Mrs. Mary Roby Lacey Of
Salt Lake City, who was associated
with Clara Barton as army nurse for
five years during the war between the
states.
Mrs. Lacey further described Clara
Barton as a horn leader and rather
strict disciplinarian. and said that it
was her ability as IN organizer and dl'
rector that was responsible for the
splendid work done by the nurses on
the firing line during the long, hard
campaigns OF the war. As an illustra-
ton OF Miss Barton's tendency to
take spot luck with the soldiers,
Mrs Lacey related an incident that
took place after the battle Of Antie-
tam.
Disregarded Hardships.
This stubbornly,fough battle took
place in the midst of IL downpour of
rain, and when firing ceased the field
was wet and muddy, making the work
OF caring for the wounded very diff
cult. Miss Barton s tent was pitched
in one OF the muddiest parts of the
field and some of the soldiers, think
ing to make it more comfortable for
her, confiscated carpet from neigh
boring farm house and laid it on the
floor of her tent. Miss Barton ordered
them to take it up and restore it to its
owners She and her corps OF assist"
ants throughout the war refused lux
urles denied the soldiers and shared
their hardships.
Mrs. Lacey had the distinction of
being one of the youngest nurses to of
fer their services to the government, at
the beginning of the war. She was but
II years of age when Lincoln called
for volunteers after the firing on Fort
Sumpter. She had been married but
the previous February to Ben iamin II.
Roby, who was at that time superin-
tendent of q cotton mill in New Jersey.
When the call came for troops, Mr..
Roby proposed that he offer his serv-
ices, and she replied that if he did not,
o''S "ppiNs
Bride Went as Nurse.
Mr.. Roby enlisted and was commits
stoned captain OF Company Z, First
New Jersey volunteers. Mrs, Lacey
accompanied him to the camp of the |
regiment and attracted the notice of
the colonel by her work in altering the |
uniforms of the soldiers. He proposed |
TO her that she accompany the regi- |
ment as nurse. She went to Washing
ton and passed the physical examina~
head nurse.
Miss Dix looked me over said
Mrs. Lacey, land said, go home, lit
tie girl. | told her ! was married and |
she said that male no difference, and |
for me TO 20 back home; that l was
too Young to stand the hardships Very
much discouraged, ] went to my hus-
band and told him what Miss Dix hal
said. He told uIe to go home, if / had |
been so directed. But, instead of 60
ing home, / went to the refreshments !
saloon, where | found an opportunity |
to help make bandages. Four weeks |
later | was sent to the front and |
served through the campaigns and was
present at the most important engage.
meDts. i went with Grant army
through the Wilderness campaign and |
'''" PiNSeob "o -hPPoludtpA WHICH Lee |
surrendered
Knew General Grant.
Mrs. Lacey was shocked to learn of |
the death of General Frederick D. !
Grant yesterday, and said she remem-
bered him as a "nicc boy'' when he |
accompanied his father through the
campaign in Virginia Mrs Lacy has |
served two years as president of the |
Associations of Army Nurses of the |
Civil War. and has missed but one of |
the annual national encampments of !
the 6. A. R., having been sent as dele
gate from Salt Lake several times.
Mrs. Lacey said last night that she |
came from fighting New England |
stock" :" and is still ready TO enlist for |
service in the field. Her great grand |
father was Abraham Clark, a signer of |
the Declaration of Independence. and |
his brother, Jones Clark, gave the sig |
nal which started Paul Revere on his |
famous ride to awaken the minute men |
of Massachusetts.
Mrs Lacey was born on July 4, and |
on that day of the present year will |
be 6s years of age She has lived in |
this city seven years. having removed |
here from Railway. y. j.