STORY OF A PENSION

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 20, 24 July 1922, Page 2

STORY OF A PENSION

An instance of the payment of a pension after the lapse of over half a century occurred some time ago in the case of the late Mr. Joseph Wareham—one ol: the pioneeVs of the West Coast, also well known in Wellington. He served for ft time as a seaman in the American Civil War, and had lived over fifty years in New Zealand when he met—some three years ago—an American Civil War veteran, Captain Andrews, and learned that his early service entitled him to a war pension. He took the usual formal' steps of proof, and in due course he received his war pension up till the day of his death. The following was the story of the war service, for which lie received recognition from the United States Government after, as stated, si lapse of over fifty years:—Served in tho American Civil War for a period of about IS months. In the year 1861. at Boston Harbour, he joined the Colorado as a seaman. The Colorado took part in the blockade at Pensacola. A party., from the Colorado was ordered to destroy the privateer Judith, which was then ready to run the .blockade. Wareham was a member of this party. The Judith was set on fire by the.attacking party in the Navy yard. During this operation Wareham was wounded in the left shoulder, and several of the party wer» killed. For this service Wareham was promoted. Subsequently the Colorado captured the steamer John C. Kalhone, from Havana, which vessel was trying t,o run the blockade. The fleet and troops subsequently captured New Orleans. On being paid off, Wareham received an honourable discharge. After the war, Wareham proceeded to Melbourne in the baioue Victoria. From there he went to the Otago goldfields, and in 1878 settled in Dunedin, residing there for eight years. From Dunedin he came to Wellington,, where he resided till his death.