Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-11-23

Death Of Mrs. JenRy c. White Del Bal
What a Woman can Do.

a Nnha wv
[From the New York Tribune.l
Ii is our painful duty TO record the
death of Mrs. Jenny c. White del Bal,
the wife Of Don Bernardino del Bal, of
Santiago dc Vera2uas, IN New Grens-
Ida, and daughter of the late Hon.
James w. White of this city, who has
Just fallen a victim to the yelloY fever
scourge that is devastating tfa south-
ern regions. A large circle in New
York, to whom this lovely aud highly
gifted young lady had endeared her
self, will be filed with sorrow at the
announcement OF Il blow that has fall
len so heavily on her family, but lately
tbereaved OF its head All who knew
Iher remember her as a model of wo-
manly virtue, affectiOnate, gentle, and
| graceful, and withal brilliantly intellec-
| tual, highly accomplished, full of en-
| ergy and perseverance and ardent
piety, and always doing the duty that
lay nearest her. in spite OF all obstacles.
We are persuaded that "a sketch of her
marked career in the distant country
! which she had made her adopted home,
aud where she had won so hOnored
place that, in the language of its jour
nails, "her name was in every mouth,
and every eye wept her loss, cannot
fail to be of interest TO ali who would
see what an earnest woman can accom-
plish 10y energy of will and purity of
purpose.
Mrs. del Bal married the descendant
/ of an old Spanish family Of the 18th
mus in 1862, aud in 1863 set out with
her husband for his native city OF San
tiago. a town Of several thousand in
habitanla, remote from the ordinary
highways al travel. Americans We're
almost unknown there; Mrs. dc Bal
was the first American lady that ever
resided in the place, aud her coming
excited marked attention. She found
! the town demorRlized by revolution;
the churches closed, and the people III
an apathetic state. 1t was Just the
place for a missionary. Like an ener-
getic American woman, she at once set
| to work to infuse a more healthy state
of feeling into the community; she Or
canZed schools and religions societies,
sought out the poor and sick, aud went
about every where doing good. She
reused the ladies of the place to join
her IN educating the people alaaaa
them, and in one short year had effect
ed such social change that, on the
anniversary OF her arrival, which was
also her birthday, the inhabitants OF
the city testified their appreciation of
her efforts by pnblic ovation. On
that day the places of business were
closed, her house was filed with floral
| offerings, public sports were held in
the plaza, and in the evening a grand
entertainment was given in the hall,
where her portrait, which had been
painted by order OF the municipal au
thorities, was unvailed, and she was
| presented with laurel crown 10y
| deputation from the ladies of the place.
These were high honors to be won by
an American lady through her goodness
of heart.
Shortly after, Santiago was threaten
ed by the insurTectiOnary forces, aud
the battles of San Brugas and San
Francisco were fought; Gen. Olarte,
the leader OF the Spanish forces, being
victorious. Numbers of the wounded
of both sides were brought into the
| town. where no arrangements had been
made for their care. With her custom
arv energy, Mrs. del Bal set to work,
obtained house from her cousin, or
dered the wounded men to be carried
tbither, persuaded the ladies of Santi-
ago TO assist her IN her work, and or
! pauized the first military hospital that
was ever known in that country in
charge of ladies. Here she elected her
self to the performance of the most
painful duties. standing bY the side OF
| the surgeon while be performed the
most fearful operations, dressing the
wounds with her Own hands, and even
using the knife herself when necessary.
| This heroic devotion won her the name
Of the mother of Santiago. The coun-
! try people adored her; they called her
''the SAINT" and sour guardian angel,
and were accustomed to urge her to
pray for them, saying, "We shall get
what we want. if Nina Jenny will only
ask il for Ms. Her services were con-
sdered so valuable that Gen: Olarte re-
turned his thanks to her through the
official Gazette, and the thanks OF the
nation we're voted to her by the Assem-
bly, of State.
Before leaving the United States,
Mrs. del Bal had an interview with Mr..
Lincoln. who requested her to write to
him concerning the position OF Amer-
cans in New Granada. She did so at
llencfh. urging that the protection ex-
tended to Americans by the United
| States government might not be with
| drawn. as was threatened. Mr.. Lincoln
replied approvlngly. and the change
va, not made. She petitioned the
| Congress of New Grenada to anchor
ate various oppressive laws which had
long rested heavily on the people,
which petition was granted. and also
obtained various ecclesiastical reforms
/ from the bishop of Bogota. In short,
the work done by her efforts IN the
brief space of four years was pro
digious, and we'll justified the alteration
heaped upon her by her adopted conn
trymen.
Her life in truth has fallen q sacri-
fee TO her humanity. The yellow fever.
carried from Panama TO Santiago by
| troops, has ragged with unexampled
! fatality among unacclimated persons,
not one OF whom has recovered. Two
servants OF Mrs. del Bal were attacked.
She was urged to send them away, but
steadfastly refused 30 turn them out to
die, and nursed them with her OVID
/ hands till she herself was stricken
down. She died ia four hours, full of
resignation, and thinking only to the
last of the suffering that others would
endure through her loss. The rumor
of her sickness had spread abroad, and
the square in front OF her house was
speedily filed with people, praying for
her recovery. 'Without the slightest
exaggeTation, says DE-. Henry Dickson