Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-03-15
Mrs. Eelknap.

Ihe dry report OF the committee
says Washington correspondent, does
but feeble justice to the passionate
scene when the wretched Mrs. Belknap,
cl,nging to the hopes of girlish friend
ship for Mrs. Black burn, visited her,
and, throwing herself upon her knees,
refused to move until security for her
husband was promised. She is a wo.
man for fine presence She dressed in
something like grandeur Her cos,
tunes were noted for extreme decol-
lete. The staid element of Washing.
ton society held her little in reproof
of this foreign taste, when they re-
marked of her that they preferred to
have other mems wives display their
charms SO literally rather than their
own. Mrs. BeIknap, as Miss Tomlin-
son, was bosom friend Of congress
man Backburn's wife. To her, last
night, she took herself, when her hus-
band, coming home from the commit
tee, declared that all was lost. To
work more effectively upon Mrs. Black
burn the wretched wife brought her
baby to plead for her. It was o2e of
the ew cold, stormy niyhts experienc
ed in Washington. The ground was
covered with an inch of slush the
snow melting as it fell AS she ap-
peared at Mrs. Blackburns it was al
most impossible to recognize her. A
plain cloak was thrown over her, and
her babe was pressed in her arms. She
had barely reached the iuside door
when she fell in a faint Recovering
she fell upon Mrs. Backburn's neck.
She raved piteously to save her hus-
band and child She would bear all
the blame. She alone was guilty.
They might hang or imprison her, but
spare her babe and he; husband Dur
ing the scene Mr. Blackburn came in,
and the two women clung to him, his
wife almost as much moved as the
wretched wife and mother Blackburn
says he was never SO much moved In
his life by any appeal, but he was pow
erless, if he had been willing to shield
Bclknap. He told the unfortunate
woman, gently but firmly, that justice
must be done, and that he was power
less. This was not the first time Mrs.
Belknap had asked Blackburn good
Offices. She told him some points Of
the story few weeks aso, but did not
say how her husband was implicated.
Blackburn Gid not understand, and
jokingly promised to apprise her of
any plots against her husband.
A lady friend of Mrs. Belknap says
of her appearance here: Mrs. Bowers
came here ostensibly to take charge of
the Secretary's house, and Of her sis
ter's child. She spent two winters in
the Secretary's house during her hus-
bands life, and during this time she
was most intimate friend of Mrs
Marsh. They spent summer in Eu-
rope, travelling with 20 escort, but
making themselves conspicuous by their
freedom Of manner. Mrs. Bowers was
married to Belknap, in Harrisburg.
KY, in 1873, with great eclaf, as
readers of newspapers will remember,
Geo. a. Pendleton gave the bride
away. 1t was said at the time, that
through the careful management Of a
small Inheritance by "Gentlemao
George" Mrs. Bowers brought to the
Secretary a very snug fortune. Since
this marriage there has been an
estrangement between Mrs. Bowers
and Mr.. Marsh. 1t is known that
they have not spoken to each other only
when little matters of etiquette made
recognition of each other necessary