The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-05-17

How the Brave Little Woman Took Her
Husbands Departure.


New York Special 10 Chicago Tribune.l
Mrs. Captain De Long is in Burlington,
Iowa, where she has remained
with sister since last De-
cembeT. Her parents ana a brother
live at No. $50 Eleventh street. tins city.
William G. WOtton, Mrs De Longs brother.
this evening showed letters written from
san Francisco just previous to the sailing
Of the Jeanette for the Arctic Seas. in
which he speaks hopefully of his prospec-
Tive voyage. HE always insisted" said
Mr.. Wotton, THAT he would come back He
told his wife that, although the ship might
be wrecked, he would retnrn. When shall
expect yoaT asked Mrs. De Long one day
In three years. But wait five years il You
do not hear from me before you imagine an-
accident has befallen US. Yes,
ALWAYS EXPECT Us TILL FR GET BACK
1t was his confident manner his assurance
and faith in the success of the voyage, that
gave Mrs. De Long SO many hopes, even
since she knew the vessel was abandoned.
Only to-day in 4 letter received from her
she speaks of expecting to come to New
York in the latter part OF this month, and
says she is striving to keep strong and
healthy so that she may nurse her husband
when he is found. She wanted to go TO ST.
Petersburg to meet the party, but we did
not consider that she could stand the IA
tigue of such journey. Mrs. Danenhower
has invited her TO visitat her home in Wash
ington to meet Lieutenant Danenhowerupon
his return.
ABOUT MRS. DE LONG
can not state more than | have already
told you. / shall telegraph her tonight the
information you have brought US, but shall
not have it reach her until morning, for il
will be terrible shock % her. The strain
on her health since the news of the
fate of the ship is terrible, but she has
been kept up by the thought that she must
not become sick, as her husband would need
her care. She was advised TO remain in
Iowa until further news was received. and,
now that the worst is known, do not know
what she will decide to do"
William Bradford, the artist and explorer.
thus relates the parting OF De Long and his
wife:
Lieutenant De Long needed and had no
more competent adviser than his WIFE She
was noble, highly intelligent woman, and
like himself, an enthusiast upon the subject
of Arctic exploration. She has read and
studied everything that experience and
science have made known upon that topic.
is familiar with the minutest de-
tail of every endeavor ever made for
the penetration of the profound veil of mvs-
terry overhsnging that field of most daring
adventure. Could she possibly have done
so. she would have been most glad to have
accompanied him upon his expedition,
sharing his hardships, his peril and his fate.
That, however, was manifestly impracii-
cable, as she had the good sense to recognize.
think
ONE OF THE MOST TOUCHING EPISODES
ever witnessed was the parting between
LieutepantDe Long and his wife, and know
that the pang of separation was heightened
by the regret that she could not share his
trials in the heroic endeayOr for the attain
ment of the purpose in which her heart
was as much bound up as his. We went
out of the bay of San Francisco with q tug
following us to take back those who were 70
return. and not q word was spoken of the
separation mcmentarily drawing nearer.
Finally, when we had got pretty we'll
out Lieutenant De Long came to me and
said: 1t is time to 60 A small boat was
lowered from the slide and manned; he
and Mrs. De Long got into il. l followed
them, and gave the order TO pull away for
the tug. During the trip the silence Of the
little boat was overwhelmingly beyond
descriptiOn-the only sound being the
thump of the oars in the rowlOcks and the
swash of the water. When we reached the
tug Lieutenant De Long pressed his wife's
hand
AND SIMPLY SAID 'GOOD-BY'
S'0PPSu upon NHe Tug, anu, turning
bent upon her husband look in which
there was expressed the most poignant feel
ing, mingled with a devout, silent prayer
for his safety and success. For an instant
he seemed 10 hesitate, as if for the moment
unnerved by her attitude and
look; then, recovering his self-con-
troll, turned to his men. and in a full, strong
voice commanded: Pull away, men4' Soon
their swiftly-plied oars placed him along.
side the Jeanette. We saw him mount the
side, saw the vessel bear away, and watched
her in silence until she was mere speck
upon the distant horizon, without a word