The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-07
SHE NURSES THE SAILORS.
A Brave American Girl who Loves
Her Country'< Defenders.

A Brave American Girl who Loves
Her Country's Defenders.
Miss Elizabeth II. venable will never
yIvors OF the Maine who have been in
mates OF the hospital at Key West. Fla.
since the terrible disaster in the harbor
of Havana. Miss Venable Is a beauti-
ful society girl of Atlanta Ca. the sis
ter of Messrs, 5. ri. and W. FL Yenable
granite contractors. who are at present
in charge of the Government contracts
in Key West. She has been spending the
Winter with one OF her brothers.
In the midst OF a charming Florida
Winter. she was suddenly aroused By
the awful calamity which burdened
many other hearts at the same time
With fearful eyes. she watched from
her home the pitiful procession o.
wounded men and haggard officers as
they slowly passed on their way to the
hospital. All the patriotism and woman
Illness in her being cried out for the
chance to give some cheer or comfort to
these suffering men. and she went to
the hospital and offered her services.
Her protfered help was gratefully ac-
cepted. Since that time Miss VenabIe
has untiringly given all her walking
moments to this mission for sweet
charity's sake" Much of her time is
spent in the kitchen OF her home. assist
ing typical "black nanny in prepar-
ing delicacies with which to tempt the
appetites of the feverish inmates OF the
hospital.
Miss Venable has chosen as aide-de-
camp in her work Dave Johnson. an
old wartime negro, who has been in the
Fenable family for a great many years
Uncle Dave carries the dainties and
flowers to the sailors which she has ar
tisticaily arranged in large waiter.
This gentle young volunteer nurse has
been source of great comfort to the
patients at this trying time in their lives.
Forgetful of self. she has sOOthed not
only the injured but the dying.
Pale. wan faces have learned 10 watch
for her coming, and the glad light Of
welcome in their eyes when she appears
is the greatest happiness that can come
TO her. she saws. Some of these sailors
have whispered to this little helper Sc
letters to wives. mothers, sisters and
sweethearts for the helpless boys who
are constantly in the thoughts of these
absent ones.
Miss Yenable is splritueHe little
blonde with eyes as blue as the summer
sky. shaded by long lashes. The chief
beauty Of her face is its gentle. soulful
expression This is so noticeable that
several years ago when she was in Paris.
where her education was completed, she
seldom went upon the streets that some
enc in the language of that city did not
cry out in an audible whisper as she pass
ed, THE Madonna"
Miss yenable's personal experience with
the wounded sailors of the Maine is told
in her own words in private letter re-
Gently written to an Atlanta friend. in
which she says:
Isn't this calamity that has befailen
our nation dreadful? We think. talk and
dream of nothing else. While YOU, as all
loyal Americans, feel it. you would think
1t was your own personal loss We're you
here as near the scene of disaster as I
am. | cannot overcome even now the i'm
preston made upon me by that slow
rumble of carriage wheels, that tramp
tramp of horses hcOfs as they slowly
passed. bearing the wounded and nangIed
men to the hospital In the still midnight
hours I awake and hear it all over again.
and can never forget it, those haggard
CHASTITY faces and the wan-lookins, care
worn officers.
"A friend of mine. Mr. -. of the Navy.
told me yesterday of his escape At the
time of the disaster ne met his friend
a
they CROPPED their way, hand in hand. in
total darkness, to the hatchway, which
had been blown away. Just then a rush
Of water came, separated them. and my
friend struck the sharp point of a torpedo
gun, and. with bleeding hands and body.
chung to it while the wreckage swept past
Seconds seemed hours. Finally a small
explosion of powder went off from above
and in the fash of the light he saw a
rope swing by grasped at it. pulled up by
it. and was the last man to come out
alive from the interior of the Maine. He
says the cries for help from his comrade
Merritt were agouizing. heartrending. and
he powerless to help. My friend tells me
Of another instance OF poor sailor. with
both arms blown OFF and another mans
arms blown straight through his chest.
showing the terrific force of the eXplo-
sion.
How proud I am that I know Capt.
Sigsbeel 1 have but recently heard from
him. / think of his eoolneSs. as he In
stantly gave the order 10 flood the high
explosives. and the men who executed
that order never came back 1 felt that L.
- an American woman. must help these
Door sailors all that l can, so / went TO
he hospital and offered my services. Since
then l have given up everything save
work in that interest. and you don't
know how much good il does me when 1
see those welcome, grateful faces of the
sailors when they see Uncle Dave and
myself coming with the goodies
1t did not take long for me to see
that unless there were flowers enough for
zach one l had better bring none. for
actually those suffering men had feeling
-lbout it, Now I take over one for each
aatient and Dave places each ones flow
r wherever he wants it. / always make
the orange Jelly. which they seem 10 Ike
30 much and black nanny is delighted
because the patients send her such nice
messages about her cakes The evident
gratitude with which my little acts are
received in the hospital brings tears to
my eyes. and it distresses me that l can
not 90 more Tor them
ALGER CAMP. SONS OF VETERANS.