New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-07
GOSSIP AT THE CAPITAL.
900 NOTABLE WASHINGTON WOMEN
REMOVED BY DEATH.
,o,,rpo AND MRS. MCULLoCH-PI-ANs
FOR RAISING THE SPANISH shlfs-A
RAND CAUGHT IN THE RAIN

,,,c,or August (SpeciaD.-The death
por,cro wife Of the Mexican Minister
o. ~ from, the capital one Of the most popular
Ie"'O ~ i,s society. For more than quar-
me"'. century this charming woman had oc-
W' loading place in the social world here
cup no, fulsome to say that no one in so
anu . position ever performed her duties
- conscientiousness and to greater sat
stacton .o~ evan :, ber vounqer
M Aor enthusiasm might have led her to
course. the leader Of clique or fac
s' rraeed she avoided all social alliances
iva, ~ draying-room vas the most cosmopol-
DIV Va democratic Of any in Washington. She
''a" n.,nstakng and cordial hostess, and no
VIC, ,..a,,s, ever had n more efficient coadjutrix
up pomero was too, seemingly tireless. ever
-. nth sympathy. a talented listener and
'e"N' .oner both In English and the tongue
e 49,. a6onted country. OF which she had COM
49, mastery Her generosity 10 those in sorrow
- dts,rass was unbounded, and she smoothed
,,o wav Of many novice to whom the social
~. 81 the capital seemed rough and thorny.
rho afternoon receptions at the Mexican Le-
-, vied with those at the White House in
40 Number in attendance and their cosmopol-
49,, character When demonstrated with upon
,rho, her more conservative friends regarded as
= too comprehensive hospitality. Nine. Romero
Invariably replied smiling quietly:
81 am not here TO cultivate this clique or that
diane but to cultivate friendly relations with
,,i. Government All Americans are welcome
here have never given instructions that any
ono should be excluded and my hospitality has
never in the least been imposed upon"
Nine Romero belonged to the old school. She
uas dependent. clinCing, having all the little
graces that women not physically very strong
ocoulre and she was extremely pretty. with
nsasing face and agreeable manners. Her hus-
hand was only an attache when they were mar
We'd She watched his career which has been
notable one with pardonable pride. and was
never so eloquent as when she spoke of him.
woman Of quite different type. In that she
was more robus, physically, more independent in
character hut one equally popular IN society
eouallv loved by her friends and as widely
known was Mrs McCulloch, the widow Of Pres
nent Lincoln's Secretary Of the Treasury. who
AZ the age Of eighty died at the residence of her
son.in-law. John T. Yale, in Sparkhill last week
Mr. McCulloch was talented financier, man
Of intellect without superior In honesty and
conscientiousness in one of the greatest crises
through which this country has passed. He ad-
minstered the affairs Of its most difficult de-
partment with great skill and power. No one
ever knew him who ever for a moment doubted
his honesty or ability. He was ponderous man.
big in brain. heart and body. and Mrs. McCul-
loch possessed many of his characteristics.
In appearance she was a large. motherly
woman with frank. open face who impressed
one Immediately by her honesty Of purpose and
manner A woman Of grand ideas and noble
aspirations. according to her husbands own tes-
tnony; she his most valued helpmeet dur
Ing the trying periods of his political life. his
greatest comfort at their own firesice. To her
children she a friend and companion. and
as a friend her worth cannot be overvalued. In
word Mrs McCulloch vas wholesome
woman for whose brave and true life the world
IS better; and in her character and virtues she
has left her children a rich legacy.
Naval constructors and wrecking experts are
watching with great interest the effort 10 raise
The Cristobal Colon. which is now going on
under the supervision Of Lieutenant Richard
Pearson Hobson. II is generally conceded that
the recent conferences between high naval Of
acals and the hero Of the Merrimac are respon-
sble for the effort to save the Colon. Captain
II,
man Wreckng Company. examined the ship
and decided that it could not be raised. Lieu
tenant Hobson and a selected Board Of Engi-
neers from Rear-Admiral SIMPSONS feet OPP
posed this decision. and the Navy Department IS
now showing its faith in the judgment Of It's
own men.
The Merritt & Chapman Wrecking Company,
while undertaking to do the work, are retain
tro
&c, good daily wages as long they are en-
gagged whether they raise the ship or not. and
q handsome salvage bonus If they success
ful. The Government. OF course. has the right
to stop them at any moment that further effort
appears useless
A neat little problem. this-rasing a ship that
weighs a. j, lies in the water seven thousand
tons-a,.4 problem rendered more difficult By
the fact that the ship lies on her beam ends,
with just a bit Of her stern sticking out Of the
water. The greater part Of the lifting must be
done at the ends Of the ship. and il is feared
that this will break her in two before she Is
lighted a torsio:.al twist Of some three to four
thousand tons that Will right the ship and raise
her at the same time. and be so proportiored as
not 10 break her middle. is necessary, and &C
cording TO naval experts the plan Of doing his
'e'i.ct!y Simple. IMMENSE an DaSS 'i'' ''V
hundred 10 several hundred tons displacement
each are to be put In collapsed condition into
Inc matches and every available space within
ne ship, and then inflated. This lsttens the
ship 10 the entcnt Of the displacement OF the
ar bags. Al. th- holes or breaks that can be
go' at Will be stopped up. that the water
mat Is expelled from the ship will not rush
'ack Immense pon>oons Will then be fastened
Inc bottom OF the ship wherever there Is
@'asole space by great hogging chains. These
soA''ons are very like big boxes. They are
'' With water and sunk. Then air Is pumped
10y" 'hsm and the water forced out. and they
a"' 70 rtse TO the extent Of their water dis
easement The wrecking company have two
1"'''ns OF eight hundred tons each. All the