Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-11
LOST ON THE MAINE
A Pathetic Termination of the Hopes Of
Married Lovers.
Gunner William A. Rieger Had Plan
ned to Make a Happy Little
Home In 'Naahingt0n.

Particularly pathetic when the surround
frg circumstances are taken into consider
alton was the death of William A. Rieger.
gunner's mate, first class, on the battle
chip Maine. He was married to a winsome
little woman. Daisy Rieger, of this city,
who has been engaged in playing a SOU
brette part in McFadden's Row of Flats.
His term Of enlistment was to have ex-
pired in August, and he and his wife had
joyously made all their plans for having
little home in this city. Just before he
met his untimely fate the brave and de-
voted fellow wrote a letter to his little
wife, which she did not receive until after
she had heard the terrible news Of being
widowed. The letter contained, among
other things, the following lines:
You say you have sixteen more weeks
to play. that will take you up to the mid
die of May, and my time will be out in
August, and then we will be together for
ever more, never to be separated again.
Dear, you say that when you think of
how happy we will be you are afraid some
thing Will happen. Now, dear, don't say
that, for the good God is not going to al
low anything to happen, and that little
dream of our lives of living in Washing
ton will be realized. Gee whiz, When
am letter carrier in Washington, how
coy and comfortable that little home will
be-"
Mrs. Rieger also received a letter. Of
touching interest at this time from her
husband, dated February IL, in reference
to the death Of Ensign Breckenridge, who
was washed overheard from the Gushing
and drowned. 1t was as follows:
THE Cushing, torpedo boat, has just
come in with orders for us, but we do not
know what they are yet.
THE Gushing is one of the smallest boats
we have. She is hardly bigger than a
steam LAUGH, vet they sent her down with
orders from Key West, and she arrived
,, here very much wrecked, her stanchions
all bent, and she was wet all over. 1t was
very rough outside, the waves some
times twenty feet high. One Of these
waves washed Ensign Breckenridge into
the water. He was in one hour and TWEEN
ty minutes before they could recover him.
and at one time there were three men in
the water. The ensign was not dead when
taken on board, but he died at 5 o'clock,
and now lies on our quarter deck, wrap
ped In the flag he served under.
Il tell you, dear one, it is a very sad
thing and they say he has a sweetheart
to whom he was soon to be married. Isn't
1t sad for her? Think how she must feel
when she reads the papers tomorrow!
thank God you will not read it of me- for
little wife, l can imagine what the sweet
heart of Ensign Breckenridge will feel when
she hears the news. God! it must be awful
Il am patiently waiting to see your dear
little face, and look at your picture every
| night before 1 turn in. 1t gives me the
sort of cheerfuness l need. And, dear lit
tie girl, may we be together for a long
time, for life, you know, is short at best
but we will be very happy in that little
home. Goodbye, my darling, and God
bless you
Mrs. Rieger is row in Washington and
has the sympathy of every one.