The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-03-11
First Heroine of the War.

Miss Elizabeth R. Venable will never be
| forgotten by the brave, wounded survi-
yors Of the Maine who have been inmates
| of the hospital at Key West, Fla, since
the terrible disaster in the harbor Of Ha-
Vana- Miss Venable is a beautiful society
| girl Of Atlanta Ga, the sister of 1dessrs.
5. H. and W. H. Venable, granite con-
tractors, who are at present in charge
Of government contracts in Key West.
She has been spending the winter there
| with one OF her brothers.
In the midst of a charming Florida win
ter 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 pit
iful procession Of wounded men and bag
gard officers as they slowly passed by On
their way to the hospital. All the patriot
ism and womanliness 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 SER
vices.
Her profered help was gratefully ac-
cepted. Since that time, Miss Eerable
has untiringly given all her waking mo-
ments to this mission for sweet char
ity's sake" Much of her time is spent
in the kitchen of her home, assisting
a typical black nanny in preparing
delicacies with which to tempt the appe-
tiles of the feverish inmates of the hos
pital
Miss Venable has chosen as aide-de-
camp in her work Dave" Johnson, an
old wartime negro, who has peen in the
Venable family for a great many years
Uncle Dave" carries the dainties and
flowers to the sailers which she has ar
tistically arranged in large waiter.
This gentle young volunteer nurse has
been source of great comfort to the pa
tients 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 TO watch
for her coming, and the glad light of
welcome in their eyes when sna appears
is the greatest happiness that can come
to her, she says. Some of these sailors
have whispered to the little helper secrets
of far away homes, for she writes letters
TO wives, mothers, sisters, AMI sweet
hearts for the helpless boys" who are
constantly in the thoughts of these alb
sent ones.
Miss Venable is a spiritueue 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
one in the language of that city did not
cry out in an audible whisper as she pass
ed, THE Madonna
Miss Fenable's personal experience with
the wounded sailors of the Maine is told
in her own words in private letter
recently written to an Atlanta friend, in
which she says:
Isn't this calamity that Gas befallen
our nation dreadful? We think, talk and
dream Of nothing else While you. as all
loyal Americans, feel it, you would think
it was your own personal loss were you
here as near the scene of disaster as I
am. can not overcome even now the i'm
preston made upon me by that slow rum
BILE of carriage wheels, that tramp, tramp
of horses hoofs as they SLOWLY passed
bearing the wounded and mangled men TO
the hospital. In the still midnight hours
l awake and hear it all over again, and
l can never forget it, those haggard,
CHASTITY faces and the wan looking, care
worn officers.
"A friend of mine, Mr.. -, of the navy.
told me yesterday of his escape. AT the
time of the disaster he met his friend
Merritt, who, you know, was lost, and
they CROPPED their way hand in hard In
total darkness TO the hatchway, which
had been blown away. Just then rush
Of water came, separated them, and my
friend struck the sharp point of 4 tor
pedo gun, and, with bleeding hands ana |
body, chung to it while the wreckage |
swept past. Seconds seemed hours FL |
lalIy q small explosion of powder went |
off from above and in the flash of the |
light he saw rope swing by, grasped at |
I, pulled up by il, and was the last man |
% come out alive from the interior Of |
he Maine. He says the cries for help |
rom his Comrade. Merritt, were agoni=- !
ng, heartrending, and he poweress to |
lelp. Ny friend tells me of another in |
stance of poor sailor, with both arms |
blown off and another mans arm blown
straight through his chest, showing the
errific force of the explosion
How proud l am that / know CAPTAIN
'igsbee. I have but recently heard from
lin. l think of his GOODNESS, as he in
family gave the order to food the high
explosives, and the men who executed
hat order never came back, l felt that ].
IS an American woman, must help these
oor sailors all l can, so l went to the |
Iospital and offered my services Since /
hen l have given up everything save
YORK In that interest, and you don't know
ow much good II does me when l see
hose welcome. grateful faces Of the sail
rs when they see Uncle Dave and my
elf coming with the goodies
1t did not take long for me to see that
Mess there were flowers enough for each
ne l had better bring none, for actually
hose suffering men had feeling about II.
low take over one for each patient and
ave places each ones flower wherever
e wants II. l always make the orange |
elly' which they seem TO like so much, {
nd black nanny is delighted because ,
ne patients send her such nice MESA yes
bout her cakes. The evident gratitude !
18th which my little acts are received in
ne hospital brings tears 10 my eyes. and
distresses me that l can not do more !
)r them" s
Alnnrr H. Knn.. NIL