The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-08
SAILORS SAD WIVES.
How They Are Bcing Comforted In
Waxhinston-tnsii.n Woman.

A considerable portion OF the population
oil Washington Is composed of the fan,il-
les OF army and navy officers. and lust
now this community Is profoundly ag:-
fated with apprehension concerning the
war The wives and families Of many of
the ofheers who have been ordered to the
fighting saaadrons who do not live per-
manentiy In Washington have come here
for sympathetic surroundings. aud are
filing up the hotels and boarding houses
The medium of communication between
these families and the war and navy de-
rirtments are the army and navy relief
associations. These ara Benevolent socie-
ties which have no official character. but
nave aa official sanction, and are in
charge Of retired officers, who make il
their business to look after the necessities
OF the families OF comrades who are in
active service. They have headquarters
in the Army and Navy building. and in.
sure the lives of the members of the assoc
cIaticn. When an officer Is killed an as
sessment IL made upon all the members
which Is paid by the paymaster and de-
Quoted from their salaries. When an ofYi-
Ger goes 10 sea he assigns a certain por-
ton or his pay 10 his family. who receive
II through the regular paymaster II
there Is any trouble the matter is hooked
after by the secretary or other officers of
the association. They also keep a record
they can reach them promptly whenever
recesSary.
The close personal interest which this
community has In the war has had a
gloomy effect on Washington society. for
ON every side one encounters weeping
wives and fearful daughters. who eagerly
discuss plans aud probab abilities aud anx-
iousiy await information from the sourco
OF power and authority concerning the
movements of the army and fleets and
the probabilities of a conflict
AT the same time these brave women
take pride aud interest In the homes and
ambitions Of their husbands who have
gone 10 sea to win glory for themselves.
as well as freedom for the people OF Cuba.
They have been assured individuality over
and over again that their husbands and
sons are not in the slightest danger: that
III Is impossible for the Spaniarda 20 can
ture or destroy or even injure the ships
OF our fleet. One family here has contrib
uted two of!cers-a father and a son-fn-
iaw-to Capt. Simpsons squadron, and
the wife OF the Younger officer waS talk
ing to voiable admiral on Inc retired list
the other day on the alI-prevailing topic.
DO you think the Dolphin will be In
dangery' she inquired.
III she were hit by shell or shot
from one Of those Spanish cruisers you
would never know what became Of her"
tePfsu the adffiraf. th0ugntiesEiy.
Goodness gracious,' exclaimed the
bride. Tom wrote me that all the shlps
In the Spanish navy could fire al the
Dolphin all day and would never hurt
her a bit"
The admiral appreciated the situation
and replied: THE Dolphin. eli? Why.
Of course not. they never would hit herr
and the trustful woman went on with re-
newed confidence
But sometimes this comforting fs over.
done. The wife OF the commander Of ora
Of the merchantmen that has been con-
verified into cruiser has been going
sound with fearful eyes for several DAYS,
while her friends I'm and out of the navy
nave been trying TO brace up her cosifng0
and assure her that her husband could
not he IN any danger. They fYnr.z. sold
her that his ship was not like,. see
any fighting at all; that II probably would
be used exclusively for coast defense. ara
Of course the Spanish fleets would never
get far enough west TO give them any
employment. II was almost certain her
friends told her. that her husband wo,,ld
not get within sound OF the shooting
This made her very indignant ard she
started for the navy department to de-
mand Of Capt. Crowlnsbieid, chief OF the
bureau OF navigation who makes the az.
signments OF officers to ships. that her
husband should have as good chance
as the rest of the navy TO fight the
Spanards.