Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-12-21

birthday, 1897, the ship was launched
As the vessel slipped down below the
bridge into the river Il was dashed 10
TWO smaller vessels, The one held the
crew the other the officers and the
ladies who were their guests. Capt.
w, w, Huutley OF Louisiana, Iieuten-
ant McRlair of Maryland and Iieuten-
ant Reynolds, afterward Admiral
Reynolds, were among the officers
aboard, Mrs, Semple and Mrs, Reyn-
nlds were two nf tho ladies'
| Mrs Semple had been asked To
chrtstcn the boat, but said that she had
conscientious scruples against using In
connection with boat either the
words "chrtsten" or "haptize" She
promised, however TO give its name to
the vessel In the meantime the little
son of the master builder had smashed
bottle Of whisky over the side of the
boat as Il slid down the ways,
After leaving rittsburg the boat was
taken down the river Its final destina-
tton was New Orleans, where Il was TO
he fitted out FOR sea duty,
| va 'ht WY uNNHs NlN. NtUDlt
said, we passed Wheeling, w Va,
and the river was so high that we
could look into tho houses as we vent
along. When we were near Cincinnati
small platform was erected on the
prov OF the boat, and taking u bottle
or champagne In my hand, said az l
broke II over tho boat; In the name
| or this rNyN,hIt, I al ~
ghany, and to thee, good ship, thy cap
tains and thy sailors, wish success. 4"
Tho vessel was taken ns far as Mem.
phis, whore Il remained until the sum-
mer, when Il was sent to New Orleans.
After being fitted out II was sent To
the Mediterranean, I'VE were NIL 30
proud OF our frat iron ship" Mrs.
Somplo said, that we had to send her
to Europe to show how fno she was"
While sho was mistress OF the white
house Mrs. Somple was one OF small
party who witnessed the first subma-
rine explosion In American waters.
Tho explosion took place In the Poto.
mac near the navy yard Mt Washing
ton.
One of the events during her life ut
the white house was dinner given py
President Tyler to Prince do Joinvillo.
In those days. sho said In speaking OF
It, the only occasions on which ladies'
appeared ut thu white house table were
ut the dinners given to tho diplomatic
corps and the cabinet officers, Mrs.
Semple and her sister were both pres
ent at the dinner given to tho prince,
who was son Of Louis Philippe OF
France.
The dinner and other attentions
shown to tho prince by President Tyler
were In way intended to make
amends for the lack of attention dur
Ing Prince do Joinvillo's first visit TO
this country, during President Van
Buren's administration, Tho prince
came to this country to ascertain, II
possible, the truth Of u rumor that the
Dauphln OF France, son Of Marie An.
toinettc, had been brought to this
country and was stil living In De.
troit
Mrs. Semple was In Paris after
Louis Nnpoleon's coup dctat. She saw
the crowds, but owing to lll-health
was not able to DO present mt the core-
mony of baptism OF the young prince
imperial, tho son of the emperor and
tho beautiful Eugene, Mrs. Semplo
said that the Empress Eugene was
greatly beloved by the French people.
and that her emotion at the ceremony
endeared her still more to them. As
the little Prince Eugene was presented
to the bishop Of Paris for baptism by
the first marshal OF France tears
rained down the mothers face.
From the balcony of her hotel Mrs
Somple saw the brilliantly illuminated
ballroom In which the ball was given
that same night in honor of the naming
of the young prince, who was destined
to meet 80 sad n fnte In Zululand, The
scene was one Of the most gorgeous
that could be imagined, every ma
ton Of the earth, " said Mrs. Somple.
was represented in those who at
tended. Their costumes were magnin-
cent. Suddenly, far of In the dis
lance, came the sound Of VIve l'Em-
pereur!' 'vivo l'Icmpress!' and the Inn
perial guard came In sight Behind
them came the carriage, with It's sides
Of glass, SO arranged that We could
see the emperor and empress within,
The empress wore the costume she had
worn mt the church In the morning
blue silk. with ruiiles OF lace, caught
with diamonds and diamond tira."
Mrs Semple was In Brooklyn at the
outbreak of the civil war. With .4e
greatest difficulty she made her way To
Richmond, where she met her father.
Acting upon his advice she went on to
williamsburg whore. through her In
nuenee, the first hospital for the con
federate army was established In the
spring Of 1861.
Mrs Semple opened school for
girls In Baltimore at the close OF the
war and lived here for several years.
When the Louis Home was opened in
Washington William w. Corcoran. the
founder Of the home, invited her TO be-
come his guest there for the remainder