Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1899-12-21

the wife of DR.. Samuel t. Earle, in Bal
timore, says the Sun of that city, was
the mistress of the white house during
her fathers administration, more than
half century ago. At the close of her
fathers term of Office Mrs. Semple went
abroad, where she had the entree into
many foreign courts. Both in this
country and abroad she was a witness
of the stirring events and marvellous
changes which have since passed into
history.
When she was just young girl the
first railroad train was run in this
country. Later on, during maturer
years, she was present at the compile
ton of the first telegraph line between
Baltimore and Washington. This was
during President Tyler's administra-
ton, and after the preliminary mes
sage had been sent President Tyler
was asked to send a message. He
asked who was at the Baltimore end
of the line, and was informed that it
was Chief Justice fancy. Then he pre-
scented his compliments to the chief
Justice, who made polite response.
Mrs. Semple is typical gentlewo-
man. sweet and refined. Her face is
strong and full of character, but is Civ
en- a gentle expression by the soft,
white curls which cluster around the
temples. Her recollection of the inter
,esting experiences of her eventful life
is as clear as though they occurred last
week. AS she invests the simplest
narration with a charm which makes
It seem like a bit of fiction from the
realm of the things that happened
in the story book-once upon time,
rather than actual occurrences.
She described yesterday her expert
ences on the occasion of the launching
of the Allegheny, the first iron ship
propelled by steam in the American
navy. The vessel was built at Pitts
burg above the Monongahela bridge.
Every scrap of iron, the timber, the
sails and cordage used on the vessel
came from the region in honor OF
which the vessel was named.
"Why wasn't the vessel built at some
-seaport?" Mrs Semple was asked. I'm
those days." she answered, "the only
people who believed that we ought to
have a navy were the people along the
eastern coast, and they wanted ships
for the protection of the Atlantic coast
The Pacific coast, you know, did not
belong to us then. Fremont was sent
out a little later to explore the west
during my fathers administration, and
this was in 1897 Pittsburg was Sc
ha htIf1dfny IF
the vessel to arouse an interest in our
navy in the people of what was in
those days the west, who saw no neces-
! sity for coast protection.
When the vessel was completed, Mrs
Semple said, the builders waited until
the snow began to melt in the noun
tains before they could make their
plans for launching. In February the
snow began to melt, the river was I'M
usually high and on Washington's
birthday, 1887, the ship was launched.
As the vessel slipped down below the
bridge into the river it was dashed to
two smaller vessels. The one held the
crew, the other the officers and the
ladies who were their guests. Capt.
w w. Huntley of Louisiana. Lieuten-
ant McBlair of Maryland and Leuten-
ant Reynolds, afterward Admiral
Reynolds, were among the officers
aboard. Mrs. Semple and Mrs. Reyn-
'olds were two of the ladies.
Mrs. Semple had been asked to
vchristen the boat, but said that she had
conscientious scruples against using in
connection with a boat either the
words "christen" or "baptize." She
promised, however to give it's name to
the vessel. In the meantime the little
son of the master builder had smashed
a bottle of whisky over the side of the
boat as it slid down the w.ys.
After leaving Pittsburg he boat was
taken down the river. Its final destina-
ton was New Orleans, where it was TO
be fitted out for sea duty.
ION the way down." Mrs. Semple
said, Eve passed Wheeling, w. Va,
and the river was so high that We
could look into the houses as we went
along. When we were near Cincinnati
a small platform was erected on the
prov of the boat, and taking a bottle
of champagne in my hand, l said as l
broke it over the boat: In the name
of this great republic, call the Allie
ghany, and to thee, good ship, thy cap
tains and thy sailors, wish success. "
The vessel was taken as far as Mem
phis, where it remained until the sum-
mer, when it was sent to New Orleans.
After being fitted out it was sent to
the Mediterranean. 1--WE were all so
proud of our first iron ship" Mrs.
Semple said, that we had to send her
to Europe to show how fine she was.
While she was mistress of the white
house Mrs. Semple was one of a small
party who witnessed the first subma-
rine explosion in American waters.
The explosion took place in the Poto-
mac near the navy yard at Washing
ton.
One Of the events during her life at
the white house was a dinner given by
President Tyler to Prince de Joinville
In those days. she said in speaking Of