The Worthington advance., 1899-07-14
MRS. SCHLEY FOUGHT.
The Admiral's Synpat thetic Wife
Went Through the Santiago
Fight in Her Mind.


the wife Of Admiral Schley said, in
speaking of her feelings during the
blockade of Santiago:
''Of course, when the news of the
battle came my heart stood still until
l was assured my husband was unin-
jured. The latter followed so closely
on the former that there was little time
for fright. My next feeling was that
of thanllfulness that it was all over,
for I felt that this would be the final
blow to the Spanish navy. One gets
used to facing danger for himself and
those most interested partake in way
Of that confidence. 1t is said &c be quite
the ordinary thought to one in battle
that, no matter what happens to every
body else, he himself will come out un-
scath,ed. This is more or less true of
those at home awaiting the result.
You know it is no trouble to convince
the watcher that beloved one has es-
capped death, but very hard to make her
realize that he has been injured or
killed. I think saw and heard that
battle many times before it happened,
and always my husband was safe and
victorious. The description of those
Spanish ships as they crept out of the
harbor,, the chase, their destruction
and all were no news to me. I had i'm
agined them so bitten. To me that
seemed the inevitable ending, and it
happened in the only way it could.
Whether it was the inequality in the
fleets or not do not know, but it did
not seem to me that there would be
great danger to our ships and men.
had great confidence in both, and you
see it was not misplaced. The men on
the Brooklyn were splendid fellows and
the others were not behind them.
Il think that women are so used to
suffering in silence that it is usually re-
garded as a matter Of course instead of
heroism. There is, moreover, a be-
numbed feeling often mistaken for
great courage or great heartlessness.
What do I think of western people?
Why, they have been a revelation to me
throughout my whole trip. I have
never seen more hospitable, lovely peo-
pie. One of the things that touched me
most was the attention paid to us By
the school children. Everywhere we
went the schools were dismissed and
the pupils We'd with each other in load
ing us with flowers and in other ways
displaying their patriotism. They
seemed to regard Mr.. Schley as a good
fellow They did not conceal their ad-
miration of him as representative OF
the United States navy. They were so
thoroughly democratic. The Hello
Schley, give us shake from the boys
On the street sounded very musical to
me. The tone was that of one good
comrade to another. You would have
thought they had fought side by side
with him. Their assumed proprietor
ship in him was highly characteristic of
the American boy and the American in
stitution. .D.
perhaps the thing that pleased me
more than anything else was our re-
ception by my naval reserves. I call
them my boys, for they seem as thou gh
they belong to me, especially those on
the Brooklyn, I sincerely hope this
will not be our last western visit. Why,
we have just had a taste of western air
and the freedom it inspires. No wonder
westerners are loyal and good lighters.
They couldn't be otherwise and breathe
the air they do" Chicago Chronicle.