Delayed Correspondence
Delayed Correspondence
The news of Emily Sibley Watson’s miscarriage was delayed on purpose as well as by distance. James Sibley Watson sent a cable when they arrived in Alexandria ca. 12/16/1892, telling of their safe arrival but omitting mention of the miscarriage. Emily then sent a letter on 12/21/1892 with news of the miscarriage, and a subsequent letter on Christmas Day, in which it is clear they are still in Alexandria and that Emily is unwell. James Sibley Watson sends a cable on 12/31/1892 saying they are on the Nile. Elizabeth Tinker received the 12/21/1892 letter on January 11th, well after she had received the news that they were on the Nile. We, of course, do not know how far along Emily’s pregnancy was when she miscarried.
Later in the trip, while they were stuck on the sand bank, Emily notes that “As we shall probably be here several days longer we have telegraphed for our letters to be sent back to this place, so we shall have them & then we shall be quite contented.”
In a letter to her mother 2/24/1893, Emily notes on receiving Maggie Sibley’s letter of 1/5/1893 that “that one had been journeying up & down Egypt for a long time.” It is instructive to look at the envelopes & postmarks of the letters Emily Sibley Watson received, to see how many times letters were redirected.