Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-06-25
How a Pair of California Lovers Cir
cumvented the Law.

On Tuesday last the officers stationed
at Fort Point were attracted by the pres
ence of small crowd of people who
had collected at the wharf near the
Preside. When they came to the wharf
they discovered that the immortal pas
sion was the cause of the assemblage,
and that two young and ardent beings,
who believed that "love is life's end"
were determined to be knotted together
with the matrimonial rope in spite of
cruel laws and unfeeling officials. The
maiden fair beyond compare was under
age, with auburn hair. Her lover made
application at the City Hall for marriage
license.
"How old is the lady?" asked the po-
lite clerk.
"It's none Of your -" the applicant
was about to remark, but he changed his
mind, and answered: "Just sixteen
years old"
"Ahp' returned the clerk, "a most de-
liciously charming age. And do her
parents yet proudly gaze upon this their
beauteous offspring?"
which," grimly growled the lover.
"Are her father and mother living? l
mean," said the clerk.
"Oh! you bet! Healthy"
Then" replied the clerk, sinking his
fascinating smile and resuming the more
serious air of an official" then you
can't have a license; she is not of age
and cannot be married except with the
consent of her parents"
"Can't have a license" slowly re-
marked the anxious lover.
"No, sir; it's against the law to grant
one under such circumstances"
The young man turned and walked
from the office; but as he reached the
door he wheeled about and, shaking a
handful of gold at the clerk, cried: Say,
I'll bet you hundred we get married
before tomorrow night"
"Never gamble" responded the clerk,
with dignity, and then: "Good morn
ing, sir"
True to his purpose the would-be Ben
edict formed his plan. He secured a
surf-Joat and four brawny-armed oars
men, and the point of meeting was des-
ignated as the Preside wharf. There ii
was that the defenders of our soil and
flag discovered the girl of sixteen, the
determined youth who had run away
with her, the sirf-boat, the four
brawny- oarsmen and a parsOn.
The wedding party tumbled on board,
bhS pdlo NClO shlppCu dllu IAS bouI DoAC
away the blushing bride and her prom
ised husband, amid the cheers of the
army. Half an hour after those on the
shore saw the boat under Angel Island,
the men resting on their oars. Two fig
ures rose from the stern-sheets, one tall
and manly, the other slight. Then, in a
rather uncertain way, another figure ele'
waited itself from the aft thwart, and, pro
ducing something which looked like a
prayer-book, faced the couple. After a
few moments of some ceremonial, during
which the two bowed their heads as if in
affirmative response to some question,
the tall and manly form threw his arms
about the slight one, only sixteen years
old, and appeared to give the wedding
kiss. The crew oheered, the parson with
the uncertain legs toppled over into the
bottom of the boat, and the ceremony
was over. The boat did not return to the
Preside, but went off in the direction of
the Alameda shore. The bachelor
officers on the wharf watched the re.
treating barge until it was nearly out OF
sight, and then with signs turned back to
their quarters. San Francisco Call,