The daily gazette., 1877-08-22
A Secret Marriags Disclosed BY q rs-
tai Accident.

The following romantic story comes
from Michigan: Fin. A. Soop, aged %
and the son of the proprietor of the larg-
est hotel at Chatham, Mich, was secret
ly married In May last to Eleanor Powell
| who formerly lived at Chatham, and at
time Of the marriage resided In Dresden,
Mich. Owing to th.' opposition of his
parents to the match, Soop told them
nothing of it, and his wife remaioed at
Dresden, where her husband visited her
from time TO time. Young Soop was in
the habit OF annually taking summer
cruise in the vicinity of the st. clair
flats, and this season he asked his bride
10 come with him this year, and said il
would be their wedding tour. He built
a new yacht, his young wife came from
Dresden, aud on Sunday husband aud
wife reached the Clinton river. Mr..
Soop say they seemed to have almost
TOO much happiness. On Friday morn
ing, on their journey to the Flats, Mr..
Soop was teaching his wife how to man.
age the boat. She set at the helm and
steered the yacht while he reeied the
mainsail and let out the jib, as the wind
was blowing rather flesh. As he stood
up he saw steam barge coming directly
towards them from the Clinton river
Just then his wife said, "Oh, Fin, I'm
afraid we'll run into that black log"
meaning The buoy, which was near them
de told her what the black log was, di-
rectlug her how TO steer 10 avoid it. Look
ing up he saw the barge almost directly
Oh them. He called his wife to his side,
and, clasping her hand, both awaited the
moment of collision. One man stood at
the bow of the barge horror stricken, and
did nothing but wave his hands. just as
the barge struck the yacht Mr.. Soop cried
out. "Port your helm. Don't you see
you'll run us dowu?r The next instant
the steamer crashed into the helpless boat.
Mir. Soop and his wife sprang into the
water just as the barge struck, and were
whirled around and around by the eddies.
He, being an expert swimmer, kept his
wife up, and shouted for help, but the
imbeciles on the barge looked at him as
If they did not know whattto do. at was
an awful moment" said Mr.. Soop. II
think l see the terror stricken face ofthat
old man who was looking down at u.s.
Mr.. Soop encouraged his wife and told
her not 10 speak, as she might get water
in her mouth. She, like brave little
woman, caught hold of him lightly by the
coat, leaving bis arms free so as not to
impede his swimming. 81 often told her.
said Mr.. Soop, "th4t if we were ever
thrown in the water not to clasp me or
We would both drown together; and she
never said a word, but did exactly as |
had hidden her,and when looked at her
she smiled to show she was not afraid"
At last they got among the weeds, which
entangled Mrs. Scoops dress, so that no
progress could be made towards the
buoy. Mr.. Soop then instructed his wife
to work hands and feet to keep herself
afoat, while he would swim to the buoy,
and cut it loose and push it to her. She
managed to keep aaoat until he came to
the buoy, aud then a wave overwhelmed
her, and she threw up her hands and
sank. The barge meanwhile had round
ed to,and two men approached in small
boat aud picked up the drowning man.
The husband, frantic with grief, uphraid-
ed the bargemen for not throwing some
thlng overheard to cling to.