Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-07-21
OLAF BORGs PRETTY swEDEs.
Salt Lake Brides, in Expectation, Give
Their Saint the Slip---A Whole
Husband Better Than a
Fraction.


Husband Better Than a
Fraction.
New York Mercury
AT an emigrant hotel in Greenwich
street a Mercury reporter met two
Swedish girls, Christine and Ola Pc
terson. They are sisters, and aged
respectively, nineteen and twenty-one
years. They do not speak any Eng
lish, but through friend, who acted
as interpreter, told the reporter how
they escaped the well-laid plans of
Mormon countryman of theirs, who
proposed to make them his second and
third wives. Olaf Borg, this Swedish
saint, who had promised himself so
much matrimonial happiness, came to
this country three years ago and set
tied near Forest City, Utah. lie had
been a near neighbor of the Petersons
in Sweden. When he came to Amer
lea he and Christine were engaged.
1t was understood that, as soon as he
was settled so as to give her suitable
home, Christine was to come to
America, where they would be mar
ried. They had corresponded since
he came to America. Before the first
of January of this year he had writ,
ten to her to come over at once, as he
was tired Of living alone.
I He would come to New York and
meet her when she came, or he would
arrange for her to come on with some of
the saints. She proposed to bring her
sister Ola, and he thought that would
be best; his house was large enough
for them all. Besides, Ola might be.
come the wife of saint, brother
Mormon, and her soul would then be
saved. For a year past Borg had been
constantly writing Christine how wlonely
he was in Utah, cooking his own meals,
and doing his washing and other house
hold work, because there was no
woman he could get to do it. 81
thought he needed a wife very much, y
said the girl, and it was my duty to
come and be his wife as soon as posi-
bic. | never thought he had one wife
already, or | never would have listened
to him. And when he asked my sister
Ola to be his wife, too, | felt as il |
could kill him.
Both sisters are fair haired and
fresh -complexioned, the younger one
having dark eyes aud finer cut face.
This contrast of blonde hair and dark
eyes, or something else, fascinated
Borg. He wanted her, too Borg
came on to New York and met the
sisters when they arrived here. When
Christine urged their marriage here in
New York Borg objected. 1t would
be better to wait and be sealed by
President Taylor or one of the apos-
ties in Salt Lake City. As to Ola re-
manning behind in New York. as she
proposed, he would not hear a word OF
| it, The second day after we came
here, said Christine, "Ola said Borg
had asked her to marry him, too,
thought he was only joking with her.
The landlady said he was married
man already, but | did not believe
that either. Finally asked him if it
was true, and he only laughed. We
were going to start that night for
Utah, and | told him he should tell
me the truth then. He asked me what
difference it would make to me if he
loved me and was my husband in the
sight of GodY He threatened me if
did not keep my promise to marry him.
He said the saints were allowed to
have as many wives as they thought
necessary. After he went out | cried
and Ola cried, and we determined to
rug pWay from Borg. When he came
in he cold us to stop crying, or he
would have us aTrested and put in
prison. Then he would 50 off to Utah
and leaye us to get out Of prison the best
way we could. Through that day he
watched US SO close chat we could not
get s chance to rup away. After We
started that night / asked Borg If he
was already married, and he said he
was. He had married Merry Ann
Dennet, an English girl, a year and a
half before. Then Ola and | waited
till Borg left us to get some water
the cars then stopping in a town, and
we left the car and ran az herd as We
could. Our trunks were left with
Borg, and be will probably keep them
We have some money, and have goi
places where we shall Ge 70 work on
Monday. We want husbands fOs Gpr.
selves alone when we get married.
1t seems Borg md the Peterson
sisters left the city by TIE emigrant
train of the Erie road. At Paterson
while the train stopped Borg went fol
drink, and in his absence the girls
escaped from him. ThsV trudgeC
back to New York on foot. As tEey
! have now found employment there i
little depger of their becoming tn,
wives Of Borg az any other Mormon
Ep . Bombay cotton factory gar
receives G2 0 month, a woman 81. an(