The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1880-02-19
LOTTA'S 'LONGsHOREMAN.

Tho STORY OF Erhnrd zapf Who Claims Her
ms his Wiie-A Fine-IoOLing Fellow and
weII-Educnted-II Relates How lie He
came Acquainted with, COurted and
Married the Lady who Now DisOwns
Him.
Yesterday morning Chronicle reporter
was detailed to find Erhard Iapf, the
reported husband of Lolita, the actress.
After a long search the one sought for
was found at one of the city front
docks loading lumber from pile on the
dock to the deck of scow-schooner
with all the grace and ease OF an old
'longshoreman. Thereporterapproached,
and in his politest manner asked, "ls
this Mr.. Erhard Zapf| Chat is my
name, sir" responded the gentleman in
the wooden shirt and overalls. The said
to-be-husband of the California fay0rite
is queer mixture Of the gentleman
and 'l0ngshore rough. One minute his
hearers will be startled by listening TO
one of the most eloquent and profound
dissertations on the theological and
political questions, only to have the i'm
preston of nobleman in disguise re-
moved by n relapse into the Characteristic
dialect Of the ordinary 'longshoreman
or stevedore. Whatever his past history
may be or he may have been, Ispfs
education and rearing have evidently
been of much higher grade than ia
usual Y accorded to the sons of, ordinary
fishermen or 'longshoremen. IapT is Il
man Of fine physical form, and his
whole appearance at times betokens that
he is the hero of many conquest in
which the heart of some susceptible
girl was the sufferer. He is a man Of
about five feet seven inches in height,
we'll built and with well-shaped head
on pair of broad shoulders, betokeniDg
considerable bodily strength. A heavy
crop of dark, wavy hair peeps from UNI
der a hat of the most approved city
front slouch, while n couple of coarse
wooden shirts oarelessly thrown open at
the throat reveal skin as white and
soft and clear rs that of an infant.
Zapf invited the reporter on board
his floating home, and narrated to him
the following brief BIOGRAPHICAL sketch
of himself: "My name is Erhard Iapf.
| was born in Cincinnati in January, in
1912, and am consequently nearly thirty
eight years of age, | came to California
shortly after attaining my majority,
and earned living by various ways for
several years. Some time before 1870 |
first met Lolita, who was playing an en-
gaQement at the time in Gilberts
MelodeOn, at the corner of Kearney and
Clay streets. Our acquaintance soon
ripened into intimacy, and it was with
many protestations of mutual regard
that we parted in the early part of 1871,
| to 90 to Oregon, and she to continue
her career as an actress throughout the
country. Shortly after reaching Port
land, Oregon, | was summoned to Gin
cinnati by letter announcing the death
of my father. My mother had died
some years previous. On reaching Gin
cinnati found Lotta, who WAS about to
begin an engagement in that city My
fathers estate amounted to nearly
$4,000, and after obtaining possession OF
this / renewed my acquaintance whit
the little actress who had caused me
such heartache Mt parting in Caliior
MIA. The acquaintance ri pened into. at
lection, with the final result that we
went the way of all the earth, and were
married in July of 1872. Some three
children have since been the result OF
the union, named respectively Erhard
Lolita and Johnny. The first few years
of our life were pleasantly spent either
in travelling about, | going as manager
or member of tho company, or in our
home in Cincinnati. We gradually
driited apart, however, until latterly
almost all communication has ceased be
tween us. My financial wants have
always been supplied by Lolita when
have called on her, which has been but
seldom. Some two years ago, when she
visited this coast, met her on the most
friendly terms. | constantly drove and
walked with her, and was recognized by
many who will not look at me now
merely because | don't wear plug hat
and broadcloth suit. Here Iapf de
livered a long discourse on the difference
between gentleman in white shirt
and neat suit and enc wearing the gart
OF laboring man, At that time Lotta
wished me to go East with her, but
refused to do 80 because she nor her
mother would consent to the latter lady
remaining with her husband while
travelled alone with my wife. From
that time heard nothing of her until
her late engagement at the Baldwin
Theater. Immediately on learning that
she was in the city ! sent her note,
stating my desire to See her. Some days
alter two ladies came down D. street
to my boarding house and inquired if l
was in. On going to the door | met my
wife, in company with another lady
who played in Musettc and Hip during
my wife's engagement. We had con-
siderable of conversation at the time,
during which she offered me any amount
OF money needed. | refused at the
time to accept any, being in good cir
cumstances from the proceeds of q
voyage had just made. Afterward |
wanted to see her, and left note at the
theatcr, and also at her house. Receiv-
ing no answer, consulted lawyer,
determined to force her to provide out
of her abundance Tor our children. and,
IL she gave me any trouble, 10 present a
claim on my own account"
Lolita treats the entire matter as a
first-class joke, as do all her intimate
and dramatic acquaintance. To re-
porter of the Philadelphia Times, who
called on her Tor an explanation a few
days ago, Lolita stated that it was only
one of many similar attempts either at
blackm&il or to carry her heart by
storm. 1t would seem that Lolita has
had her full share of persecution from
imposters and blackmailers, and many
are the tales told by her of husbands,
lovers, brothers and other relatives who
have sprung up in her path, though it
would seem that but few of them have
made serious inroads on either her purse
or her affections. This last attempt,