Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-09-29
Not Dead, But ElOped.

A correspondent in Buffalo writes
The mystery surrounding the dissap-
pearance of Mrs Lizzie Cottier. for
whose supposed drowned body Chau-
tauqua Lake was dragged, has been
solved by the discovery of evidence
showing that she eloped on the day she
was supp sed to have met her death.
Mrs. Cottier appears to have been from
glrlhood a person of somewhat singu-
lar character. Her mother, Mrs.
Curch, died when her daughter Lizzie
was only years old, and the latter
grew into womanhood without the adj
vantage ofthat training she might have
received had her parent lived. She re-
ceived preliminary education in a
common school, and then entering the
Wellesley Female College, in Massachu
sets, was graduated with honor. En-
lowed with much independence of
character and left largely independent
on her own resources, although her
father was still alive, she determined to
earn q livelihood by her own exertions,
and, therefore, after leaving college
became n teacher in school at War
rem, Pa, meeting with good success.
Among her peculiarities of disposition
was her aversion to society, her mas
culinity of taste and thought, and her
general indifference to attention or re-
gard from the opposit sex. Her friend
ships, although few, were strongly
cherished, and she made contidants
while at college of two girls who were
older than herself, and with whom she
voluntarily made the unusual and &c
centric agreement never to marry. She
had previously, it appears, made the
same singular compact with another
lady friend living IN Ohio, but did not
for some reason care to reveal the fact
when she made the VOW with her two
college, mates. She expected tie get Il
situation as teacher in Indiana with
this Ohio friend, but, being disappoint-
ed, returned to Buffalo, after spending
some time in Ohio learning wood-carv-
ing, her design in thus doing being to
enjoy the companionship of the Ohio
lady.
Upon her return to Buffalo she be-
came a boarder with Mrs. Cottier and
her son Alonzo Cottier. She soon won
Mrs. Cottier's regard, and friendship
also quickly grew up between herself
and Mr.. Cottier, who had, by bis own
hard work, gained a permanent and
lucrative position in business. The ac-
quaintance soon ripened into ,ove, on
the young mans part, and, after a short
engagement, the two We're married on
May 23d last. They apparently lived
together happily, at least no outward
sign was given that their relations were
other than of the most atfectionate
character. Three weeks ago the couple
arranged for an excursion on the lakes,
starting from Buffalo by steamer. Mrs.
Cottier soon complained of seasickness,
however, and, on reaching Erie, she ar
ranged to return to Chautauqua, while
her husband continued the journey, as
originally resolved upon, with the hope
of deriving some benefit therefrom,
being himself in delicate health. The
wife returned to this city by rail, and
soon afterward took ZIP her abode at q
farm kept'hy the Hale family. on the
shores of Chautauqua Lake, and lived
there in apparent enjoyment OF sur
lroundings and without any noteworthy
incident until the evening of Aug. 5,
when she left the farmhouse Just be-
fore o'clock, saying she wished to get