News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-09-25
ROMANCE BY THE BELLOWS,
CAPTAIN BRADFORD SAVES A LIFE
AND WINS A BRIDE.
Sequel of Il Thrilling Rescue of N IoveIv
and Wealthy Giri-Their Novel Ourt shin
on the Wave-washed Beach,

Captain Michael Bradford: of Pitts
burg, has just welded the lovely daugh-
ter of a wealthy Philadelphian. It
appears that in the early part of the
present season at Atlantic City, Captain
Bradford, who Is in charge of the Brad
ford Brothers Life Guard Station, saved
the life of the young lady who is now his
bride. His brave act resulted in an ac-
quaintance which ripened into love and
finally wound up in wedlock.
The young woman had left her at
tendant and in combating the breakers
was drawn far out into the ocean by the
undertow. Her perilous position was
not observed by the other bathers until
she gave an agonizing cry for help, and
disappeared beneath a huge breaker,
Captain Bradford leaped from the board
walk and in twinkling was at the side
of the drowning girl. When he reached
her she was unconscious, and was being
tossed about by the heaving pillows. In
this condition she was brought to shore
| and returned to consciousness.
A few days afterward she called at
Bradford's headquarters and returned
thanks. Ever after that she was accom-
panied by relative when in bathing.
Her visits to the beach became more
frequent and she very rarely missed her
morning bath. 1t was observed that she
was wont to Iinger about Bradford's tent
and was frequently seen in conversation
with the captain. This aroused the sus-
picion of her relative, who kept a close
surveillance over her, and she was final
ly obliged to resort to strategy in order
to communicate with the captain.
The acquaintance, which had such a
strange origin, ripened into love, which
the brave iPittsburger had the gallantry
to reciprocate. Meetings on Tie beach
between the two in their bothing cos
tunes during bathing hours became fire.
quent, and when the young lady's rela-
tive demonstrated love missives were
passed between the two. These missives
were written on scraps of paper found on
the beach and are retained by the young
couple as relics of their romantic court
ship. The couple were engaged few
weeks after forming acquaintance and
the marriage was clandestinely consum-
mated during the temporary absence of
the young girls attendant.
The bride is only seventeen years of
age, anu Is uduuSOul0 duu OmDllSIleu.
Her father is represented as being very
wealthy merchant. Captain Bradford is
about thirty years of age, modest and
unassuming. Nine years ago lie, to-
gether with his three brothers, Christ,
Edward and John, established the Life
Guard Station at Atlantic City. Since
that time they have saved z32 lives and
not lost one. A few years ago Christ,
who was veritable seadog, became par
alyzed in the service, and since that time
Mike has been captain of the crow. The
record of the Bradford boys for daring
and bravery in saving threatened victims
of the briny deep is unequallcd by an.
of the life guards on the Atlantic coast
Captain Bradford was offered a posi-
ton IN the Government life guard SER
vice but declined it, preferring the vol
unteer service, which has not at all been
remunerative during the past few years.
Captain Bradford will remain on duty
during the remainder of the present
season, after which he will return to
Pittsburg with his bride.