The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-13
MISS EVA MACKAY'S PRINCE.
a Quiet and Modest Wedding Ceremony,
Followed by a Gorgeous Reception.
The True History Of the Bride-Her Father
Doctor in Mining Camp, and Her
Grandfather Barber.

PARIS Feb 12.-MiSS Eva Mackay was mar
ried to-day to Don Ferdinand Julien Colonna,
Prince of Galatro. The ceremony was private,
and was performed with uontifical high mass by
Mons. De Reude. Papal nuncio in the nuncio's
chapel, this city. Only forty persons were
present The nuptial benediction was pro-
nouneed by Mons. De Reude, who also delivered
the marriage address. The civil ceremony of
marriage, which is required by French law, was
performed yesterday. The witnesses to this
were Prince Colonna Doria, Prince Colonna,
United States Minister Morton, and the
Duke De Cazes. After celebration of the
religious rite, to-day, Mrs. Mackay mother
OF the bride, gave a grand bridal reception.
which In every respect must rank with the most
magnificent festivals of French history The
reception was especially distinguished by the
quality of the guests, among whom were in
cluded about every person Of distinction and
worth in French society. Conspicuous among
these were General Compile Menatrea italian
ambassador 10 France. Count Camondo and
Madame Wyse Bonaparte.
The Hungerford- Bry ant -Mackay Romance.
Fan Francisco Special.
None of the romantic tales that going
about concerning the Mackays have ever con
tanned reference TO their humble beginning The
society in Europe, which Mrs. Mackay by her
shrewdness and enormous wealth has been ena-
bled TO dazzle, might be shocked by this revela-
ton. And go the romance writers, if they even
knew the facts, have carefully suppressed them.
1hey sc not reverted to here for the purpose of
3isps: segment of the fair lady. nor to brighten
she Prince and his family from their bargain,
but only to illustrate anew what great social pos
sibilities are open to all Americans if the fates
only kind to them.
The early history of the Hungerfords in Cal
ifornia is history of humble privation. The
father, it is said, came with the first gold crush
and followed the mining camps about with vary
ing success. He was barber by trade, and
was originally, it is said, from near Binghamton
N. Y. Being barber, he was, of course. OBJ
Ecure; but he seems to have been man OF some
character, for, On the death of their mother, he
had his two little daughters sent from their
Eastern home to friends of his in San Francisco
Transportation was nigh in those days, and it
took nearly all his savings to bring them out
but they came. The eldest, Mary, the present
Mrs. Mackay, was then about twelve years old
The younger, Lizzie. the present Countess Tel
1ener. of Italy. was four years younger. There
WAS then in San Francisco and now, for that
matter, family of Italian Jews named Ciprico
George Ciprico the father now deceased, was a
barber and hairdresser. and kept a noted place
on Montgomery street, known as the "Montgom-
cry Baths" 1t is still in existence, and is the
same IN appearance now as it was thirty years
ago. When Hungerford was not in the mount
aims searching for gold he worked journey
man barber in Ciprco's shop AS the BARRIERS
say, there was always IA chair there Tor John
whenever he wanted it,
Ciprico had four daughters about the age of
Hungerford's daughters. They were. even in
girlhood remarkable for their beauty. They had
She brilliant Iustrous eyes. rich compilations and
Serfect, forms characteristic of that portion
5f~kfIe Jewish race which is born under South
ern skies These Ciprico girls-now all married
ARE even yet regarded as among San Francis
cos most beautiful women. Three of them nave
long been teachers in the public schools. Scandal
had now and then lowered about them-notaby
SO when. a few years ago, one of them, married to
rich Hebrew here. was shot shot at by door
fellow named Cahill, who had been madly in love
with her before her marriage. He called on her
One day. and after few bitter words drew re-
volver and fired The bullet struck her corset
steel, and while it knocked her over. it did not
otherwise hurt her. Seeing her fall. Cahill, sup
posing he had killed her. sent a bullet through
his own disordered brain and fell dead beside
her Letters which Cahill had left behind were
said to compromise the woman dreadfully before
her marriage, but these never saw the light. Ca
hills brother had money and influence enough to
suppress them.
Aside from this episode, the Ciprico family,
though iowly in origin. have always been con-
sidered respectable. They We're certainly very
intelligent and all had good educations. They
were natural linguists. spoke Italian their ma
tive tongue, fuently, French we'll, and Spanish
like natives.
1t was while these girls were growing up
Hungerford, their fathers lourneyman. brought
his orphaned daughters to San Francisco 1t
was quite natural that they should make their
home with the CipricOs, and they did SO. Like
them, the Hungerford girls very inel-
gent 1t was plain to be seen that they had
inherited from their mother many traits that
their father did not possess They were am
bilious, quick to learn full of energy, and, in
time as they grew older, rather humbled at the
thought of their fathers calling The elder
NOW Mrs. Mackay-resolved to fit herself for
teaching. French and Italian she learned from
her associates before she was sixteen, and spoke
them like native. Many effusive statements
have been made by Mrs Mackay's gushing ad-
mirers of the fiuency of Mrs Mackay's French
snd the purity of her Italian She learned both
from the Cpricos before she had put on long
dresses.
While the Hungerford girls were being thus
educated the father was having hard time, and
was getting very poor For months at time
he couG send the girls no money, and they had
TO depend on the Ciprico family for subsistence
Finally he opened a little barber shop in
Downieville, and while the mining camp lasted
made some money. After while he sent for
mis- oldest daughter to come up into the mount
tains, ostensiblv to keep house for him, but
really to have her find husband from among
the more well-to-do miners AT Nevada City
there was q young physician of somewhat dis
spated habits named Bryant, who kept a little
drug store, and put up and sold his own perscrip,
tons With him Miss Hungerford fell in love
and about 1859 married him, niuch to the honest
BARRIERS relief. for the Downieville camp was
going down and bristly chins were getting fewer
and fewer. Not long after his daughters mar
riage the little shop closed one day and the pro-
prietor took his kit. went to the Bay" and re-
samed business at the old stands chair in Clip
rico's shop
The marriage did not turn out very well. The
Doctor drank good deal and spent his money,
and it is feared neglected his Young wife Eva,
the future Princess Colonna. was born in 1860 in
the rear of the little slab-sded drug store stand
isig in cluster of pines in Nevada City. The
Bryants lived in the various mining camps with
varrlne luck until the hreaki ont nf the