Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-20
AN OIL 11rnuD ROMANCE.
The Story OF Miss Hamilton's Secret
Marriage and Divorce.
From the No,o York Times.

From the Noto York Tunes.
TowASDA, PA, May 1G.--In the spring
of 1882 William Hamilton, a farmer liv.
ing in thenorthern oil field, was induced 10
invest SO, 000 in oil land IN the then boom
ing Cherry Grove district in Warren
county. His investment was a remunera-
tive one, for in few days be disposed of
his INTEREST," the land Tor $4,000. This
was Hamilton's first transaction IN the
petroleum business, and the making
in less than a week sum which
he could scarcely have hoped
TO accumulate in lifetime on
his farm turned his head, and he
invested all the money he mad, and mort
gagged his farm TO obtain more, IN pipe
line certificates. He was caught, win
hundreds Of Others like him, in the great
fall OF petroleum values in the summer OF
1882, caused by the sudden failure Of the
great spOuting wells in the Cherry Grove
field and ruined. His farm was sold from
him, aud in less than three months he
died, a physical and moral wreck, having
become a heavy drinker. He was wild
over, with one child, a handsome girl 70
years old. She was left pennlless and al
most friendless by her fathers death
Henry Gage, a well-to-do farmer, was
neighbor OF Hamilton's, ana years ago
they became bitter enemies over some
land dispute. A year before Hamilton
died Cages son Lyman, a good looking
but shittless young man, began paying at
tentIon to Hamilton's daughter, Mary.
She ENCOURAGED him, but both her father
and young Cages father opposed the at
tachmenJ. After Hamilton's death and
some time before it, his daughter sup
ported herself as seamstress. Shortly
after Hamilton died Lyman Gage quar-
relied with his father aud disappeared.
For some time Miss Hamilton received
letters from him from different places in
the West. but they finally ceased In May,
1888, Farmer Gage. received a let
ter, signed by George Gray ana dated Chi
caRo, notifying him That mis- son Lyman
had been drowned in Lake Michigan by
the capszing Of a boat in which he was
out fishing, and that his body had not
been recovered. Gage went TO Chicago,
but could find out nothing further in rela-
ton to his sons alleged death. He re-
turned home, however, satisfied that the
young man was dead. He was aston
1shed, on arriving home, to learn that
Miss Hamilton claimed to be his sons
widow, and she produced unquestiOnable
proofs that they had been married In July,
1882 This fact being established. her
father-ir-law at once provided her with a
home and contributed to her support.
A young man named BidlOw Utter, a
well contractor and driller, formed the
acquaintance of the young widow soon
safterward, and they became engaged.
Their wedding day was set tor last Christ.
mas, and preparations We're made for
grand marriage. The Sunday before
Christmas great sensation was made in
the community by the appearance of Ly-
man Gage, the supposed dead husband of
Mary Hamilton. He refused to give any
explanation in regard to his alleged
death. He said he had come back to
take his wife to Chicago with him
She refused to receive or recognize him,
ia which refusal she was heartily sup
ported by her father-in-law, Gage. Young
Gage remained at his fathers for a week.
when he again disappeared. The Utter
Gage wedding was necessarily indefinite
ly postponed. Al Farmer Cages sugges-
ton bis daughteT-in-law began proceed
lngs against her husband for a divorce.
This was granted to her last week, and in
the evening of the day the decree was
made she was quietly married to Mr..
Utter.