Omaha daily bee., 1889-07-14
LINCERED WITH HIS LOVE
Tragic circumstances Under Which
Mrs. Tyler Was Courted.
TWAS CUPID SAVED HIS LIFE.
How President Tyler Escaped tho
Explosion of tho Pcaoemakcr and
Afterwards Married Quceniy
Gardiner.
He STAYED Below Deck.

The death OF Mrs. President Tyler
brings again to public notice the story
OF her marriage. Until the last ad-
ministratiou she could claim the honor
OF being the only woman who had ever
married u president. But she was not
Mr.. Tylet's first wife. He had been
made u widower In the second year OF his
term by the death OF his wife. Mrs.
Letitia Christian Tyler. Her death in.
creased the cares of the president, who
had already been repudiated by his own:
party.
The second winter after the death of
Mrs. Tyler, Mr.. Gardiner, of GARDENERS
island in Long Island Sound, wealthy
and distinguished man who had
been travelling over Europe with
his young and accomplished daugh-,
ter, Julia, brought her to
Washington. She became Mt once the
belle of the city. The widowed presi-
| dent found solace and relaxation in tho
| society of this cultivated girl whom he
soon began to WOO.
Tragedy was so mixed with the love-
making that the pair were able to keep
| it secret until it ended in marriage.
| The president, the cabinet, with other
invited guests among whom were
| Mr.. Gardiner and his daughter were
| invited by Captain Stockton to sail
| upon the Potomac in the war-steamer,
"Princeton," to witness the testing of
| tho "Peacemaker," new cannon.
| Before the ceremony the guests sat in
the cabin iestipg and slipping wine. AT
| length the captain announced that all
was ready. The gentlemen, with the
| exception of the president sprang to their
| feet aud went on deck. A second
| time word was sent to the president.
| Still he fingered with the beautiful
| girl.
The men on deck grew restive. The
captain gave the word; the gunner did
his duty; something was wrong, some-
body blundered; the ball burst tho
| cannon. The explosion and the shrieks
from the love dream that probably
saved his life. Two members of tho
| cabinet, and Miss Gardeners father lay
among the dead. Their bodies were
taken to the executive mansion, and
there the funeral services were per-.
formed. Miss Gardiner went to New
York with the body of her father. A
few months later the president an
nounced that urgcut business called
him to New York. The day
after his arrival, he took Miss
Gardiner to the Church Of
the ascension, and in a strictly private
way made her his wife. 1t was the SO.
cial sensation of the time. The presi-.
dcnt's urgent business" was ended and
he at once installed his bride rs mis-
tress of the executive mansion. The,
lady received guests with n queenly
grace and brought q CLEAN of sunshine.
upon the Tyler administration.
The spring after the presidents mar
| riage his term of Office expired He re-
tired to Virginia and died in 1862. He
lies In an unmarked grave in Hollywood
cemetery, Richmond, where his wife,
has lately been laid to rest. His estate
was ruined during the war and his.
widow forced to rely upon pension
from congress-. A few years since, she
bought beautiful place in Richmond, ;.
which was her home up to the time Of
| her death.