The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-07-08
A RACE FOR A WIFE.
one Days Delay and She Would
Have Been Lost to Him.
A BARGE OFFICE ROMANCE
Witnessed by the Employes.-The Hus.
band Came from Hamburg and
Didnt Know he was Raclng--Each
Thought the Other Had Run Away.
AHappy Reunion.

ship wieland from Hamburg which ar
rived at this port the other day, was
young woman OF pretty and modest ap-
pcarance who had not paid her fare and
was penniless. She was neatly dressed,
although in peasantgarb, andher plight
attracted much sympathy at the Barge
Office. To the interpreter she told a
story that was the less readily believed
because she was about to become a
mother, but nevertheless impressed It
self as true, upon the minds Of those
who looked critically upon her honest
brown eyes and frank features.
"Indeed, l am a wife," she cried pas
sionately, in answer to the interpreters
first question. ~ am young, you say.
That Is true. But l have passed, my
twentieth birthday. / married at
nineteen, We lved-my husband and
Lin little German village. He got
work sometimes in foundry on the
outskirts Of the town. His wages were
low, and for part Of the year he was
always idle. Oh, it was hopeless trying
to lay up money. But we were young
and confident. Fortune favored us.
Six months after our wedding an aunt
of my husbands died, and left him 5000
marks. let US go to America said,
where life will Be easier He agreed.
Our household goods were not packed.
We sold them for what we could get,
determined to begin life afresh In the
New World. We came to Hamburg.
One night was spent in lodging house.
Ny husband turned his cash into q
letter Of credit. oh, We were so happy!
But .
Here the poor woman broke down and
sobbed as If her heart would break.
After giving away to tears for few
moments, and hearing some words OF
consolation and encouragement from
the interpreter, she went.
~ or 1T tell how 1t all happened. We
were out in the street. He said, Let us
walk down TO the quay. We went. It
was crowded and ] was frightened. We
cot separated. He must have gone on
board ] thought, and so / boarded the
Wieland, too. Up anddown ! wandered,
looking at every group and in every
direction. I heard nothing. saw
nothing. Before l knew it the vessel
wass under full headway. They scolded
me, but they brought me here. Now,
what am / to do? Has he deserted me2
/ can't believe 1t, and yet"
The poor creature broke down again.
Her story was told.
Sad as the case was, Colonel Weber
could not suspend the memorable laws
OF the United States. "she must go
back" he said, cor bonds must be fur
nished that she will not become a pub
lie charge. However, she may be tell
ing the truth, and we'll give her few
days to find her husband. He may
come over on another steamer" A de-
scription OF the young man was left
with the Barge Office officials, and to-
day was fixed as the time limit within
which this woman was to find her hus-
band or 90 back to Hamburg.
Yesterday the Rhaetia came in from
that port. Among her steerage passen-
gers was young man with careworn
face and ltoil-hardened hands, who
seemed to answer the description given
by the young woman. An inspector
walked up to him, accompanied by an
interpreter.
"You seem sad. Have you met with
any loss?n was the first question.
III am SO sad" was the neply. "But
Ihaye met with no loss that you can
make good"
eve make good all sorts of losses"
said the interpreter. "At any rate, it
can do no harm to tell your story"
The young man saw that the faces Of
the two men were sympathetic. He
began:
' = have g, lost my wife,"
"I supposed we had got separated at
the quay in Hamburg. There was an
awful crowd. We were to have sailed
on the Wieland. I didn't dare to go
aboard without her. But when had
hunted all over Hamburg for several
days, / made up my mind that she
must have deserted me for some other
man and taken the opportunity afforded
by the crowd to give me the slip. 1t
was awfully hard. loved her; |
thought she loved me. But at last Il
decided to come to America to begin
life alone and to forget my sadness
among strange scenes, You can do
nothing for me" The mans eyes filed
with tears, and he.was about to turn
away.
claimed the interpreter bluntly. "She
got CARRIED off on the Wieland and
thinks that you have deserted her."
The young man started back as II ho
had been Shot. His black eyes seemed
to grow big and bright Then fierce
expression came over his face, and his
fists clenched convulsively. "You are
not deceiving me?'' he cried. "God
help the man who makes a Jest of my
misery"
The interpreter treasured him by
telling tho whole story OF the wite's
experience. "She was to have been
sent back as q pauper tomorrow" he
added, "but you have come just in
time"
go back and tell the the girl" said
the inspector, "I'll look out for the
man" and the expert in many tongues
started of on his joyful Grand.
The young woman tainted when she
heard the news, but soon revived.
Within fifteen minutes there was a
reunion such rs oven tho Barge Office
officials rarely look upon. The young
couple will leave New York for the far
West this morning. Abraham and
Mary Samelinsky will never forget the
Barge Office in this city. Everybody
there will wish them good luck when
they go away.
IS TT JEALOUSY
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