Los Angeles herald., 1892-08-11
HIS PARENTS OBJECTED.
BUT THE YOUNG COUPLE WE'RE
MARRIED ON THE HERMOsA.
Mr. Thoms and Miss Clark the Contract
ing Parties-The Brides Parents Were
willing but the Groom's Were.
Not-The Ceremony.

A marriage on the high sea was one
of the novelties that excited society
folk in this city and at Catalina island
yesterday, especially as there was a
flavor of romance about the event which
arose from its being an elopement.
This was not the novel feature, how
ever, for elopements are not unusual in
this land of love and sunshine; but the
tact that the master of a marine vessel
performed the ceremony, and tied the
knot as tightly as the best regulated
parson, was the remarkable feature in
connection with this salt water we'd
ding.
When the good ship Hermosa sailed
from the isle of Catalina yesterday, Capt.
F. E. Darnfeld was surprised by the en-
trance into his private cabin of James
Frederick Thoms, a youth of 10 winters,
and Miss Lille Belle CLARK, bright
eyed brunette, through whose raven
tresses the zephyrs of II summers have
sung sweet songs of the fair south land.
"We wantyou to marry u.s." said the
young man, while a series of bushes
chased over the maiden's face.
"Bless my soul; you don't mean il, !"
said bluff Captain Darnfeld.
eyes, we do" said the young lady.
Then Captain Darnfeld put on his think
ing cap, and remembered that the mas
ter of q ship was the supreme power on
his own ship when on the high seas,
and that an ancient English law, which
had been incorporated in the laws OF
the United States, gave masters the au-
thority to perform the marriage cere-
mony. So he called in two Witnesses,
| Walter l.. Vail and E. T. Shoemaker,
and then told the young couple to
| stand up. -..s,.
"James Frederick Thoms, do you take
Lille Belle Clark as your wife?"
+ 81 do" promptly responded James
Frederick.
"Lillie Bell Clark do you take James
| Frederick Thoms as your husband?"
Eyes, sir;" sweetly responded the
young miss.
"Well, l pronounce you man and
wife," said the jolly tar.
| Then there were kisses, and the cap
| tain took down his log book and made
the following entry therein:
| EH& 441 AUGUST 10, 1892,
This is to certify that have this day married
| on the nlgn seas, on DOaru tne steamship Her
mosa, Mr.; James Frederick Thoms and Mis-:
| Lille Belle CLARK, who have affixed their sig
natures below, in the presence of these wit
nesses. lsI 81 f. E. DARNFELD,
| .ne5,ss Master of the s. 8. Hermosa
B. JAMES FREDERICK THoMs
H. LILLE BELLE CLARK.
| Witnesses: Walter L. Vail, f. T. Shoemaker.
The happy couple then received the
congratulations of everyone on board
! and when they arrived in Los Angeles
Mr.. Thoms went to the recorders Office
where that pleasant official took pleas
ure in placing the above minute from
the log book on record. The occasion
for the wedding on the high seas was
the opposition Of the young mans pa
| rents to the wedding, based on hii
youth. The father of the bride is Mr.
George w. Clark, the Pasadena grocer
1 and he gave his consent to the wedding
| in the following letter:
lm PASADENA, CAL, Aug. 6, 1892.
The bearer of this is James Frederick
Thoms, and the lady with him is Lille
| Belle Clarke, my daughter. Please per.
form the marriage ceremony for them
and the young gentleman will settle
with you. 24
Respectfully, GEo. W. CLARK.
P. S.-Please give them writer
statement, 30 it can be placed on record
The above marriage was performed
without marriage license, as none wal
required in ship wedding. There are
but few such marriages of record in ths
United States.