The morning call., 1894-04-13
Strange Fancy of a Woman for
q German Cashier.
SENSATION ON THE PAPEETE
Miss Charlotte Married Cashier
Thamm Just Before the Vessel
Left the Islands.


CURED just before the City of Papeete left
that place for San Francisco that set
Tahitian tongues to waRging and good
people to exclaiming "Oh. myW
The social equilibrium of the South seas
is nicely adjusted and it requires merely
a breath of scandal to upset it and cause a
ripple of excitement to ruffls the usually
placid surface Of everyday life in the
tropics.
Louis Thamm, passenger by the City
cf Papeete to this city. is the gentleman
who is now accused by the people of
Tahiti of having tempted pretty young
woman to elope with him to America.
thus emulating the character occasionally
portrayed in books.
Thamm Is German. young man who
acted as cashier for one of the largest
business houses in Tahiti and resident
of that section for the past five years. He
Is the scion of an old and respected family
of the Fatherland, a careful business man
and person of some means.
The girl with whom he eloped was
known at the islands as Miss Charlotte.
Tahiti does not wake up to lis daily
routine until the noon hour 10 fast ap-
preaching; SO when, at 8 O'Clock in the
morning, a couple of swarthy bOatmen
rowed a small craft alongside of the City
of Papeete, only a few natives were wit
nesses to the occurrence.
In the stern of the boat was the girl and
her intended husband.
The parkentine sailed at II CLOCK noon,
and just short while before that hour a
disguised magistrate came off to the YES
sci and united the couple. Then sail was
spread and the wedding trip began.
There is quite a long story connected
with Miss Charlotta's stay at Tahiti and
the manner in which she finally reached
Tahiti.
Her father was German and her mother
a French woman, both residing In the
formers country.
When Charlotte grew up to womanhood
her parents desired her to marry wealthy
resident of Ham burg who was many years
her senior. To this the girl strongly op-
iected.
Becoming pressing In their demands
that Charlotte give her hand to the ancient
suitor, the father and mother 1t 10 claimed
forced the girl to fly from them to escape
persecution. She went to town In France
and there asked the protection OF the
clergy. and this was generously accorded
her. From there she went to the far away
island Of Tahiti and entered upon religious
work.
She has successfully concealed her real
name, and intends keeping 1t a secret until
she reaches Germany, where she is going
with her husband.
On the passenger list Of the Papeete
sent into the Merchants Exchange by Cap
tain Berude no mention Is made Of
Thamm's newly acquired wife. The space
below the husbands name was left a
blank.
When seen by CALL reporter on board
the Papeete yesterday afternoon shortly
after she had arrived Thamm made no al
lusion to his marriage, nor would he speak
on the subject. He did say that he in
tended going back to Europe, and that be
would make that country his future home.
He spoke freely on oil subjects except
the elopement but of that he would say
nothing.
Thamm is a mild-looking young man
with a decidedly German cast of features,
| and has been q well-known resident of
| Tahiti for come time. He held q trusted
| position as cashier for one of the largest
| trading houses at the islands, and has,
| during his stay there. accumulated a modest
| fortune.
Charlotte is pretty, winsome and bright.
| She can converse fuently In German and
| French, and exerted her powers as a
| linguist In many stolen conversations with
| the man who won her heart.
Charlotte liked Tahiti for the first few
months of her residence there, but life
soon became monotonous under the trop-
ical SUD, so when Thamm proposed that
plans be made to leave the islands together
she quickly acquiesced.
All the passengers from the Papeete
with the exception Of Thamm and his
wife were landed early in the morning,
but the twain remained on board, and
will until this afternoon. when they will
pro ably come ashore to take the over
land train in the evening.
The people of Tahiti are said to be In q
high state of excitement over tho affair,
and the girl has been soundly criticized by
all for what they consider her folly.
| One of the crew of the Papeete described
the wedding of Charlotte and her lover as
being very impressive.
of the step she was taking. for she looked
nervously from side to side while the cere.
mony was being performed.
When all was over the magistrate's
boat pulled away. anchor was weighed.
and the Papeete soon left Tahiti far In the
| wake.