The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-10-18

a SAD ROMANCE.

Marriage With His Sweetheart Delayed
Until Death Came to the Injured Man.
There was an interesting romance en-
acted at Lakeside hospital, and it end
ed with the death of one, a young wo-
mans broken heart and a mothers sat
isfaction in preventing a marriage which
was the last wish Of her dying son.
Willis Hizer, the fireman of No.
hook and ladder, who was thrown from
the top of the truck, was taken to the
hospital The rear wheels of the truck,
that weighs five tons, passed over his
breast and caused fatal injuries. Five
years ago Hizer's wife died and left
him to care for a little boy who was
then years old During the past one
or two years Hizer had kept company
with a pleasing young woman of the
name of Annie McGintric, who makes
her home with q family on Hoyt ave-
nue. The couple We're engaged to be
married, and the date for the ceremony
was fixed for three weeks hence.
When the wounded and dying man
was placed on a bed in a hospital, he
asked for Annie. She was sent for, and
so was his mother. They both arrived at
about the same time, and when they APP
preached the deathbed the dying man
asked Annie if she would marry him
under such circumstances. He said: II
know 1 VIII never get up. am going
to die right here, and then my little lad
viii be left alone. "
The heartbrol1en young woman prom
ised to do all and vowed to be a mother
to the boy, who was then standing by
the bedside. Both parties being of one
mind, they called a Catholic priest. Fa-
Their Valley Of st. Johns cathedral re-
sponded, and upon his appearance the
dying mans mother created a scene in
the ward and became so loud in pro-
testing against the marriage that she
was taken from the ward The knot
would have been tied, but there was no
license, and the priest would not pro-
nounce the ceremony without it. Civ
ing the dying man words of comfort, he
departed from the hospital The couple
then asked one of the fremen who stood
by to telephone Captain Grant Cairns
of truck No / and have him come to
the hospital. He got to the hospital as
quickly as possible and met Annie
standing by his injured comrades bed.
Hizer looked up at him and said:
ssGrant, can you get us a marriage
hcense?''
II can, = said the big captain, and off
he went in search of Clerk Schwab Of
the court, and at about $3.50 O'Clock the
document was secured and Cairns hur
ried with it to the hospital.
When the freman's mother saw the
paper in Captain Cairns hands, she be
came frantic and attempted to take it
from the captains grasp, but failed.
Then Father Vahey was sent for again,
but he did not arrive until about $50.
At that time the injured man was grow
ing weak. His pulse was feeble, his
limbs and arms were cold as in death,
and at times he was delirious. When
the priest arrived, he talked with Miss
McGintric and advised her to obey the
wishes of the dying mans mother and
not marry Hizer, but she begged Of him
to pronounce the ceremony. He then
said he would do it if two physicians
would testify that the dying man was
capable of a legal act But DR. HerricA,
the hospital house physician, and the
other physicians present were not will
ing to testify to Hizer's rational condi-
ton, and the priest departed
Miss McGintric was broken hearted.
With tears running from her eyes she
returned to the bedside of the man near
deaths door At 1915 O'Clock, after
more than six hours of intense agony.
Hizer died -Cleveland Plain Dealer.
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