The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-01-13
AGAIN Welded.
willie Ks" DiVOreee is Now Mrs
Belmont.
A. CIVIL SERVICE PERFORMED BY
MAYOR STRONG.

The Bride and Groom Went Immediately
TO Bellcourt Newport-0nly Very Few
witnesses at the Ceremony-Mr, Bel
mont Bought His Bride a Bunch of
yioIets-society VIII be Informed by a
Brilliant society Function.
New York, January 1l-Mrs. Alya
Smith Vanderbilt, former wife of William
K Vanderbilt, and o. II. P. Belmont
were married this morning at 10 O'Clock
by Mayor Strong in Mrs Vanderbilt
residence.
The ceremony was performed at 10
o'clock and only Miss Smith, Mrs Van
darbilt's sister, and very few personal
friends were present.. Almost immedi-
ately after the couple had been welded
they left the house, and it is understood
started for Marble House at Newport.
SThe mayor came down to his office i'm
nlediately after the marriage. When asked
about the matter the mayor said: ''All
1 know about it is that / officiated and
performed the marriage ceremony for
them at 10 O'Clock this morning at Mrs.
Vanderbilt's house. The mayor then
asked if there would be religious cere-
mony. He said that he did not know,
that all he knew of the affair was that he
had been asked to perform civil cere-
mony and had done SO. He said he knew
nothing of the plans of Mr.. and Mrs.
Belmont. 1t was the original intention
of MIR. Belmont and Mrs. Vanderbilt to
be married in church by minister, but
they found that the rules of the Episco-
pal church forbids its ministers to unite
IN marriage divorced persons, while the
former husband and wife is living. This
made a religious ceremony impossible,
and itssWas then decided that they would
he quietly married by civil ceremony.
Mayor Strong was asked to officiate, and
agreed TO do SO. The first official an
noancement of the engagement of MIR
Belmont and Mrs. Vanderbilt was made
on January 3. The date of the wedding
was not announced, but it v as rumored
later that they would not be married
until January 20.
At Newport.
Newport, r. l.. January 11.-Mr. and
Mrs. Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont ar
rived here at tonight via Wexford. On
ths trip down the bay they occupied
chairs in the fore part of the upper sa-
loon of the steamer General and attracted
considerable attention from the small
number of passengers aboard. MIR. Bel
mGnt's East India valet was the only
person to accompany the couple, the other
servants arriving iii the afternoon. The
couple left their seats before the first line
was sent ashore and were close beside
the gangway whom the plank was hauled
aboard, thus being the first to leave the
teamer. The Belmont private carriage,
ined with maroon plush, was in waiting,
ana into this Mr.. Belmont first handed
his bride, and then directed his driver
to hasten to the Belcourt combination
state and bachelor quarters which have
been put in ordel for them. The house is
situated in a bleak position for winter
habitation, well out of the way of people,
the only neighbors being the keepers in
charge of the summer cottages. At the
dock quite parry of citizens had gath
cred TO see the much talked Of couple
land, but no one greeted them.
HOW She Became WiIIie's Bride.
Newport. January 1.-THE William K.
branch Of the Wand erbilt family have
been making history fast for the past few
years. AS plain Alva Smith there was
probably no happier girl in the land. AS
airs. William K. Vanderbilt, one of the
richest women in America, her friends
say she has been most miserable. All
hope that as Mrs. Oliver H. P. Belmont
sha may be happy again. She comes from
Is Well-knOWn family of Mobile, Ala
The family was not rich, except in pos
session Of an honored name and daugh-
ter who had the pretties5 face of any girl
in her state. The mother was an ambit-
ious woman. William &. did not have
much money in those days. His father
gave him 10,Q0O year. and when the ac-
count was balanced he always had some
of it left. He had travelled bit in
Europe, but at 20 hs could not have been
called experienced. He met Miss Smith
at a reception at the house Of Mr.. Shep-
ard. who had discovered the pretty face
during visit to Mobile. 1t was a case
of love at first sight.
But William Il. Vanderbilt was not SO
easily pleased. He urged against the
alliance, but the women of the household
We're all for it, and for peace the OLD
millionaire gave his consent to the en-
gagement. For several months Miss Smith
nstonished Mobile by wearing a $1,000
ring on her finger, and at last she told
her dear girl friends of the good match
that had been arranged for her. They
were married. the Vanderbilts putting
up the money to mako it an event OF
magnitude in the social word. William
h sent the couple abroad, and all went
merry. In those days they didn't pretend
to spend &c., COO income.