Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1898-02-25
Welded by Wire.

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Welded by Wire.
A Superior telegram to the Chicago
Chronicle tells of a suit that has been
brought by Mrs. Edith Foote Sherman
against her husband for title to part of a
tract of land owned by Sherman. She
sues as the wife of Sherman, and the suit
reveals a very pretty fairy story, as fol-
lows:
In 1881 Miss Edith Foote was a tele-
graph operator in the office of the
Western Union at Bismarck, N. D., and
Melville Sherman occupied a like posi-
ton with the same company at Helena,
Mont. They had worked together on
the same circuit for several months and
had formed an intimate friendship,
which developed into love. They had
corresponded regularly by mail and by
wire up to the time of their engage
ment, but had not gazed upon each
others faces, except Photographic like
nesses. They were to De married in the
fall of 1881, the wedding day had been
set and both parties had arranged for
vacations in order that they might spend
their honeymoon in the, east. One day,
several weeks previous to the time set
for the wedding lonng Sherman "called
up" his betrothed at Bismarck and
impaired 10 her the unexpected intelli-
gence that be had received a telegram
from the superintendent transferring
him to an Office in San Francisco, and
must leave for that city by the early
train next morning. OF course, this
meant that the wedding must be post
poned, for the lovers were 500 miles
apart and could not meet before the
time set for Sherman's departure, and
there was no telling when they would
meet again owing tothe inability of the
Western Union 10 furnish relief for
them at that busy time.
The situation was fully discussed by
the young lovers over the wire. They
were loath to be separated by the DIST
ance between Bismarck and San Fran.
cisco without first being united in mar
riage, and besides Miss Foote enter.
tanned certain superstitious notions
about the bad luck resulting from a
postponed wedding. But what wal to be
done. The question was a pazzler. but
love finds a way at all times. In this
case the way was paved by an old friend
Of Miss Foote, who was also a tele-
grapher, but retired from the business.
This friend, who is mentioned in the
complaint as Franklin j. Burke. hap
pened to be in the office at Bismarck
while the lovers were discussing their
unhappy situation and heard part of
the conversation, enough to know that
they were in distress.
Mr.. Burke came to the front with a
suggestion which the young people ac-
copied as a joke first, but which they
finally adopted as the only resort in the
matter. Burke proposed that they be
married by wire and offered to perform
the ceremony himself. He was a justice
of the peacel and therefore vested with
the necessary authority for marrying
people, but the lovers questioned his
right to perform the ceremony in the
manner proposed. A lawyer was con-
consulted by the prospective groom and
an opinion obtained which dispelled all
doubts as to the legality of such aSmur-
So it was decided that the mar.
riage take place that day. In order to
be on the safe side a license to we'd was
taken out in Montana by the groom and
another in Dakota by the bride. Then
at the appointed hour Sherman stood at
the key with two witnesses at his Office
in Helena and Miss Foote stood at the
end of the wire with the justice
and two or three, of her intimate friends.
The justice Gated up Helena and ask
ed Who is at the key?" The answer
came "Melville Sherman" Then Miss
signified her presence and readi-
ness to be married and the justice went
on with the ceremony, which consisted
Of the usual short service as prescribed
by law. It was all done by dots and
.ashes, even to the kissing and hand
(for which telegraphers have a
code of their OWN in the plain hearing
many operators along the line be-
tween Bismarck and Helena. -Four per-
sons subscribed as having been wit
nesses to the ceremony-two at Helena
and twoat Bismarck-and Mrs. Sher-
was presented with the marriage certf-
cate by justice Burke. This document
she claims to have in her possession still
and will produce the same in the event
OF the action coming tO trial