The times., 1899-08-23
ELOPGD ON A FERRYBOAl
Parental Objections Ignored, But
Forgiveness Follows.
j. Lewis Hutchinson, Jr., Weds Miss
Clara Britton in Long Island
Town-Tbe Families Opposed the
Union Because of the Youth of
the CoupIc-Phc Minister Blamed.

Shelter Island, L. l., Aug. 22.-J. Lewis
Hutchinson, jr., eldest son of Mr. and Mrs.
]. L. Hutchinson, of Washington, D. C.
was married last Saturday to Miss Clara
Britton, youngest daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
Eugene Britton. The bridegroom is al
most nineteen, while Miss Britton has just
passed her eighteenth birthday. The par
ents OF both the bride and groom favored
the match, provided the young couple
waited until they reached the age Of
discretion AS it was, their con-
sent was withheld for the present. Young
Hutchinson had obtained a position in the
theatrical business in Chicago. and his
services were required there on August
%.
The young people on Saturday morn
ing boarded the ferryboat Menantic and
went TO Greenport without arousing the
suspicious of either family. At Greenport
they enquired the way to the Presbyterian
parsonage, where they were married by the
Rev. William C. Mcknight. Hutchinson
told the dominic that he was in great haste
to get married as he and his sweetheart
were to take the next train for Chicago,
and as they were of legal age, Mr. Nc
knight married them. After the wedding
the couple returned to this place and sep
arated, each going home for luncheon.
They told no one that they were married,
and no one suspected it. That afternoon
they again met and crossed TO Greenport.
taking the train for Long Island City. At
night. as neither of the couple put in an
appearance, the Hutchinsons and Brittons
became alarmed, and searching parties
were sent to all parts of the island
No news was received during Sunday and
UP 10 late yesterday afternoon, when a tele-
gram was received by Mr.. Hutchinson from
his son announcing the bare fact of his
marriage to Miss Britton. The news was
conveyed to the parents OF the latter, and
was verified soon after by the Rev w c.
Mcknight, who called. Mr. Mcknight is
the pastor of the Presbyterian Church of
Greenport. He first learned that the couple
he had married We're elopers yesterday and
he fastened to the homes of the parents to
explain the situation. Mr.. Hutchinson is
very bitter toward the minister
The Hutchinson villa on Willow Terrace
is the finest at the Heights. 1t faces on
Greenport Harbor The family lives at
Diagonally across the street and facing
Deering's Harbor is "Bide a Vice. the cot
tage of the Brittons The Brittons and
Hutchinsons have been close friends as
well as neighbors. Mr. Britton today said:
I'VE regret very much that our youngest
daughter cara eloped with young Hutchin-
son, although we have not the slightest
objection to the young man except his age
1t is too late now, and we will do all we
can for their comfort Mr. and Mrs
Hutchinson left this morning on the S:08
train to meet the elopers. Mr.. Hutchinson
paid high tribute TO Miss Britton's char
acter, and said she was an estimable girl
The young couple, he said, intended to re-
turn to Shelter Island, but he wired them
that this was unnecessary as he and his
wife would meet them in Manhattan and
arrange for their Chicago trip.
1t is said that the grooms father was
formerly partner in the Barnum & Bailey
circus. Mr. Britton is retired merchant
and lives at 324 Clinton Avenue, New York
City.
The name OF J. L. Hutchinson does not
appear in the city directory. and enquiry
made by Times reporters resulted in no
information about the Hutchinson family.
1t is probable that Mr.. Hutchinson and his
family may visit Washington in the winter,
but thew are not kunwr raSidapfc -