The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-03-27
TEARS
SOftened the Punishment Of Her
Lover, Cadet Peterson.
Washington Authorities Meant
to Dismiss the Sailor.
ALLOWED TO RESIGN.
The Plea Of the Young Topeka
Actress,
Miss Charlotte Crane, Proved
Not In Vain.
ALLOWED TO RESIGN.


young sailor and an assistant secretary
of the treasury were the principals in
a little drama Of true love that has Just
come to conclusion
The sailor, Cadet R. L Peterson, has
resigned, under pressure, from the rev.
enue marine service Of the United
States
The comedienne, Miss Charlotte
crane, has thrown up her engagement
and Assistant Secretary SpauIding
sometimes thinks Of a lovely young
girl girl with great masses of siIken
brown hair and big. sorrowfuI eyes
who sha altered all the treasury tradi-
tons for a brief interval last week when
she pleaded for her love, the sailor boy.
Departmental discipline was stronger
than a wOmans devotion. and though
Cadet PeterSOn'S sentence of dismissal
was modified to the acceptance of his
resignation, he is out of the service and
his marriage, which was to have oc-
CURED this summer, seems indefinitely
postponed.
The unIucky hero Of this romance is
stalWart young man from Michigan,
who was appointed to the naval acad-
envy about five years ago After two
years at Annapolis he resigned to enter
the revenue marine service. and has been
on the schOoIshfp Chase in her voyages
to Europe and South America.
He is an exceptionally brilliant and
active officer. and passed fourth in a
class Of 40 last June in the competitive
examinations for appointment to the
assistant paymaStershi created by the
exigencies of the war. Peterson had no
strong Republican backing. however,
and in spite OF his high average was not
appointed
When the Chase was stationed at one
Of the ports Of the Atlantic seaboard.
the young officer met Miss Charlotte
Bowes, whose stage name was Charlotte
Crane. The girl is talented and beauti-
full, and young Peterson promptly fell
in love with her
She reciprocated his affection, and the
pair had arranged to marry upon the
graduation of the cadet this summer
Their courtship has been necessarily
carried on largely by correspondence
The most was made of the few precious
days when Miss Cranes company was
in town where young Peterson was sta
toned
His unwiIlfngness to separate from
her on those occasions led to scene In
Charleston, s. c., q year ago, that was
widely noticed
The young officer was invited to at
tend the ball of a military college in
Charleston and bring a lady He ap-
peared with Miss Crane Her beauty at
once created a sensation, and inquiries
as to her identity followed.
When the society women of Charles
ton. the most exclusive of southern cit
les, learned that Cadet Peterson's COM
panion was an actress they became in
dignant that a member of that profess
sion should be allowed to participate IN
a function dignffied by their presence,
and demanded that Miss Crane be ex-
cIuded from the ballroom.
The men took up Miss Cranes cause
and threatened to leave in a body az
Miss Crane was required to go away.
There are those who say this incident
caused a policy of severity which al
most drove young Peterson to insubor-
dination-
1t would be difficult to prove this 1t
is not even known what his actual Of
Tense was, though there is a report that
ha rlh 1ad h6r IA vCl n
San Francisco, there to take service on
the cutter that cruises among the seal
pOachers in the Aleutian Sea
This is the hardest detail in the ser
vice. It was especially hard for Mr..
Peterson, as it would prevent him see
ing Miss Crane for a long time He
rare intervals. owing to the lack of
mail facilities.
Treasury department officials having
accepted Peterson's resignation, abso-
lutely refuse to discuss the nature of
his offense or the character of the
charges.
When Miss Crane learned that action
had been taken to the injury of the ca
det she hurried1y went to Washington
reaching the city on the morning of
March II She enlisted the sympathy
of a a ldy friend in Washington who ac-
companied her to the treasury depart
ment-
When Capt c. F. Shoemaker, Chief
of the marine revenue service, saw two
office with anxiety written on every
feature he was all attention
Miss Crane introduced herself as
Charlotte Bowes, and told her story.
The captain soon gathered the purpose
of the errand, and interrupted her to
say that the case had passed out of
his hands, and was before Assistant
Secretary Spaulding. Capt Shoemaker
was interested and asked Miss Crane
what she would do if her lover was re-
leased L will marry him, no matter
what happens to him. she replied
When Miss Crane was shown into the
office of the assistant secretary she
made a plea for her lover that will long
be remembered by Mr.. Spaulding- She
told Of her love for the young sailor
and read passages from his letters to
her.
why, we were going to be married.
she said; going to be married this sum-
mer How can we be married if he is
in Alaska? Why did you send him to
the end Of the earth2'
Mr. SpauIdfng was thunderstruck He
managed to say at last that Peterson
would certainly have to leave the ser
vice
But is there no room for mercy in
the service -" she asked Cant you
forgive him and not cloud his name and
break my heart by disnissing hirn2
His offense was only a breach of dis
cfpIine- He had done no real wrong
Let him be punished. but not dismissed,
and I'll be surety for his future good
conduct"
the girls eIoquence made a deep i'm
preston.
We'll. we'll: I'll see what can do
said the assistant secretary He soothed
her by talking of her lovers ability,
and though no promise was given she
left the department hopeful
Her errand has not been entirely in
vain Cadet Peterson's dismissal had
already been decided on. but Assistant
Secretary Spaulding had the matter re-