Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-04-15

VINO was dppOlnlSu W Tue Naval
Academy about five years ago After two
years at Annapolis he resigned to enter
the Revenue Marine service, and has been
on the schoolship Chase in her voyages to
Europe and South America.
He was an exceptionally brilliant and
active officer, and passed fourth in a class
of 20 last June in the competitive examin-
ations for appointment to the assistant
paymastership created by the eXigencleS
of the war. Peterson had no strong re-
publican backing, however, and in spite
of his high average was not appointed.
While the Chase was stationed at one
of the ports of the Atlantic seaboard, the
young officer met Miss Charlotte Bowes,
| whose stage name is Charlotte Crane. Tn
girl is talented and beautiful, 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 had been necessarily car
ried on largely by correspondence. The
| most was made of the few precious days
| when Miss Cranes company was in the
town where young Peterson was station
ed.
His unwillingness to be separated from
her on those occasions led to a scene in
Charleston, S. c., a year ago, that was
widely noticed
The young officer was invited to attend
the ball of a military college in Charles
ton and bring a lady. He appeared with
Miss Crane. Her beauty at once created
a sensation, and inquiries as to her iden-
| tity followed.
When the society women of Charleston,
the most exclusive of southern cities,
learned hat Cadet Peterson's companion
was an actress they became indignant
that a member of hat profession S hould
be allowed to participate in a function
dignified by their presence, and demanded
that MISC Cr9nh he eVr1uIpH from the
ballroom.
Thu men took up Miss Cranes cause
and threatened to leave in a body if she
was required to go away.
There are those who say that this in
cident caused a policy of severity which
almost 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
he rebelled because he was ordered to San
Francisco, there to take service on the cut
ter tina cruises among the seal poacherS
in the AleUltian Sea.
This is the hardest detail in the service.
1t was especially hard for Mr.. Peterson.
as it would prevent his seeing Miss Crane
for a long time. He could not even write
to her except at rare intervals, owing to
the lack of mail facilities.
Treasury department officials, having
accepted Peterson's resignation, abso-
luteIy refuse to disclose 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 cadet
she hurriedly went to Washington, reach
ing the city on the morning of March II.
She enlisted the sympathy Of a lady friend
in Washington, who accompanied her to
the treasury department.
When Captain G. r. Shoemaker, chief
Of tho marine revenue service, saw two
handsome young women sweep into his
office with anxiety written on every fea-
ture he was all attention.
Miss Crane introduced herself as Miss
Charlotte Bowes, and told her story. The
I captain soon gathered the purpose of her
errand, and interrupted her to say that
the case had passed out of his hands, and
was before Assistant Secretary SpauYd-
ing. Captain Shoemaker vas interested
and asked Miss Crane what she would do
if her lover We're dismissed. II will mar
ry 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 re-
membered by Mr.. Spaulding. She told Of
her lov for the young sailor and read
passages from his letters to her.
why, we We're 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 earth?'
Mr.. S%paulding was thunderstruck. He
managed to say at last that Peterson had
been guilty-of INSTRUMENTATION and would
certainly have to leave the service.
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 Diminishing him? His offense was
only a breach of discipline. 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 ~eloquence made a deep i'm
preston.
"Well, well: I'll see what I can do
said the assistant secretary. He soothed
her by talking of her lovers abilities, and
though no promise was given she left the
department hopeful.
Her GRAND had not been entirely in
vain. Cadet Peterson's dismissal had al
ready been decided on, but Assistant Sec
retary Spaulding had the matter review
ed.
It is possible that the verdict might
have been changed had not the cadets Of
Tense been a repetition of a serious breach
of discipline. To retain him in the SER
vice was to injure the discipline of the
schoolship upon which he was stationed
and it was decided again that Cadet Pet
erson must go.
Still, his sweetheart's plea had secured
him one grace. He was asked for his
resignation and thisw was accepted.
Now the friends Of the two young peo-
Pile arc expecting to hear of a marriage
any day, and of Cadet Peterson's en-
trance into civil life.