The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1900-12-28
Miss Mary Hoffman and
Rev, J. [. Johnson. /,
A CURIOUS COINCIDENCE
She a Student of Nursing and He
a Well known Preacher Of d
New York.

NEW YORK, Dec. 1.-THE Herald
prints the following: Much specula-
ton is being INDUCED in by the friends
of the Rev. James lie Baron Johnson
as to his whereabouts. He was last
seen about one week ago at Watkins,
n. Y, where he has been patient of
a sanitarium, having gone there sew
eral months ago because of most
serious attack of nervous prostration.
Mr.. Johnson left the sanitarium ten
days ago and came to New York for
some purpose, and after remaining
here for one day, returned to Watkins.
He stopped at the sanitarium for two
days and then went away, taking all
his baggage with him. He left no ad-
dress, and his relatives in this city
and elsewhere are wondering what has
become of him.
Mrs. Johnson. who was Miss Mabel
Van Rensselaer, is living with her
mother, Mrs. Alexander Van Renssa-
laer at the family residence in this
city.
Mr.. Johnson's shattered health is
said to be largely the result of his
duties as one of the chaplains of the
fire department, which he assumed in
March, 1899, having been appointed to
that position by Fire Commissioners
Scanned Several years ago he lived
in Tacoma, Wash, before he took holy
orders, and was a member of the local
fire department of that city. For two
years he slept in the engine house of
the volunteer company to which he be-
longed, so that he might be promptly
on hand whenever a fire alarm came
in during the night After leaving
Tacoma he went to San Francisco, and
remained there for some time.
Mr. Johnson came to New York sew
era1 years ago, and after having stud
led for the Episcopal ministry, was adj
nitted to the church. He was made
assistant rector of Grace Church. The
fact that he had become minister did
not quench Mr.. Johnson's interest in
fire department affairs, however, and
on March % of last year he received
the coveted appointment of chaplain.
Mr.. Johnson met the family of Miss
Mabel Van Rensselaer, after coming
to New York, and in due time became
engaged to the young woman. The
wedding took place at Grace Church
on April 20, 1899, and was one of the
most brilliant affairs that have taken
place there.
Mr.. Johnson is believed to be some
where in the West. Almost simulta-
neously with the disappearance OF
Mr.. Johnson from the sanitarium at
Watkins comes the discovery that Miss
Mary Hoffman, daughter of Southland
Hoffman, of San Francisco, who for
nearly two years has attended the
Bellevue Training School for Nurses,
in this city, left the institution very
suddenly last week. 1t is said that she
went to San Francisco.
Miss Hoffman, who is wealthy in
her own right, entered the training
school for nurses simply for the pur-
pose of gaining experience. She made
excellent progress and was at the head
of her class, which is to graduate
early in January.
Miss Brennan, who is in charge of
the school, said that she knew of no
reason for Miss Hotfman's sudden dis
appearance, except that the young
woman told her last Wednesday that
she had received dispatch contain
ing bad news from her family in San
Francisco, and that she was Obliged
to leave for that city