The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-23
To FOUND NEW SECT
NUN AND PRIEST --Ts0PE FROM
AGRAM, CAPITAL OF CRoTIA.
AUSTRIA-HUNGARY
ARE EN- ROUTE FOR CHICAGO
Deserted Their Faith to BE Mar
ried-Priest Sells Church Prop
erty and Secures a-
Large Sum.

CHICAGO, March 2-Croatians in Chi
cago are anxiousIy awaiting the arrival
of Father Barbics and Sister Viianda,
who deserted the Catholic convent IN
Agram, Hungary, and clipped to America
to found a new religious sect They are
supposed to be on their way to this city.
The elopement of the priest and the nun
was romantic i'll the extreme and caused
much comment in Croatia
andre g Jankoyica, 212l Archer ave-
nue., who is the leading Croatian in Chi
cago, has received official notice from
Hungary saying that the clippers and de-
serters of the Catholic faith are bound
for Chicago.
Father Barbics began his church career
as a priest of the Greek church. but was
later converted to the Universal Cataelic
church, which is a broad type Of the Ro-
man Cathoiie faith After short serv-
ice in this church he was induced to be-
come Roman Catholic priest and given
charge Of 4 large convent and church in
Agram, the capital city of Croatia.
For several years ne was in charge of
the Agram convent and gained the COM
plete confidence of the community. He
was trusted implicitly with the care and
custody of all the church properties con-
nected with the convent and made the
acquaintance OF Sister Vilanda a pretty
nun of q good family, who had been
driven to secIude herself in the cloister.
it was said on account of failure in an
early love affair with neble young
Croatian.
Nun Falls in Love With Priest
The sequestration of the convent did
not agree with the young woman. VINO
was naturally viYaciGuS Father BarbicS
seemed to her to be a model of manly
strength ard beauty. Her affection be
came so great that one day when she
was alone with the father she feIl on her
knees at his feet ANA declared that she.
would kill herself # ne did not take her
from the convent and marry her, ac-.
cOrding to the adyices sent Mr. jan
koVica. tts
I7aIher Barbics was of a romantic ma
ture and agreed. They planned al eIope-
ment. In order to bring themselves 10
such a decision they evolved a new re-
hgious faith.
efopement. Father Barbics began by
Quietly selling. off -atlsthe cattle and other
stock on the estate belonging TO the
church, it is charged. He raised. all the
money he could in every way possible
to the complete controller of the parish
and secured some $10000d, it is said
The next task was TO get the nun from
her cloister without exciting the sus-
pici0ns of the other priests and nuns
This was accomplished In a thrilling man
ner. The escape is still being talked
about all over Austria Hungary.
One dark night, when all were asleep
within the cloiSter, Father Barbics crept
to the side of the convent building. Sis
ter Wanda had a room on the top floor,
SeVenty-fiVe feet from the ground. The
priest was disguised as peddler and car
ried i'll his pack dress of a peasant
woman and coil of rope.
The nun was awaiting her lover and
when she saw him approach she opened
her window. The priest tossed the pope
to the window his strong arm serving
him well. The nun secured it to the bed
and let herself out into the dark night.
The skin was sadly torn from the insides
of her delicate hands by the harsh rope
as she slid to the end of the rope But
she was still fifteen feet from the ground
as the rope was too Short
Father Barbics told her to drop and
caught her in his arms. Then the lovers
made their way out of Hungary and fed
to America. Owing to the secret eIopa-
ment, no word has been received from
the lovers. but they are expected to ar
rive in Chicago within a few days
andre -JankOVica says that there are
some 7000 Croatians in Chicago Mr.
Jankovica is scholar of the language
ana IS preparing a Creation English die
tIonary of 5000 words, which will be the
first work of its kind ever published. The
Austrian consul has been informed of the
elopement and project of Father Barbics
and Sister Vilanda, but will not interfere
with their plans.