The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-27
Cuba and Canada United
at Unique Ceremony.
WEDDING IN D0ME'S LANTERN
Miss Catherine McConchie Becomes Sc
nora Andres Dias Pairo-Will Spend
Honeymoon in Spain and Return to Ha-
yana to Reside

In addition TO laughing at locksmiths,
true love yeste: day enjoyed few smiles
at the expense CT the stern guardians OF
the Capitol as the result of the matrimo-
NAL union CT Senior Dias Padro and Miss
Catherine McConchie on the balcony sur
rounding the lantern above the dome of
the CaUi.ol. Reciprocal relations be-
tween Canada and Cuba were established
by this ceremony, for Senior Dias is
Cuban and his bride halls from Canada.
Tie story of their venture was told
in The Times yesterday, but not quite
all of it, for it appears that they
had no intention OF being welded yester-
day. On the contrary. the groom insisted
that he wanted to utilize the dome ma
mana" which is Spanish for tomorrow
but which one CT the officials approached
took to mean Immediately
Through the intervention of friends all
obstacles were swept aside and the couple
were given the necessary permission to
have the ceremony performed at noon.
provided they brought but one witness.
To prevent crowd from gathering in the
dome, off, ers of the Capitol police were
stationed at the different entrances to
the dCme stairway and instructed to deny
all but the wedding party admittance. II
was long past noon, however, when Jus
tice Of the Peace Bundy, with his white
whiskers giving him a truly fathcrly ap-
pearance, made his way up the 3s7 steps
leading to the eye of the dome Here he
found two newspaper men and an artist
in waiting. The latter had succeeded in
ar1f nv l,,,s-
and confined in the guard room for an
hour for trying to reach the dome without
permission.
After half an hours wait the bridal cou-
pie Joined the party and all proceeded
up another hundred steps to the lantern,
considerably over 400 feet above the pave
ment
Those in the Party.
In addition TO those mentioned the par
ty included lieutenant Of police, several
privates, representative from the office
of the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate
and a colored employe from the office of
the superintendent of the Capitol.
The groom was dressed in sack suit of
dark blue cloth and the bride in a travel
ing dress of soft gray, with a brown hat
The remainder of the party were in I'M
conventional attire. II was with some eff
fort that they managed 10 restrain their
embarrassment, which was natural I'M
der the circumstances, and the kindly
Justice who was 10 perform the ceremony
assisted them in regaining their COM
posure by pointing out various public
buildings easily seen from the balcony
After few minutes the justice an
nounced that he was ready to begin, and,
at the suggestion of the lieutenant of po-
lice, the party moved around the bal
cony until the bridal couple faced the
White House. One of the reporters ranged
himself alongside the groom as best
man." and the other took a position in
rear of the bride and tried to look like
maid of honor" The lieutenant as
sumed a patcrnal air, and the privates
became properly respectful. Judge Bundy
made his ministerial toilette by remov-
ing his hat.
The Ceremony Performed
The groom was clinging to the rail
with both hands. gazing up the Avenue in
an distracted sort of way. when the JUS
tice began, Join your right hands" Dias
paid no attention to the remark. but Miss
McConchie snatched his hand from the
balcony rail, grasped it firmly in her own,
with its brown kid glove and the cere-
mony began. II consisted merely in the
aUHOuHCtlueul bN AHt justice lUdI the
proper legal forms had been complied
with and the answers to the usual ques-
tons. Il pronounce you man and wife"
he concluded, ard congratulated the oou-
pie heartily. Ills example was followed
by all present.
Mr. Dias had provided himself with a
camera and after the ceremony he took
pictures of Justice Bundy and Mrs. Dias,
separately and together. One of the re
porters then photographed Mr. and Mrs.
Dias and Justice Bundy in a group.
The artist who had undergone so much
to secure the pictures was prevented from
ascending TO the lantern and consequently
took no pictures.
Left for New York.
The bridal couple left for New York
yesterday afternoon and will sail for
Spain on wedding trip. They will re-
side in Havana. where the groom has
large business interests.
The wedding Is the elimination of quite
a little romance. The groom has for
some time been one of the Cuban colony
in New York City where he awaited the
pacifcation of his native island. Mean
while he supported himself by his pen
and pencil. Some time ago he met Miss
McConchie, who was On visit from
Canada and the two fell in love. AS the
time drew near for the installation OF
the Cuban Government and the return
OF Mr.. Dias TO Cuba they decided to get
married and chose the dome OF the Capt.
tol as the place for the ceremony.
Mrs. Dias laughingiy suggested that her
husband was securing material for a
novel and selected their wedding place
with that end in view. Mrs Das bears
a strong resemblance to Lord Macdonald,
and is said 10 be his niece.
This is the first marriage to take place
in the dome since one just prior TO the
Inauguration of Garfield, over twenty
years ago. The marriage certificate bears
the statement in Justice Bundys hand
writing, Married in the dome of the
Capitol. at Washington, U. S. A. March
26 1902"