Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1902-04-03
PRIEST AND NUN ELOPE.
Romance That Will Found New Re
iiqious Faith.

Chicago. arch 2S.-Croatians i'll
Chicago are anXiously awaiting the
arrival of Father Barbics and Sister
Vilanda, who deserted the Catholic
convent in Agram, Hungary, and
elOped to America to found a new re-
ligious sect. They ale supposed to be
on their way to this city. The elOpe-
ment of the priest and nun was ro-
mantle in the extreme and caused
much comment in Croatia.
andre G. JankOvica. 2127 Archer
avenue. who is the leading Croatian
in Chicago. has received official no
tice from Hungary saying that the
clippers and deserters 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
Catholic church, which is a broad type
OF the Roman Catholic faith. After a
short service in this church he was
induced to become a Roman Catholic
priest and given charge OF
convent and church in Agram, the
capital city of CrOtia
For several years he was in charge
of the Agram convent and gained the
complete confidence of the commun-
ity. He was trusted implicitly with
the care and custody of all the church
properties connected with the con-
vent and made the acquaintance of
Sister Wanda, pretty nun of good
family, who had been driven to Sc
clude herself in the clOister. it was
said, on account Of failure in an early
love affair with noble young CrOtian.
The sequestration of the convent
did not agree with the young woman,
who was naturally vivaciOus. Father
Barbics seemed to her to be a model
OF manly strength and beauty Her
affection became SO great that one
day when she was alone with the
father she fell on her knees at his feet
and declared that she would kill her
self if he did not take her from the
convent and marry her, according to
the advices sent by Mr.. Janlzovica.
Father Barbics was of a romantic ma
ture and agreed. They planned an
elOpement In order to bring them
selves TO such a decision they evolved
a new religious faith.
Then they set about preparing for
the elOpement. Father Barbics began
by quietly selling off all the 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 $780,
600, it is said.
The next task was to get the nun
from her cloister without exciting the
suspicious of the other priests and
nuns This was accomplished in a
thrilling manner. The escape is still
being talked about all over Austria
Hungary.
One dark night, when all were
asleep within the cloister. Father Bar
bics crept to the side Of the convent
building. Sister Vilanda had a room
on the top floor, seventy-five feet from
the ground. The priest was disguised
SIS peddler and carried in his pack
dress Of peasant woman and a coil
of rope
The nun was awaiting her lover and
when she saw him approach she
opened her window The priest
tossed the rope to the window,
his strong arm serving him
well. he nun secured it to
the bed and let herself out into the
dark night. The skin was sadly torn
from her delicate hands by the harsh
rope in the slide to the ground. 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 Hun
gary and fed to America. Owing to
the secret elopement, no word has
been received from the lovers. but
they are expected to arrive in Chi
cago within few days
The Austrian consul has been in
formed of the elopement and project
o. Father Barbic and Sister Wanda, |
but will not interfere with their plans. !