Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-11-23
A ROMANCE
In Which Love Over
cometh All Barriers.
Girl Rescues Imprisoned Soldier
from His Dungeon Cell
And They Join Hands Before Justice
Of the Peace.

Portland, Me, Nov. pa love ro-
nance which for daring and startling
features is rarely equalled. WAS carried
10 a successful termination i'll this city
last week. If the story is a true one
and nothing has been learned by the
Express to prove it false the up to date
popular novel is put very much in the
shade by this tale of love and adNen-
ture beginning on Great Diamond Is
land with the action being carried 10
this city and ending again on the is
land.
The principals in the affair are said
to be Sergeant Merit J. Witty. who
created 50 much excitement on Port
land Pier. several weeks ago. by going
suddenly Insane ana acting in n very
threatening rL.Nlcr ana Miss Marie
Gardiner. VINO, il WIS announced at the
time of his going insane, he Was IL
marry.
The story now told about the two is
as follows:
one night last week. Miss Gardiner
by Il piece Of str:4te"N. slccecard IN
"''-''''S 'I''il a y iiitON l.! tlIC' no.
rIt;tl at Fort Mckinley. where Witty
fiits been since The affair on Portland
tier After he had craW.r.i l.ii Trough
me window he and Miss C,f.tlt -. ..:,.-
:l"d TO a small row boat winch she. had
ready to receive him ANA somewhere.
about 10 O'Clock rs near as can be
learned, the two started ON their long
i"W To the city to get married. Half L.
&'l' was blowing at til. time ana il IL
''"i tlitt ii is a WUnder that both were
= drowned and as it was they had
"H th'-y Wanted To do to Keep the boat
uiluat.
en- arrivin" in thi" riir the two
"rnt iln.!e':i. tt.ly t" :. Jr-tic,. of the
ptrlr" and III" marriage ceremony WA;
performer. Before Scr@t. Witty had
his attack of temporary insanity OH
ior'land bier he had made full an
l~ns'meuts for the marriage. last
K. even to the engaging of Il jus
. .',' If the peace.
.As near as can be learned if was
N';riy O'Clock in the morning befor-.
| Tia party WAS ready to start back ami
t'l'i tn" "trip WAS again made in tn.
little boat to the island and like th..
row w it WAS an extremely rough ana
dangerous journey ana their lives
We're in danger csvcral times.
The island W.is reached 1T length
ana Strgt. Witty went back to The
hospital and was just climbing in
through the window through which he
had made his escape when he was dis
covered by the guard. He was imlua-
didteiy placed under arrest and con-
Quoted TO the guard house. He is now
spending his DAYS in the hospital, bu
each night he is placed III the guard
house and what the consequences OF
his escape Will he are not certain.
50 far Us getting married is con
c"rnet he had a perfect right to do
tnat, but permission WAS necessary
from the commanding officer Of the
post. Tie whole plan fell down in his,
being discovered when he was re-en-
torinS the hospital for if he had sue
crrdrd III getting in without being dis
cover, q no ono would have been :hr
wiser about his getting out and of his
getting n.arried.
The officers at Fort Mckinley rcfus,
10 say anything about the matter and
in fact the affair is known to only Il
very few. Miss Gardiner is Il Boston
girl employed in the house Of Lieut.
col. C@lin. the commander of Fort
Mckinley. and Srrgt. Witty is from
EirhmOnd Va.