The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-10-29

filled with romantic interest.
The elder Dumas could hardly have
penned a more absorbing story than
that which brings together the former
sailor and diver and now millionaire
and the woman who has earned the
greatest 1aurels Of the operate stage.
Captain de Ia Mar is hurrying to COM
pletion the great mansion, at the cor
ner of Madison avenue and Thirty
seventh street, which was begun as
gift to the former Mrs. de la Mar.
whose beauty was such as to win the
tribute of Paris as we'll as New York
II Is to this metropolitan palace that
captain de la Mar is expected to escort
MS bride. Until recently, he had not
been in the house for years.
Divorced a Former Wife.
Captain de Ia Mar was divorced from
his former wife several years ago and
she IS now married to James r. Hat
maker, who was for a long time the
secretary of Cornelius Vanderbilt and
from whom he received a large gift of
money several years ago.
A strong friendship has existed be
tween Captain de Ia Mar and Nine.
Nordica for several years, but, accord
ing TO the report it was not until yes
terday that it was learned that ar
rangements had been completed for
their marriage within a short time. The
frst in1mation Of the engagement was
received last week when Nine NOrdica
resigned the part of Sulamith the re-
yeeted bride inGoldmarks Queen of
Snelmi which viii open the season Of
grand opera in this city on Novem Der
goth. 1t now appears that her reason
Tor This action was the near approach
Of her wedding to Captain de la Mar
Nine. NOrdica was divorced from
her second husband, Zoltan Doehme.
in January, 1904 She had met him
in 1884, when she was singing Elsa
IN "Lohengr1n," at Bayreuth. DOehme,
young Hungarian tenor. was also
singing at Bayreuth that year. and the
romance reached its climax when he
married Nine. NOrdica in Indianapolis.
May q, 1897. When Nine Nordica
finally resolved to procure a divorce
from Doehme. she alleged that he had
squandered 100000 of her money.
She Was Born in Maine.
Nine Nordica was born in Farm
ington, Ne. and was married to her
nrst husband, Frederick Cover. an
American. in 1888 She was then
Lillian Norton. This matrimonial
venture was an unhappy one, however,
and ia 1887 she began suit for di-
Eorce- This suit never reached a
legal conclusion, however. for Fred
eriek Covers disappearance at that
time introduced a remarkable com
plication into the affair
he assembled i'm balloon in Englar d
TO make trip across the channel and
was never seen again His disap-
pearance was one of the most nvs-
terious in the annals of aerostation
and to this day no one has ever dis
covered what strange end there was
TO the balloon voyage. In the course
q OF time he was declared legally dead
and Nine. Nordica was declared z
widow in the eyes of the law.
Captain De La Mars history is fan
more rugged in its romantic interest
He has been called. not inabtly. the
American Monte Cristo He begaT
life as q sailor immigrant to thf
country. Later he became a dive
and quit that hazardous profession
after having been confined under
wrecked ship for twelve hours H
then went west and was a butcher.
real estate agent and later a miner