The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-08-17
ISLAND HOME IS
LEFT BY OWNER
Former Residence of Judge and
Mrs. q. U. Wenner Is
Deserted.
C0ZY LITTLE COTTAGE
ABANDONED on ISLE
Left With All Its Costly Ap-
pOintments and Memen-
toes of Past.

NicJ uilCu Win SNSA IuAuk tusLt IiiS Va
binary human heart nlipht desire; will
doors unlocked, tables set, as if mea
were about to be prepared; trunks fllec
with costly wearing apparel that ha:
not seen the light OF day for years, 9
library replete with books upon which
has accumulated the dust of more thar
decade; costly rugs and Navajo blan
kets lying in a heap, and, in fact, q
magnifcently appointed home, miles
away from any human habitation. Pic
ture all this to yourself, or dream about
it, and then 90 to the northern portion
of Fremont island, in the Great Salt
lake, and the picture, In reality, will
confront you and your dream will come
true.
It is here that the cottage, formerly
occupied by Judge Wenner and wife,
stands, virtually in the same condition
as it was when Mrs. Wcnner, about
fifteen years ago. consigned the body
of her husband to the tomb took last
look at the spot upon which her help
mate had unsuccessYully fought has
battle against the ravages Of consump-
tion, and again sought the haunts of
civilization.
The story as to why Mrs. Wenner left
her island home as she did has never
been written and it probably never
will be, but the fact remains that she
did leave it, with all its costly APP
pointments and mementoes Of the past,
and, so far as known, has never visited
the place since.
Party Visits the Island.
The most recent visit to the place
was made Tuesday evening by party
OF people from Salt Lake, who were
taking cruise Of the lake The party,
comprising thirteen people, aside from
the captain of the vessel, Cambria No,
9, left Saltalr pavilion at noon, and,
after sailing around Antelope island
to the north and touching at two small
islands to the westward, the northern
end of Fremont island was reached,
just before sundown. Thomas Doles, a
member of the party, who visited the
Wenner homestead A year ago, sug-
gested that the place be again visited
abandoned residence. Here they found
conditions virtually the same as they
were year ago, except, Mr.. Doles says,
that he missed q number of articles
from the house which he saw there
upon the occasion of his former visit.
Just Like Woman.
In the attic was found seven trunks,
all unlocked, and three of the young
women Of the party could not resist the
temptation to take a look at the rich
clothing, toilet articles and what-not
that the receptacles contained.
In the trunks were found the most
expensive clothing that money can buy
silks, satins, laces, ribbons, lingerie,
manicure articles, gloves, handkerchiefs,
and, most interesting of all, the we'd
ding trousseau of Mrs. Wenner, at the
time of her first marriage.
In another trunk was found the cloth
ing of Judge Wenner, among which was
an expensive broadcloth suit, presum-
ably the one that he was married in.
A visit also was made to the base
and Navajo blankets were found. 1t
is said, however, that several of these
articles have disappeared within the
past year.
About 200 yards from the cottage is
the grave of Judge Wenner. with
neat headstone above it, which, it is
understood, is soon to be replaced by
a monument.
Also upon the island are several hun
dred head Of sheep, the property of the
estate. They are fat and sleek, and
would bring goodly sum in the mar
ket, but Mrs, Wenper, when offered
high price for them several years ago,
replied that as long as they could find
enough to eat upon the island she
would not sell them. Many of the
sheep, it is understood, however, have
d1ed during tne past year.
Mrs. Wenner, or, rather, Mrs. J. G.
Fitzpatrick, for that is her name now,
she having married J. G. Fitzpatrick
within the past few years, is now a
resident of Los Angeles.
Judge Wenner a Consumptive.
Judge Wenner, who was a cousump-
tive, came to Utah score or more of
years ago. He was appointed Probate
Judge by the President Of the United
States, but the Mormon incumbent of
the Office declined to give possession,
and suit was instituted in the Terri
torial court, which resulted in the oust-
ing Of the Mormon official and the seat
ing of Judge Wenner. Later, Judge
Wenner removed to Fremont island,
where, after valiant struggle against
the disease which had been his Meme
sis for years, he succumbed
1t is said that the Wenner home was
stripped of number Of valuables dur
ing the construction of the Lucin cut.
of. Laborers, it is alleged, learned
that the house contained much property
of value and raided it, with satisf ac tory
results until foreman of the work was
advised as to what was going on and
compelled several of the men to return
the property taken
Unlucky Thirteen.
ne thirteen members OF the party
who went upon the cruise report n
most enjoyable time, barring an acci-
dent to one of their members when near
home. When the party left Saltair,
friends suggested that, in view Of the
fact that the party proper numbered
thirteen, presumably an unlucky num-
Der, it should look out for mishaps. This
suggestion was laughed at by the non
supersititious members of the party and
all went well until the little craft car
rying the pleasure-seekers was within
q half-hour's ride Of the pavilion at
Saltair. 1t was then that the clothing
Of Mrs. Ella Ferringer was caught in
the machinery and she was thrown to
the deck with such force that she broke
three ribs. The unfortunate woman
was conveyed to the pavilion as quickly
as possible, where physician dressed
her injuries, and later she was conveyed
TO her home at 214 West Second South