The San Francisco call., 1908-04-10
CUPID IS AIDED
BY AUTO IN AN
EXCITING RACE
Young Lovers Speed to San Ra-
= faeI and Wed Before
Pursuers Arrive
Whirlwind COurtship of Minerva
Jeffries and John A. Adams
Ends in Elopement
Mothers and an Indignant Aunt
Strive in Vain to Pre-
vent Marriage

San Rafael, tried trysting place and
goal of young lovers when parental
objections and other obstacles bar
the paths of true affection, became
the scene of the elimination of an
other romance yesterday, its third In
two weeks, when Miss Minerva JEFF
fries, 10 years old, of San Francisco.
became the bride of John Albert
Adams of Antioch after they had won
out by a few minutes IN an exciting
race in automobiles for. which a mar
rage license was the stake. Two
angry mothers and an aunt Of the girl,
following the eloping couple in fast
touring cars, were involved in the at
tempt to head OF Cupid. which ended
in failure. They arrived at the desti-
nation just as Justice OF the Peace W.
S Magee had finished the pretty we'd
ding ceremony.
Miss Jeffries was the daughter Of
Mrs J. ". Jenries of North Beach,
years of age. is president of the Amer
lean construction and dredging COM
pany, with Offices in Sacramento. as
well as owner of several steamboats,
plying on the San joaquin river. He
is well known as promising young
businessman, while his bride Is prom
inent IN San Francisco and Sausalito
society circles.
WHIRLWISD CoURTSHIP
The eIopenlent was the climax OF a
whirlwind courtship Of 10 days. which
began when Adams was introduced to
Miss Jeffries AT a dance which she at
tended in Sacramento not quite two
weeks ago. At that time he is said
by his friends to have been engaged TO
Miss Constance AtBell OF Sacramento,
whose father, wealthy mining man,
has extensive interests near Reno. New.
Almost before he had left her side
! that night Adams had ardently pleaded
his hearts cause and Miss Jeffries had
accepted him. Miss Jeffries returned TO
the home of her aunt, Mrs. j. Blum, in
sausaIito, where she had often visited.
The mother, Mrs. L. c. Adams. so
friends say, had set her heart on hav-
ing her son marry Miss Atwell. and her
astonishment at finding the engage
ment broken was changed to deep
anger at learning that Miss Jeffries
had displaced the former fiancee in
her sons affections. Mrs. Adams said
that she would never permit the we'd
ding.
Pretty Irene Lawrence is the daugh-
ter OF Mrs. Blum of Sausalito and q
cousin OF Miss Jenries. When her
| announced her intention of helping her
This is how 1t happened that there
suddenly came an influx of letters,
post cards, and more letters, addressed
to Miss Lawrence. that set Mrs Blum
to wondering. Two days ago she read
one Of the postsls and learned that it
was all nicely arranged for Adams and
Miss Jeffries TO go quietly TO San
Francisco on Thursday and get
married Mrs. Blum lost no time
in letting Mrs. Jerries. the girls
mother. know about it, and be-
a counter conspiracy to foil the plot
! ters. The clerk at the marriage license
bureau was instructed not TO give a
license TO the young people on the
! ground that Miss Jeffries was under Is
Yesterday morning. true to his ap-
pointment, Adams appeared at Sausa-
Ito and on pretext of talking a walk
| he and Miss JeGries took the boat for
| Pef
thought OF San Rafael Adams rushed
4 to a telephone and called up George
Fuller of Sausalito. who owns an auto
mobile. Fuller was told to be at the
dock with his touring car when the
/ o'clock boat came in.
PURsUEBs ARE TOO LATE
1 When she found that her son had
gone to San Francisco Mrs. Adams
guessed his motive and hurried after
him on the next train She reached the
ferry building at the same moment as
did Mrs. Jeffries. mother OF the eloping
girl. The two hadn't met before. but a
} common purpose drew them together.
: They. too, telephoned for an auto
mobile; they had guessed San Rafael.
True TO his word Fuller had been
waiting, and with him was Miss Law
J renee. In scurry the wedding party
started. 1t is said the trip down the
, road stands as a record. Once in San
Rafael, with Fuller and Miss Lawrence
as witnesses. il took no time TO secure
a license and Justice Magee married
them in twinkling. Just as the cere-
mony was finished up came two auto
mobiles at terrific pace. One con-
tanned the two mothers. and in the
other was Mrs. Blum. the aunt, come
TO get her daughter as well as her
niece. The mothers demanded that the
ceremony be annulled. But it was too
, late Adams and his bride jumped in
their own machine and once more
started for San Francisco.
Il is stated that the youngs couple
viii make their future home at Sacra-