Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-19
SIGNALS UNITE
HAPPY COUPLE
CUPID WIGWAGS A MESSAGE
FROM HERM0SA
LIEUT.. sWARz, ABOARD GEORGIA,
ANSWERS WAITING BRIDE
Naval officer Circles Half the GLOBE
to Find Young Wife Waiting
Aboard Welcoming
Ship

Romance marked the advent of the
fleet.
BY aid Cf the wigwag signals brave
lieutenant who had been torn from the
arms of his bride by the stern orders TO
sail with the Georgia was restored to
her yesterday hours ahead Of the time
planned for reunion.
Lieutenant e. p. Swarz was the lucky
man who, reading the signals hasheu
from the Hermosa, dropped the Geogla s
launch kersplash into the Pacitc,
Jumped into her and after quick race
boarded the Hermosa, where his WIN
some young wife stood with out
stretched arms.
Mrs Swarz had come from Boston to
meet her young husband, leaving last
Friday, after a separation of over four
months, during which the husband had
navigated 10000 miles.
Few on The Hermosa knew there was
q bride aboard, and that the Long
Beach committee, consisting of Mrs.
Perry, Mrs. Hatch and Mrs. Miller, had
done a delicate act of hospitality when
they invited Mrs. Swarz to accompany
them on the welcoming cruise.
1t was understood that no one would
be allowed on any of the ships Satur-
Gdyg ana lIldl uO OllS WOdto OO oAAO"NN
ashore, but it was hoped that some ex-
ception could be made for a bride.
Mrs. Swarz had just come from the
far east, had taken quarters at the
Hotel Virginia and told the committee
that she was anxious to get word to
her husband that she was there, fear
ing he would believe her to be in San
Francisco, where they had originally
planned to meet.
Then the surprise was sprung when
Commanders Louis and Woodbine of
the naval reserves wigwagged mes
sage to the Georgia telling Lieutenant
Swarz that his wife was aboard the
Hermosa.
There was a delay in receiving the
first message, and it had to be repeated
to the rear warships, whose signal men
passed it back along the line to the
Georgia.
Finally when the leading warships
had anchored near San Pedro the
Georgia, also at anchor, sent back a
message from Lieutenant Swarz read
ing:
"Will send launch"
The Hermosa's commander under
stood 1t and slowed down his engines.
In less then ten minutes the lieu
tenant had left the engine room, where
he is chief, put on his civilian clothes
and with grip in hand was lowered
with the launch. A few minutes later
the trim craft was hopping over the
waves toward the Hermosa.
The romance meanwhile leaked out
and every soul abroad the Hermosa
was watching the development of the
little drama Of the heart.
Nearer and nearer launch and
steamer approached, rocking and churn-
ing in the waters. Lieut.. SWarz stood
at the side of his bride waved her
handkerchief as encoura cement.
1t took but a few minutes more for
the skillful seamen to get the boats
near enough so that the lieutenant
could leap aboard the Hermosa, and
the young couple embraced, while the
silent blessings of all who saw the
pretty scene descended on them. They
we're given an informal reception in the
cabin with hearty cheers to show that
everybody on the ship was interested.
Lieut. Swarz was graduated from
Annapolis eight years ago and has seen
service In the orient as well as on
the Atlantic.
The bride was formerly Miss Virginia |
Beech of a prominent Boston family. |
The coincidence of her stopping at the |
Virginia hotel at Long Beach was
promptly noted when the guests learned |
that she was once Virginia Beech"
Their wedding just before the de-
pdTluIe VI CHe meet was d. Hotdple IldNiI
event at League Island navy yard. 1t
was naval wedding, the bride and
bridegroom walking under a canopy of
crossed swords held aloft by marines.
The bride cut the wedding cake with
sword.
The officers of the Georgia presented
loving cup to the couple and other
gifts were showered on the devoted
pair. Their honeymoon was brief, how
ever, and their separation long.
Lieut.. and Mrs. Swarz will go north
as far as San Francisco and will then
part again for months.