Amador ledger., 1909-05-14
John A. Balch WedS Miss
Helen SkelIy After a
Unique CourtShip.

unique COurtShip.
To the trlumphs which it has been
scoring in such rapid succession dur
Ing recent months wireless telegraphy
added new conquest yesterday. BY
its means courtship was carried to a
successful issue, and IN the marriage
in this city of two persons of more
than ordinary prom inence the super
iority of lovemakingsvia wireless over
the slower and more conventional
medium of the mails was clearly
established.
The principals in this latest drama
of love and adventure are John A.
Balch. manager of the Wireless Tele-
graph Company at Honolulu, and
M iss Helen Skelly of Butte, Mont.
Both have history and are part of
history.
Balch is a son of Dan W. Balch,
who was connected with the famous
Consolidated Virginia mine and was
one OF the first assayers of note of
this city. Miss SkeIIy has been noted
as being not only prominent in
society in Butte, but also as being
one of the most accomplished
pIanists in Montana. Her ability
caused her to be in demand at social
functions and amateur theatricaIs
and her popularity was great.
Miss Shelly, also was once engaged
to former United States Senator
Mantle, and in that comes the in
terest IN the triumph of courtship by
wireless. For long period of years
the wooing of Miss Skelly by the
ex-senator went OH and, although no
formal announcement of their engage
ment is known to have been made,
that they were to be married was
common gossip among all who knew
them.
Al all the leading social functions
in the Montana city senator Mantle
and Miss Skelly appeared together,
and the latter was even sent by
Mantle to study music in an eastern
conservatory. Miss Skelly previous
ly had been protege of Marcus DAILY
the famous copper king Of Montana,
She received part of her education et !
Notre Dame University at San Jose.
While Miss Sicily was still engag
ed to Mautle, as everybody under
stood, and as Miss Skelly practically
admitted, she visited Honolulu. |
There she met Balch, who owned
large plantation, as we'll as managed
the wireless telegraph company.
From what followed it appears to
have been case of love at first sight, |
and from the time of the first intro
duction of the two at the home of
Major and Mrs William Purdy the
oourtship was patent to all observers.
1t was at this time by the way, that
Congressman Nicholas Longworth
and his bride, who was Miss Alice |
Roosevelt, were visiting Honolulu
auh hloS pholly WIS mrb AOuB- |
worth's constant companion.
When Miss Skelly returned to this
country Balch kept up running
courtship by wireless messages to
her, aud these, as results proved,
were mere convincing than the
letters that came from the former
Montana senator. M iss Skelly then
made second visit TO Honolulu,
and then the engagement with Balch
was made and tho one with Mantle
broken off.
On tuesday the steamship Alameda
arrived from Honolulu, and on board
was John A, Baloh. Miss Skelly was
here to meet him, and yesterday they
we're married in old st, Mary's
church. Father Wyman performed The
ceremony. W. b. ROundtree acted
as best man and Miss Grace Barton
Of Alameda was bridesmaid. Tie
louple will take nsshort HONEYMOON
lnd will then leave for Honolulu, -
5. IT, Chronicle.