The San Francisco call., 1910-06-05
Belle Jenkin and HI. H. Houston
Travel as Husband and Wife
to Canal Zone
CHAMPAGNE BUBBLES
AT MEALS ON LINER
AbscOnder and Lover Thought
to Be on Way Back to
United States
CARL LUTZ TRAVELS
AS COUPLES SERVANT

a ssrlas wine At sssry Ds.,'"ssl' meal s"a @',
spending money with prodigaI
generosity, Miss Belle Jenkin, the abb
sconding confidential accountant Of
Harry l. Holcomb. the Oakland realty
dealer, who dropped from sight April
8. leaving $4,000 shortage in her ac-
counts, as told exclusively in The Cali
her paramour, Harry HI. Houston, and
Carl Lutz, left San Francisco April 9
on the Pacific Mail steamship COM
pany's ship City of Sydney for Panama.
and for 26 days and nights regaled
themselves in all the luxuries of life
afforded on the big liner.
With the return Friday of the
steamer to port comes the story of the
trio's flight from the long arm of the
law, their lavish hospitality to fellow
passengers and their subsequent in
land journey to parts unknown. Ac-
cording to the tales brought back by
the ships officers Houston even re-
sented the fact that any other passen-
ger should attempt to. buy as much
wine as he did during the sea trip. and
to show his ability to foot the bills.
ordered sec and brut .in buckets at
every meal. With his transportation
bill $3.50. Houston ordered as high as
$50 worth of champagne in one day.
The party had the best available state
rooms, insisted on the most exacting
service and fraternized with fellow
travellers as globe trotting million
aires.
Silent as to Future
No attempt was made on the part
Of the three to conceal their names
from the officers or company. They
made the trip as Mr.. and Mrs. Houston.
and young Lutz accompanied them as
a servant While they made them
selves congenial to everybody on board.
they at no time disclosed their destina-
ton. though Quartermaster William
Field, who was the recipient of their
hospitality, is of the opinion that they
meant to cross Panama and go out on
the gulf side back to the United States
by way of New York.
AS an illustration of the indiSna-
ton Houston felt at any attempt to
outbuy him, Fields reports the case OF
two Salvadorans who were buying
champagne and burgundy with their
meals. Noticing this, Houston swore
nobody could show more class than
he, and Immediately ordered bottle
after bottle, running up his $50 bill.
To make sure there would be no mis-
take about his intentions. he then. left
an order for iced bottles at every meal.
When the boat touched at Point
Arenas. Costa Rica, officers took the
SaIvadorans into custody on a charge
of embezzling from their government.
Travel Inland
To those to whom he talked, Hous-
ton declared he was out to make a
world trip. He displayed considerable
money and was liberal in his tips at
his stateroom and when eating. Both
he and Miss Jenkin had extensive
wardrobes and took aboard two trunks
each. Young Lutz was at no time
treated as a servant. He enjoyed first
cabin accommodations and ate with the
couple at all times. Houston talked
of the orient and travels in the south
seas. When they left the ship at
Panama they gave no inkling as to
where they we're going, but did make
arrangements for inland travel from
that point.
Houston was a fast spender," said
Quartermaster Field. ~He ordered
wine like water and insisted on the
best OF everything. He had plenty of
money and did not hesitate to spend
it. In fact one offended him if an
attempt was made to meet him half
way in the matter of buying anything
to drink He wanted nothing but
champagne and felt obliged to buy all
the ship carried