New-York tribune., 1920-08-26
Warship Takes
Fiance to Greet
Actress at Sea
Navy Suitor, Commanding
Destroyer, Keeps Abeam
of Olympic All Night
Until Liner Reaches Port
Love Laughs at Port Rule
Miss BANTER Denies Engage
ment to Lieut.. Venable,
but He Says It's True

The White Star liner Olympic, which
has furnished the background for more
than one motion picture comedy, served
as the setting for a romance staged
yesterday off Quarantine by young
naval officer and we'll known actress
The ensemble included the liners 625
saloon passengers, an American am
hassador, United States Senator and
one health officer, an ohliging deputy
collector Of customs and bevy of re
porters.
The story which ended 80 happily
off Quarantine for the lovers from
stage and navy dates back to dinner
time on Tuesday, when the vessel was
steaming westward about 125 miles
east of Sandy Hook.
1t was delightful balmy evening
smooth sea, colorful sunset Captain
Hayes was on the bridge and hun
dreds of passengers were on deck
waiting the call for dinner. Presently
out Of slight haze to the eastward
came the swift destroyer Ingram of
the United States navy. She flew no
signals, and for that reason made no
Olympic's bridge.
Warship Runs Close to Liner
Guess he'd use his wireless if he
wanted anything" remarked the skip
per casually, and the Olympic kept on
her course at twenty-five knots. A
little while and that drab war vessel
was abeam, so close indeed that her
presence aroused the interest of John
A o,-,< A hos I ~
to the Court of st. James's, who was
chatting at the rail with Senator Wal
ter Z. Edge, of New Jersey.
u see said the Senator to the
ambassador" that you are receiving
an official visitor on the nigh seas"
81 hardly think so,' replied Mr..
Davis. THE compliment is not for me.
Undoubtedly it is for you, sir
"Not so, Mr.. Ambassador. The navy
pays no such honor to the Senate" re-
piled Mr.. Edge.
The statesmen then went below to
dinner with the other passengers.
Night fell and the destroyer was for
gotten. At daybreak, however, she was
still abeam.
The liner slipped into quarantine
after breakfast and the destroyer
dropped anchor near her Then she
lowered q pnnace which bore her com
mander. Lieutenant Commander r. S.
II. Venable, swiftly to the liner.
Wearing regulation cape which
shed the soft morning rain from his
broad shoulders, the naval officer went
aboard the cutter of the Health Officer
and asked permission TO board the
Olympic.
He was informed that the vessel was
still in quarantine and that after
pratique had been given she was then
under the sole jurisdiction Of the Col
commander of the Ingram went aboard
the coast guard cutter Hudson, lying
alongside the liner, and sought to
board the vessel.
No, he said, he was neither there
on official business, nor had he a
boarding pass from the collector. He
had just come in from Neport and
wanted to greet his fancee.
Sailor Sutor Boards Liner
John Parker. the boarding officer
was sorry, but under no circumstances
had he the power to pass the COM
mander aboard.
Commander Venable then asked Par
ker if there was one aboard higher in
authority and he was escorted to the
deputy collector.
His last obstacle was removed
Without permit or order for official
business, the navy man got aboard and
went at once in search of Miss Fay
BANTER, the actress.
Turning TO the coxswain in his pin
mace, the commander shouted: "Tcl]
Mr.. Manning to take her to the North
River anshorage."
CAY, ay, sir" replied the coxswain
and away went the pinnace.
Rumor soon spread about the Olym-
pic that the theatrical star was en-
gagged to the man with. the navy cape
for he had informed the boarding Of
fcer that he was there to meet Miss
Banter. his fiancee.
AS the vessel approached her picl
Miss Banter sent for a reporter anC
denied that she was engaged to the
commander.
The Ingram had taken twelve Of
ficers and 100 men Of the Naval Re.
serve north from Florida and folks
we're curious to know what she was
doing 1875 miles east of the lightshir
on Tuesday
But this question was apparently
settled last night by telephone cali
to The Tribune. The speaker said he
was Lieutenant Commander r. s. II
Venable and that he wanted to correct
an erroneous impression.
II am engaged to Miss BANTER
said the voice. "She is my fancee
She is here now and will confirm it
over the phone.
II did bring up some reserves for q
cruise from Florida, but I first took
them to Newport. I was coming in
from Newport when I picked up the
Olympic. We were both on the same
course. Nothing wrong about a fellow
not. Well. just called up to correct
wrong impression. Good by"
Daniels Voices Sympathy
For Cnx,,x,