A Bridal Tragedy.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7938, 20 October 1904, Page 3

A Bridal Tragedy.

Sequel to a Search for a Wife.

Bridegroom's Death.

Mr Edgar Wallace's search for a wife for a British Columbian colonist has had a tragic sequel.

It will be remembered . that some months ago, when Mr Wallace was en-, gaged on a series of articles on "The Homeless Poor of London," in the Daily Mail, a description of the life of poor, destitute girls inspired Mr Cochrane, a young Colonial farmer, to apply to Mr Wallace for his offices in choosing a wife from among these homeless ones. Having secured satisfactory reference from the young man, with a certificate as to his good character from the Rev. Mr Duncan, of Salmon Arm,. British Columbia, Mr Wallace set about choosing the girl. The letters of the colonist were published and his needs made. known through the columns of the Daily Mail, and the result was that over six hundred girls expressed their willingness to go out. _ . * ' "It will.be a Bobinson Crusoe sort of life,'' wrote the young colonist, "amid the silence of the tall firs and the everlasting snows of the mountains." Yet, in spite of the lonely life promised, the applicants were numerous; not even the prospect of a log hut for a house and the isolation of their new home deterred them. • From among many applicants one was chosen. Three hundred might have been chosen just as well, so excellent were the qualifications of the girls. A cablegram waa sent to the Rev Mr Duncan asking him whether he would offer a home for the girl until she was married, and to this he immediately agreed., A telegram was sent to the girl telHng her that the choice had fallen upon her, and in response io Mr Edgar Wallace's request.she called upon him the same night and was given the money necessary to purchase a few articles for the journey. By arrangement with the Canadian Pacific-Railway the girl was to have left London to embark on the Lake Manitoba for Canada. Early on the morning fixed for the girl's departure, a cable arrived at the office— • .-■■• - . " Cochranp died suddenly—Duncan." In this laconic message from the kindly pastor of Balmbn Arm is the shatteiing of the poor girl's hopes. With her; scanty trousseau all ready for embarkation within a few days of her romontic wedding, the lover ebe has never seen, the husband »he has never met, died suddenly in all " the loneliness of the Rockies, amid the silence of the tall firs," as he himself described-it.