MILLIONAIRE'S CRUISE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19826, 31 December 1938, Page 16

MILLIONAIRE'S CRUISE

MUMMIFIED BRIDE "i END„OF "LOVE YACHT" Being dismantled by the shopbreakers in the tiny harbour of Le Ciotat, on the French Mediterranean coast, lies the yacht Melisande 111, known as the "Yacht of Love." The yacht belonged to M. Pierre Flanchard, French millionaire eccentric who died last year after sailing for live years with the mummiried body of his beautiful wife locked in the main cabin, looking for the "Isle of the Blessed." Sought 'Blessed Isle' M. Flanchard startled French Society when he married a chorus-girl known as "Melisande." . The honeymoon was to have been spent on the yacht, but. before the couple could sail away Melisande was killed in an accident.

M Flanchard had her body embalmed, dressed it in a wedding-gown, and put it in a glass case in the main cabin of the yacht.

Then he headed the yacht for the Indian Ocean, saying he was looking for the "Isle of the Blessed."

But when he landed one day at a lovely island the women of a native tribe which inhabited it fell in love with hig luxurious beard. Six Wives Before he could collect his wits he found himself given a native hut and six "wives"! He was kept three years on the island before he could escape.

The jealous wives, finding a white woman on board the yacht, smashed the glass cape, and threw the embalmed body of Melisande into the seas. '

Finally M. Flanchard managed to sneak away and sailed off in the yacht, from which all the navigating instruments had been stolen.

When he eventually dropped anchor in French waters the strain of his five years' voyage had nearly killed him. He never properly recovered from the ordeal and died last year at the age of 58.