MARRIED IN HASTE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 13976, 8 May 1913, Page 8

MARRIED IN HASTE.

A NEWSPAPER MATCH

ROMANCE ENDS IN TRAGEDY

.SYDNEY, April 30

'•Wanted to marry Protestant, colonial girl. brunette, by young mail (27), of good family, first-class references, reluming to United States April 5. Please Mate age and answer in time for boat, enclosing photo and address, P.M.D., 0.P.0.”

Tiris advertisement, which appeared' in several Sydney newspapers on April 1, i-ont.iins the gerni of a romance which has iust ended ia tragedy, and has leo to the leisurely repentance of the Svduoy girl who thus rushed into matrimony.

The initials “P.M.D.” were those r. Percy M. Drew, an American citizen i rout Connecticut, who was only a fen days ia Sydney when lie succeeded in finding a girl willing to have him as'a husband, and to marry him on the spot. Drew was of the true American type. Tall, lean, .smartly-dressed, and a persuasive way of guessing and calculating that would turn almost any girl’s head. Win"’ he spoke about his ranches in Connecticut be just made a woman’s head spin round. He was (the--Sydney Sun says) a man with a personality and a hustle, and apparently,.he had money to burn.

Dies only arrived in Sydney from New Zealand on Easter Monday, March 21. by tin* Ulimaroa, having booked his pa-sag' m Wellington for San Francisco, by the steamer Ventura, which sailed Irma ibis port on April 5.-, He had 12 days at his disposal in the height of the holiday season. For semen days he was quite satisfied with all the good things Sydney could provide in the way of

amusement, and when a man with a hustle on reaches ■ this city j at Eastertime he can got all the jollification of a life-time. On the eighth day' lie appears to lime been suddenly imbued with a desire to marry ; and preferred to advertise for a wile in preference to making a long journey through life in search of an affinity. His desire was widely advertised. and the number of applicants willing to throw in their lot with Mr Percy M. Drew, of Connecticut, filled a fail-sized mail bag. He chose one and rushed od-itedly into the shipping office, and, t crowing some gold on the counter exclaimed, ‘T waui, to book a passage for my vife!’’ The booking clerk immediately wrote out the ticket. That is all iii y know of Air and Airs Drew. .'it the v. hart before the sailing day of llic , I:tura. D’.ew hustled down and inquired "Say. does this ship carry a ciiaptaia among its officers.” "Ce not. ' was the reply.

:i you dire; : me to the nearest i'i'ot " Kurt parson ? I'm a passenger by tin'- U ip, and 1 want to marry my wife ami bring her r.:th me.” He was told bv a cm tin.- wharf to go to the Pi ■-!■_!;■ ’ar-Generai’s Office, and he did so. I ’".i- I'ippy eonole were all smiles when I i ■ - ■ -e! cast cif.

repp-. sequel ill the' form of a 'Mai ri' . u fan f rail! isco, publish'd . it nms:—‘*Mr JVrcy . *i •‘ii-ved to !)•■ a wealthy resident Hi ii: i Igepnr... Connecticut, poisoned aiiii.-. ■: uiiil" !i iny; taken off the mail

i; e yc-.'.c-d.ay. in charge of the f ! d old-:"-There was some trouble about h-.mliay, and r Drew’s wife, former'! .Vmv> .‘.Santaret Fortescue. to wli'ir, hj" v.vs married in Australia, was ivl l island, the immigration depot. I. ■ the authorities. Tlic question (.! In ; right to (‘liter the United States hj to he the reason. Drew was married i;- Sydney as a result of a uewsp.i per ad vert isem en t. ”