A MARINER'S WOOING.
_Captain Hazard's Gushing Letters--Breakers on a Matrimonial Lee
Shore--He is Grounded in Divorce Shoals_.
Aforetime, when the mariner was entirely dependent on the winds and the
tides to make his voyage, he was, as everybody knows, a peculiarly
impulsive, generous, faithful and credulous mortal in his love affairs.
Once ashore, he spliced the main-brace, sneered oathfully at
land-lubbers, hitched up his trousers and ran alongside the first
trim-looking craft who angled for his attentions--and his money. These
fine salt-water impulses, begotten of a twelve or fifteen-months'
voyage, have mostly vanished. Steam has greatly revolutionized Jack's
sweet-hearting. He comes to port every fortnight, or so; he wears dry
goods and jewelry of the latest mode; and he marries a wife, or divorces
a wife, with the same conventional _sangfroid_ of any mercantile
"drummer" who travels by railroad. The conjugal history of that
distinguished son of Neptune, Captain Oliver Perry Hazard, now to be
related, haply has a delectable smack of mercantile jack's old-time
methods, mingled with the shrewder utilitarianism of the steamship Jack
of to-day.
Up in the estuary called the Y, and at the mouth of the river Amstel,
lay, some years ago, the good American ship which had safely borne young
Hazard across the Atlantic. He was a handsome, a tall, and a lively
young man of five and twenty; and, with a vivacious young mariner's
curiosity, he went ashore to sample the "Holland," for which the Dutch
are so famous, to stroll across the two hundred and ninety-odd bridges,
and to take an observation of the pretty girls that loomed up in sedate
but ample old Amsterdam. There, in a saloon where the gin was a most
divine Hippocrene, and the cigars fragrant, Oliver beheld a tight little
craft, and straightway ran up his flag as a salute. She was a brunette,
with as pretty a form as the sun had ever kissed. Her dark, dark eyes
were large, lustrous and superb. Oliver shares Lord Byron's weakness for
handsome eyes. He's very fond of them. The name of the Amsterdam
divinity was Marie. He resembled the same illustrious poet in his
predilection for the name of Mary or Marie. He thought there was a
sweetness in it. And so he sank into the quicksands of Eros, right over
his tarry toplights, and, nothing loth, Marie accompanied him in the
Avernian descent. Every morning that he lay in the Dutch port our
mariner squared his yard-arms and trimmed himself for bringing-to
alongside Marie. Every night the tics were getting tauter, and when he
proposed that she should cross with him to England there was no pitching
on her part worth speaking of. And so they voyaged to Albion and to
several ports in Gaul; and there was no lee-way in their love, but still
the tics were getting tauter, evidencing strong probabilities of a life
cruise together.
A year or two after, both Oliver and Marie were in New York, and,
according to the affidavit of Captain Hazard's mother, Marie called upon
the matron and told her "that she had been living with her son Oliver;
that she had first met him in Amsterdam, and had traveled with him as
his wife in England and in France, and that he had brought her to
America." Marie assured the old lady that she loved him dearly, that she
had been faithful and true to him ever since their intimacy, and hence
she was anxious that Oliver should marry her and make her an honest
woman in the eyes of the law and of the world. Whereupon, the mother
persuaded the son to marry the pretty, young, gazelle-eyed girl, who
could speak American and write like a born citizen.
Oliver's own account of this momentous event, as chronicled in his
affidavit, is not materially different. He affirms that he first met
Marie in a liquor store in Amsterdam, "which she was in the habit of
frequenting. At this time she was of loose character;" she "lived with
him and traveled to England and France, and he was going to send her
back to Holland, when his mother urged him to marry her, which he did
reluctantly."
In what way or to what extent, if any, the relations between the young
mariner and his wife were affected after Hymen had stepped in and
chained them together, there are data for determining. If we are to
unqualifiedly accept the averments of the captain's affidavit we should
come to the conclusion that Marie's nature and disposition were woefully
transformed when she could legally designate herself, "Mrs. Captain
Oliver P. Hazard." She then discovered "a jealous disposition" and "an
ungovernable temper." When he returned from his various voyages she "did
not receive him kindly;" but, contrariwise, sometimes received him on
the side of "a poker," on the end of "a dirk" or at the muzzle of
"pistol." Moreover--and this is dolefully comic--"she repeatedly left
this deponent imprisoned in the house for hours under lock and key!"
What a situation for a foaming mariner, accustomed to roam the vastness
of the majestic, the free, the uncontrollable deep! Probably the next
arraignment is still more exasperating. "She kept a servant to act as a
spy and treat this deponent with disrespect." With the lapse of years,
and with the peculiar hue which strife assumes in its backward
prospective, his once happy-home and connubial comforts wore a jaundiced
and sickly aspect. He ceased to recall the days when his heart was
linked unto Marie's as a rosebud is linked to its stem.
Mrs. Hazard possessed some letters, written to her by her whilom amorous
husband, which will enable the reader to form a pretty correct idea of
the estimation in which, until quite recently, the captain held his
pretty wife. For example, one Fourth of July, he writes from "On board
the U. S. Steamer John Rice," from Fortress Monroe to "My own dear and
precious wife," informing her that the ship has been landing troops,
that he feels rather seedy and low-spirited, and wishes he was at home
to spend "the glorious Fourth" in her company. In a postscript he blazes
into amorous enthusiasm and exclaims, "Write your dear Olly!" and in the
bottom left-hand corner, within a sort of fairy circle, about the size
of the orifice of a quart-bottle neck, appeared the gushing invitation,
("Kiss me.")
Nearly a year afterward he writes from Havana, "On board the steamer
Liberty, May 6, 1865," to "My own dear precious wife," informing her
that he is safe from New Orleans, with other personal matters not
necessary to rehearse. He subscribes himself, "Your affectionate and
loving Olly." Over ten years afterward we find the captain writing
another letter from on board the same steamer, October 13, 1875, lying
in Savannah, to "My darling beloved wife," in which he graphically tells
her the sort of dog Jocko is. "Jocko came on board all serene," writes
the captain, "He is asleep under my sofa all the time when he is not
hunting beef, and I keep my room very warm. So that is the kind of dog
Jocko is. If he was a half decent dog I would keep him on board, but he
is asleep all the day under my sofa, and hates to be on deck. So he is
good for nix, the worse cur I ever saw. I will leave him with a good
keeper, and glad to lose sight of him."
At this period Mrs. Captain Hazard was in the habit of sub-letting a
portion of her house; and in the tail-end of the letter from which we
have just quoted reference is made thereto. "Have you advertised in the
_Tribute_ yet? Try fifty cents' worth for two days, you may catch a
sucker. May God, in his infinite mercy, ever bless, protect and make you
well and successful, my darling wife, is the prayer of your ever-loving
and affectionate husband, Oliver P. Hazard." In the usual corner appears
the magic circle, with the imperative ("Kiss me.")
In the early portion of the year 1876, he had so persistently coaled up
the fires of his love boilers that he couldn't wait until the steamer
sailed, but plunges into glowing correspondence as soon as he reaches
"Pier 2." He is now the captain of the Ocean Steam Navigation Company's
vessel, San Jacinto, and on April 22 he writes, "My own darling good
wife," before sailing, advising her to take good care of herself. The
usual circular, hieroglyphic and osculatory invitation appears at the
lower left-hand corner.
Four brief days afterwards our Strephon has reached Savannah. Again he
writes, April 26, 1876, "On board the steamship San Jacinto." To "My
blessed good darling wife," informing her that he has "no aches, no
pains," and assures her that he is "growing stronger." Then he rushes
into particulars in the following unique manner: "I still keep my
oatmeal diet and Pepson. God's blessing and infinite mercies on you, my
darling. . . . I have had all kinds of horable imaginations
about you. . . . I hope Mr. C. K. Garrison will permit you to
make next trip with me. Eat no salt smoked meats or fish, or
drink no strong tea, but cat oatmeal and what will easily digest,
to keep your bowels open. . . . I will, with God's help, be with
my dear Marie on Tuesday. I have the Harriet Beecher Stowe
and Crane family to bring North this trip, about the last of the
crowd. I wish they were landed in New York, as I don't like any of
them, but will fight through in a quiet way." This epistle occupies six
closely-written and carefully-numbered pages of note-paper, and the lip
sign-manual is emblazoned in the usual corner. It ought to be remarked
that the captain is an admirable penman, moderately seaworthy as to
syntax, but in need of overhauling in an orthographical aspect.
While we are busy with the correspondence, it may be _apropos_ to quote
the last amorous letter he penned to his Marie before a cyclonic storm
from the nor'east struck the Hymeneal ship, and carried away her masts
and rigging, leaving a pair of plunging, leaky bulk-heads on the weary
waste of the censorious world's waters. The envelope of this letter is
indorsed in a female hand--evidently the forlorn hand of Marie: "Last
letter received from my husband." It purports to have been written "On
board the steamship Herman Livingston, Savannah, Jan. 5, 1878." It
begins, in a modified form, thus: "My darling wife," and takes a
flatulent turn almost immediately, "we had a fair wind all the way; a
few passengers, and only one lady, which was Lydia. She was very
pleasant and no trouble, as she was not sea-sick, and sat in the
pilot-house most of the time. I am feeling very well now. . . . It is not
necessary to say that I have not drank any strong drinks; that, of
course, is finished. I am all right now, you know. . . . I hope, my darling
good wife, that you are feeling much better than when I left you, and
that your sore throat is quite well by this time. . . . I hope you will
take good care of yourself and not get cold. I shall take good care of
myself. Little Maria sent me a pretty mug for my New Year's. I will not
use my new napkin ring, as it is too nice to be lost or broken here. May
God ever bless and protect you, and ever make you well and happy, is my
ever prayer of your loving husband, OLLY."
Let not the reader imagine that Olly's love was all of the
lip-and-epistolary cheap style. Even as faith without works is dead,
being alone, so professions of affection without exemplification would
be simply worth "Jocko," and that worthless creature, according to the
mariner, was good for "nix." No; the captain had presented his darling
with diamonds--a cross, for example, which cost $1,000, and a watch and
chain and other jewelry, amounting in the whole to $2,800.
The impartial reader, therefore, from the excerpts of his correspondence
and the summary of the jewelry, will be enabled to form a pretty fair
idea of the esteem in which the captain formerly held his wife. Ah! but
then the reader is not aware that Olly is very handsome, and so very,
very gay! Olly's immaculate shirt-bosom was in the habit of bristling
with diamonds, in the midst of which, like a headlight at the
mizzen-top, coruscated a diamond cluster pin.
Marie was not jealous without a cause. Of this, every lady who has read
thus far is morally convinced. Marie and her "spy" had discovered the
cause, just sixteen brief days after Olly had penned that remarkable
letter, with a benediction and a "kiss-me" lozenge at the end, Mrs.
Hazard and her maid, Esther Doerner, hied them down and across town
until they reached a boarding-house on West Ninth street. What happened
in this high-toned hash dispensary let Miss Margaret Gilman, an
eye-witness, proclaim by her affidavit:
"At half-past eight in the evening, Mrs. Hazard came in and went to a
hall bed-room in the front, and knocked at the door of said room. She
was accompanied by her maid, Esther Doerner. After she knocked, the door
was opened from within by Lena Kimball. Lena attempted to close the
door, but Mrs. Hazard's superior strength forced an opening, and she and
her maid entered." Now let lynx-eyed Esther take up the narrative for a
brief space: "Lena was but slightly clothed, having only a skirt and a
sacque on. Lena asked: 'Who is this woman?' Mrs. Hazard replied, 'I
am his lawful wife--you are his mistress!'" Then ensued a scene which
Margaret and Esther are in accord in describing: "Lena attacked Mrs.
Hazard, slapped her in the face and pulled her hair, said captain,
meantime, holding his wife's hands and thus preventing her defending
herself!"
Let us hear Miss Margaret C. Gilman, who is a dressmaker, a little
further: "About the following Thursday I visited No. 106 West Sixteenth
street, at request of said Lena Kimball, to arrange about a dress for
her, when I saw said Captain Hazard enter the room of Lena. I left them
together, alone. Lena told me that the captain would commence
proceedings for a divorce from his wife."
Progressing chronologically onwards, we come to another day when Olly
and his wife were quarreling at a great rate in their home up-town. It
appeared that the captain had between $4,000 and $5,000 deposited in the
Seamen's Savings Bank, and his wife was anxious that the money should be
drawn and be equally divided between them. To this Olly demurred,
whereupon the irate wife locked her faithless lord in the house, and
kept him a close prisoner till he threw up the sponge and promised to
accede to her demands. He obtained his liberty, and ostensibly left the
house for the purpose of drawing the money and transferring $2,000 of it
to his wife's account. What he did do was to draw the cash, go to his
brother-in-law's, pay some debts, and then hand $3,000 to Lawrence
Phillips, an insurance broker, at 85 Beaver street.
Of course, Olly did not return to his "blessed and darling wife" that
night, nor the next, nor ever again. He had, no doubt, an attack of the
old "horable imaginations," and deemed it advisable to put himself on an
oatmeal diet somewhere in New Jersey. What he did do, as Marie's
detective discovered, was to proceed with Lena to Taylor's Hotel, Jersey
City, where they registered as Mr. and Mrs. James Peake, of
Philadelphia. While enjoying this voluptuous seclusion with the
fascinating young blonde, Olly was plotting mischief and otherwise
conspiring against the forlorn Marie's peace and happiness. The
following documents disclose the form their unchaste deliberations
assumed. On the eleventh of February, the ill-used Olly sent a freezing
letter to his wife, from which we quote:
"In view of the unhappy relations which exist and have for many years
existed between us, I have reached the conclusion that it is impossible
for us longer to live together as man and wife. Your manner of treating
me has been so outrageous that it is necessary, in order to live with
you that I should sacrifice my manhood, my independence and my
self-respect, as well as the respect of all the members of my family and
of my friends. While I believe your conduct would, in the eyes of the
law and society, warrant me in refusing you all support, still I am
inclined to deal liberally with you, and I have clothed Mr. Stanton, my
counsel, with power to arrange the details of a separation." He then
goes on to state that, in such an arrangement, certain considerations
should have full weight, to wit: "That I am at present suspended from my
situation, and that you assert you brought about my suspension; that you
have a very comfortable home, for which I pay the rent, with about $5000
worth of furniture, which I would be willing to turn over to you; that
you have valuable diamonds, and that I have given you a great deal of
money of late."
Marie was, no doubt, pondering over her frigid Olly's proposal, and
making up her mind how to proceed, when another letter reached her. It
was written in a bold, clear, round hand. It bore no date or
superscription, but the envelope is stamped: "New York, Feb. 12, 12
o'c." The letter might have been written by a love-crazed Cassandra. It
was as follows:
"You imagine me in Philadelphia. Not so. I am in the city, and will
remain here until I accomplish the ruin and destruction of the old fool,
your husband, and yourself. I have sworn revenge on you and I shall keep
my oath. I do not care a damn for the old man. You expect him home
to-night, but you will be disappointed. The old fool is trying to get a
divorce from you now. My vengeance being accomplished I will leave the
city, and not until then.
"With hatred and revenge, I am your enemy until death, LINA
KIMBALL."
Mrs. Hazard had been acting under legal advice, so far as the discovery
and proof of her husband's unfaithfulness were concerned. But
determining upon a more active and aggressive warfare, she was prudently
advised to intrust her interests to Messrs. Howe & Hummel. The conflict
was speedily begun. On February 16th the first papers in the case were
served upon Captain Hazard at his lawyer's office, 198 Broadway. On the
same day Mr. Henry Stanton promptly gave notice of his appearance
in Olly's behalf. On the twentieth of February, on the application of
Howe & Hummel, an order of arrest was granted by Judge Donohue,
on the ground that the defendant intended to leave the city, and that
any order for alimony would thereby be ineffectual. On the following
day the captain did leave the city for Boston, and registered at the
Parker House. It is alleged that he was seen with Lena Kimball in
the Hub; but the captain explained afterwards that he had not
vamoosed on purpose--he had gone to inspect a ship, with the
possible intention of buying a captain's share.
On February 28th, Mr. Stanton served upon Messrs. Howe & Hummel a copy
of a petition and notice of motion returnable the third Monday in March.
On the same day the complaint was served upon defendant's lawyer.
Meantime, detectives were on the _qui vive_ for Olly. They had his
portrait on tin imperial size, and they had a lock of his hair in an
envelope. There were certain lager-beer saloons in the vicinage of Sixth
avenue and Sixteenth street he was said to frequent. A sharp lookout was
kept on his brother-in-law, Bradbury, as well. On March 19th the sheriff
tapped the distinguished son of Neptune on the shoulder and exhibited a
momentous piece of paper. The captain took an observation and hauled
down his colors as a free man. He was a prisoner and put himself
promptly in tow. After a short run and a few tackings they ran into
Ludlow Harbor, and all was made taut for the captain.
Next day the petition and motion was argued for the prisoner, by Mr.
Stanton, before Judge Lawrence. Mr. Hummel opposed on behalf of Mrs.
Hazard. It was argued that the alleged acts of adultery had been
condoned; that the defendant had no intention of leaving the state; that
when he separated from the plaintiff he went to live with his
brother-in-law and mother; and that he went to Boston for the purpose
already stated. The alleged pokerings and dirkings and pistolings were
dilated upon. Esther, the spy, was denounced. It was affirmed that "on
one occasion, when he returned," with the odor of the sea fresh upon
him, "plaintiff had a baby." It has never been claimed that he was the
father of it. Nor does he know who is the father. He has never been able
to find out the paternity of that babe, "nor does he know who the mother
is." Notwithstanding that he has been suffered to swell almost to
bursting with ignorance of these bottom facts, he "has been forced to
support it." He showed that Mrs. Hazard possessed diamonds and furniture
and twenty-one building lots on Long Island; that she had been
extravagant as to crayon portraits and carriage hire; that for the
last-mentioned item alone her expenses for February had been about
eighty-seven dollars. Wherefore, counsel argued, the court ought either
to dismiss the arrest or reduce the bail from $6,000, at which it had
been fixed. Mr. Howe had an equally affecting story to rehearse. He
showed that Mrs. Hazard had been compelled, through her husband's
neglect to provide her with money, to pay several visits to a relative
of hers, to whom the adage "Blood is thicker than water" does not apply.
With this personage she had left, for pecuniary considerations received,
her diamond cross and other valuables.
The judge took the papers and, a few days afterward, ordered the parties
to the suit to appear before a referee, who was instructed to take proof
as to the defendant's ability to pay alimony, and to determine what
amount should be paid. On the evidence taken before the referee,
Lamberson, who died before the testimony was all in, both sides agreed
on the question of alimony.
Thus far Mrs. Hazard's lawyers had carried all before them like an
irresistible flood. They now turned their attention to Lena Kimball.
Mrs. Hazard had not forgotten nor forgiven that face-slapping and
hair-pulling in Ninth street. Lena's maledictory epistle had added
brimstone to the fire. And so it came to pass that Messrs. Howe & Hummel
brought an action in the Supreme Court against Lena for the assault and
battery of their client. An order of arrest was promptly issued by the
court, holding the ravishing young blonde in bail in the sum of one
thousand dollars. After she had enjoyed the hospitalities of the warden
for two days, the captain planked down a thousand dollars in the hands
of the sheriff, and Lena was free.
Behold, now, how tribulation followed tribulation!
Two days after Lena had breathed the air of freedom, Mrs. Hazard and her
lawyers went before a police magistrate, and had the fair creature
arrested criminally for the same offense of assault and battery. Being
produced, Mrs. Kimball gave the required bail to answer at Special
Sessions. A fortnight afterwards the case came up. Lena pleaded guilty,
and was fined.
After a good deal more litigation, an order was entered in the Supreme
Court referring the many issues of the case to James P. Ledwith, Esq.,
to take testimony and report thereon to the court. Many hearings were
had before the referee, and finally his report was in favor of the
plaintiff, Mrs. Hazard, who was awarded an absolute divorce, with a
liberal allowance of alimony and costs.