Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 January 1887 — SPIES’ ROMANCE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

SPIES’ ROMANCE.

A Handsome Chicago Heiress Falls in Love with the Condemned Anarchist. i i Romance and Sympathy Combine to Turn the Head ot the Giddy GIpL fChicago Tolegram.] One of the most regular attendants at the trial of the anarchists during the closing days, was a tall, fair, and handsome girl, who dressed in fashionable garments and whose appearance generally was suggestive of refinement. She was apparently

about 19 years of age; and on nearly every occasion she was accompanied by an elderly lady. She evinced the deepest interest in the proceedings, and it finally became evident that she was moTe than usually interested in one of the prisoners. As the days passed by it was ascertained that her admiration exttnded to August Spies. At the conclusion of the trial she visited the ■ County Jail to proffer her sympathy to the prisoners, and on this occasion she introduced herself to Spies, and from that day became completely infatuated with him. The feeling which she entertained for the anarchist leader was evidently reciprocated, and her visits to the jail to see her lover became so frequent that she finally came to be known to the jail officials as “Spies’ girl.” She would stand at the iron grating of the “cage” and talk to her lover until the jad hour for locking up the prisoners arrived. Her identity finally became known, and she proved to be Miss Nina Van Znndt, only daughter of J. Van Zandt, a chemist employed in Kirk’s soap factory at No. 352 North Water street. She would bring all sorts of dainty edibles for his use, and also articles of feminine manufacture for the adornment of his cell. It was evidently a case of “mash,” and a severe case at that. But Miss Van Zandt seemed to glory in it, and was apparentlv proud of her powers of conquest. But nobody appeared to be prepared for the news, which was made public through the local press a few days ago, that August Spies and Miss Van Zandt were to be married in a short time.

The future Mrs. Spies was born in Philadelphia, Jan. 5, 1867. Her father is said to belong to one of the Knickerbocker families who moved from New York State to Central Pennsylvania about fifty years ago. Her mother comes from a Scotch-English family named Clarke, that has lived in Pittsburgh for many years. Miss Van Zandt attended the Friends’ Central High Schgol in Philadelphia until .her parents moved to . Chicago, in 1882. Here she attended the Misses Grant’s Seminary for young ladies, as a boarding scholar, and remained there one year. In the fall of 1883 she entered Vassar College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., staying there two years and taking Latin and mathematical courses. She is a member of St. James’ Episcopal Church, together with her father and mother, and is well kno-wn in church society. She has attracted the attention of many young men, some of whom were members of the congregation. A young Canadian, who is employed in a La Salle street insurance office, was understood to have been regarded with more than passing favor until the trial of the anarchists began. Mr. and Mrs. Van Zandt and the prospective bride have been regarded as ratber extreme in their views tmvard alleged suffering humanity, and, like Captain and Mrs. \V. P. Black, perhaps, look upon the anarchists as having been more sinned against than sinning. Whten the news of the coming marriage -was quietly circulated in North Side society circles, to which Miss Van Zandt belonged, and became known at the St. James v Club, to which many young men of the church belong, the utmost consternation and surprise was manifested. The fact is indisputable, however, that within a very few days Miss Nina Van Zandt will be Mrs. August Spies. Miss Van Zandt has also been one of those who united with the Central Labor Union and contributed money to have Spies’ speech to the jury during the trial printed. Miss Van Zandt's home is at the corner of Cass and Huron streets, almost the center of the aristocratic portion of the North Side. Directly opposite is the ultra-swell Episcopal Church of St. James. Within two blocks of her home are the stalely palaces of S. M. Nickerson, Henry Field, E. D. Watkins, Cyrus McCormick, Henry Willing, John T. Lester, R. R. Cable, A. A. Carpenter, and perhaps twenty others which are the homes of millionaires.

A reporter called at No. 33S Huron street for the purpose of getting a look at Miss Van Zandt. The young lady was not visible, bat her father, Mr. J. K. Van Zandt, obligingly gave all the information in his power concerning the proposed marriage, stipulating that his remarks should be treated seriously, and without prejudice or unfavorable comment. Mr. Van Zandt is a fine-appearing man of about 45 years. His ancestors came from Amsterdam, Holland, and he claims relationship with aristocratic Knickerbocker families of New York. He is a chemist by profession, and has charge of the chemical department in Kirk’s soap factory. His daughter, judging from a photograph shown the reporter, is a handsome girl 20 years old, with an intellectual countenance. Her father said that her acquaintance with Spies was brought about by the loss, four years ago,of a pet dog. Miss Nina at that time lavished her spare affection on the small animal, and when lie disappeared she made extraordinary efforts to recover him. She advertised in all the daily papers, including the Arbeiter Zei.tuna, offering a liberal reward for the restoration of the poodle to mistress’ arms, and it was while on a visit to the Arbeiter Zeiluitg office to see if the lost pnppy had been beard from that she first saw August Spies. It was a CRse, on ber side at least, of love at first sight. Eugene Seeger, clerk in the Marriage License Department of the County Clerk’s office, received the following telegraphic dispatch from the grandmother of Miss Nina Van Zandt, the fiancee of August Spies, Monday; . Fittsbcbo, Fa., Jan. 17,1887. Eugene Seeger, Clerk of Marriage Licenses: Issue no license to Miss Van Zandt and Au-

guit Spies to be married. We forbid the marriage. Mrs. John Arthur. Mrs. Arthur is the lady from whom Mies Van Zandt’a legacy is expected to come. Mr. Seeger said: “That dispatch confirms me in my resolve not to issue a marriage license unless I am compelled to. 1 believe that this whole thing is got up by some sharp-witted friends of Spies who propose to nee an innoeent and foolish young girl to create sympathy for him, in the hope that the Governor may pardon him or commute his sentence. The passage in an interview with Miss Van Zandt where she says Spies has experienced 1 a change of-heart and will be n better man if he is ever liberated convinces me that the scheme is to represent him as reformed and entitled to executive clemency. I know Spies’ nature too well to believe that he loves the girl. I don’t believe that she loves him, but she thinks she does. I think that the real affinity is .between Miss Van Zandt, who has nine dogs, and Mrs. Capt. Black, who has sixty dogs. I regard it as an outrage on decency and an insult to the law that this man Spies, with his neck in a halter, should defy all the dictates of honor and manhood aud seek to drag down to his own disgrace an innocent and foolish girl.”

SI’IES. The Condemned Anarchist Talks About His hove Affhlr. 1 “One day, during the trial, while George C. Ingham was making his argument,” said Spies, in an interview, “Miss Van Zandt came to the conrt-room. She had read in the newspapers about ns condemned men, had seen our pictures, and had formed the impression that we were a lot of wild beasts. Her visit to the conrtroom disappointed her. After the verdict was given she came in contact with certain people who had interested themselves in our persecutions, and concluded that the whole trial was nothing but a vast conspiracy against ns. She wrote to the newspapers to explain certain matters that would throw light on the trial, but the editors refused her articles, being unwilling to say anything in our favor. This strengthened the young lady in the belief that we were going to be murdered. “ Subsequently Miss Van Zandt came here and introduced herself to me. When she found I was neither an ignoramus, monster nor beast she came regularly and took an interest in my companions and myself. At last,” said Spies, blushing and hesitating “Oh, well, you know what to say.” Then he added, slowly: “Yes, a mutual agreement was arrived at. Put it in your own words. Miss Van Zandt,” the anarchist continued after having regained his usual calm demeanor, “is an only child, and her parents are rational, reasonable people. Capt. Black is now making the arrangements for our marriage. The lady is not the one who attended the trial find sat next to Mrs. Capt. Black, as some people seem to have thought,” he remarked in conclusion.

Spies is 31 years of age and was bom in Castel-Laudeck, Hesse. He believes that the sentence against him will never be carried out and that he will soon be given his freedom.

PROSTRATED WITH GRIEF. Miss Van Zandt’s Grandsire Crushed—The Girl to Re Disinherited. {Pittsburgh special.] - In an interview with Mrs. Arthur, the aunt of Nina Van Zandt, at her residence in Oakland, the following information was gleaned concerning the young lady and the attitude of friends in regard to her conduct. The shock to Mrs. Arthur and her distinguished father and mother can readily be imagined, especially as Miss Van Zandt’s mother, who is the only sister of Mrs. Arthur, had been visiting her parents and sister just two weeks previous, and With the exception of jokingly remarking that Nina expected to marry some nice younginan in the spring, had made nothing known, and had not given the slightest hint in the true direction. On reading the news, so great was the prostration of Mrs. Arthur’s father, Mr. William B. Clark, that Mrs. Arthur was obliged to write to the Van Zandls the message he wished to send. The letter was mailed by 10 o’clock Saturday morning, imploring them to prevent the wedding. This was closely followed by another, and the Van Zandt family were informed that henceforth they were not to be considered in the light of relations. Every connection, socially and financially, was dissolved forever, and Miss Nina utterly disinherited.

“ She will receive no more than our dog lying there on the rag. Every dollar will be bequeathed to charitable purposes,” said Mrs. Arthur, as she wiped the bitter tears from her eyes. 1 .Mrs. Arthnr is "a very wealthy society queen here, and holds Miss Van Zandt’s future wealth. This morniDg a letter was received from Mrs. Van Zandt, from Chicago, written before the receipt of those sent from Pittsburg, in which she informs her relatives of Nina's approaching marriage to Spies, the anarchist, and invites them to be present at the ceremony, which, is to be performed on Thursday in the jail at Chicago, adding, also, that she and Mr. Van Zandt could find no fault in the man and had given th»if full consent to the nuptials, aud that she hoped the mends here would not worry themselves. “This letter,” continued Mrs. Arthur, “which shows Nina’s parents to be as highly blameworthy as Nina herself, has made father and ail of us more firm in the determination to disown the family forever.” Mr. Wm. B. Clark, the grandfather of Nina, is well known in Pittsburg. Both he and his wife look back upon a long line of ancestors which snows not a single blot on its proud integrity. They and their, daughter, Mr*. Arthur, are members of the First Presbyterian Church, and for their active religious works are widely known. Mr. Clark has but two children living —Mrs. Arthur and Mrs. Van Zandt—and Nina is the only grandchild. Pretty, bright, and a good conversationalist, she made a ( host of friends in this city, and at the wedding of Miss Walker, given at the residence of Hire. George Westiughouse, she was spoken of as thei “brightest, handsomest” lady present, A clerical error—a sermon more than twenty minutes in length.

MISS VAN ZANDT.

AUGUST SPIES.