“For six years they lived together happily.”

A strange tale of an unfortunate coupling, which sounds like an urban myth, was presented as fact in an article in the April 28, 1893 New York Times: The story:

“Toledo, Ohio–There lived in the vicinity of this city many years ago a family of the name of Worthington. The father and mother of the household died within a few days of each other, leaving two children, a girl of two years old and boy four. The boy, Jarvis, was adopted by a friend of the family living in Ontario, Canada. Jennie, the daughter, was adopted by a family of the name of Ainsworth, residing in Detroit, Mich.

When Jarvis becomes eighteen he went to work on a boat running between Detroit and Chicago. In June of 1883 Jennie boarded the boat for a trip to Chicago, accompanied by her godmother. At Mackinac Island the vessel stopped for repairs. On the second day of the delay Mrs. Ainsworth asked for a guide and a boat to take them over to the island. The request was granted, and Jarvis was sent as the guide.

On the return trip the boat was dashed to pieces against a rock, and the occupants thrown into the water. Jarvis, who was an expert swimmer, saved the women. This act resulted in a close friendship between himself and Jennie. They saw one another from time to time, became engaged, and one year after at Mrs. Ainsworth’s house, in Detroit, they were married.

For six years they lived together happily. They had two children. The discovery of their true relationship was made while on a visit to Jarvis’s god-parents in Ontario. The shock was so great that a few days later the husband and brother committed suicide.

The wife afterward came to Richmond, where she was married about two years ago to a prominent citizen of that place. They now live in Dayton, and are active in church and social circles.”