The Sun.
London, England, 1851-07-17 00:00:00

ELOPEMENT IN HUMBLE LIFE.

An elopement of a somewhat novel character occurred
in the rural village of Vange, some few weeks since. It
appears that two soldiers, George Belcher (better known
as " Springheel Jack") and Welch, paid a visit to the
above-named village, for the purpose of recruiting, and
in the course of their perambulations an honest peasant,
by the name of Wedlock, met these two disciples of Mars.
In the face of Belcher he recognised that of an old friend,
and he making himself known to "our gallant com-
rade," the recognition was speedily reciprocated; the re-
sult was that Belcher was invited home by the unsus-
pecting eon of toil to partake of the best fare his cot
would afford. Belcher immediately consented, and they
wended their way towards the humble domicile; but,
alas! for poor Wedlock, in doing this he took a step
which was to ba the precursor of a most unlooked-for
affair. The soldier having done ample justice to the
food which had been put before him, retired for a while,
but called at the house again, and during this visit, his
personal charms, combined with his pleasing smiles and
fascinating looks, took such an effect upon the suscep-
tible heart of Mrs. Wedlock, that she vowed she would,
in spite of the restraint which wedlock imposed upon her,
return with the gay Lothario when he should bid adieu
to this suburban spot. The time arrived when Belcher
had to leave the village, and the " guele housewife," when
her husband was non est. (having first taken possession
of the money which was in the house), took leave of ab-
sence, and, with the object of her admiration, marched
en route to this town. On Friday week the disconso-
late husband having ascertained the whereabouts of his
faithless wife, plodded to the Traveller's Friend, in
Mouleham, where he found her in the company of him
to whom he had acted so friendly a part. Mr. Wedlock
promised her that if she would return with him he would
forget and forgive all, but the woman declared that the
man is colours had the most attractions, and she de-
clined her husband's offer. Oa Friday last he again
came and endeavoured to persuade her to return, but she
still refused. It would almost appear that some mania
had, for the once, seized the fairer portion of the inhabi-
tants of Vange, for a young damsel was so intensely
smitten with Belcher's comrade (Welch) that she resolved
to forsake home and its comforts and fallow the enchant-
ing swain to this town, in whose company she still
Essex Herald.

MIRACULOUS ESCAPE FROM A FEAR-

FUL DEATH.

Ono of the most remarkably narrow escapes we ever
remember to have had to record occurred on Saturday
last at Painswick. A labourer named Charles Musty,
accompanied by a lad named John Powell, proceeded to
a well at the Park, about half a mile from the town,
for the purpose of getting up a bucket which had fallen
to the bottom from the breaking of the rope. He was
lowered down the well, which was about forty feet deep,
by a ropy round his waist. On getting to the depth of
about thirty feet he placed his feet upon a projecting
stone fur the purpose of taking the necessary means to
get the bucket, when the stone gave way, tearing with
f a number of others, and immediately the walls of the
well, which were built of large loose stones, collapsed
around him, and he was completely buried in the stones
end rubbish, a small space ()lily being left. above his