The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1852-08-31 00:00:00

ELOPEMENT EXTRAORDINARY

A correspondent, writing from Southend, Kintyre,
communicates to us the following romantic incidents :
In the district of Southend lived a widower upwards of 50
years of age, and a weaver by his trade. About a mile
distant from his residence there resided the widow of a
farmer, ten years older than himself, who had a family of
grown-up sons. They were both bereft of their partners
within a few weeks of each other, and it appears that ever
since a tender attachment had taken possession of both
their widowed hearts. Frequent sly opportunities of
courtship were afforded the love-sick swain by his aged
inamorata, who, in fear of filial vengeance, took the pre-
caution to admit her lover to her bedchamber by the win-
dow, after all had gone to rest. Here they talked over
their little plans of future happiness, and enjoyed each
other's sweet society till the crowing of the cock and pru-
dence induced a cruel parting. Like all other delicate
subjects of romance, their true love did not run smooth—
" Heigh ho, the wind and rain !" The widow's two
grown-up sons were the mortal enemies of the mother's
sweetheart, and watched his movements so closely, that
the utmost stealth and caution had to be adopted in
managing their tgles-a-tele. For some time back this cruel
annoyance became so oppressive to these love-smitten
ones, that they resolved to pit an end to all their
sufferings by an elopement, for the purpose of getting
spliced. Accordingly, on the night of the Sth instant,
this second Romeo and his Juliet disappeared. Next
morning the cruel and undutiful sons gave pursuit, and
apprehended the fugitives at Campbeltown. when about
to take the steamer for Glasgow. The widow was borne
back in triumph by her hardhearted children to Southend,
where they locked her up in her room, and kept a strict
watch over her. The knight of the shuttle, however, was
not to be baffled so easily of his fair prize, and watched
his opportunity. The vigilance of the stern sons of the
widow having somewhat relaxed, the mature lovers found
means of communicating with each other and laying a plot
to baffle their enemies. On the night of Thursday, the
18th instant, the weaver hired two daring boatmen to be
in readiness to row him and his true love across the chan-
nel to Ireland in an open boat—a distance of 20 miles.
Having completed his arrangements at this point, the
" gallant weaver," as soon as he conjectured that the
household of his fair treasure was fast under the influence
of the drowsy god, proceeded, accompanied by a trusty
friend, up Glenbrackrie, and stealthily took out the
widow's pony from the stable, and yoked it to her gig.
At a signal, the fair one's bedroom window opened, and
a friendly ladder having been placed for her accommoda-
tion, she was soon in the arms of her faithful knight. and
safely placed in the vehicle, and away

"They are gone over bank, bush, and scar;
They'll have fleet steeds that follow, quoth young (old)
Lochinvar."
Onward they drove with railway speed to Carskey Bay—a
distance of two miles—and here the boatmen were waiting
steadily at their post. With all haste the now happy pair
embarked in their light skiff; the boatmen plyed their
brawny arms; and the vessel's prow cut through the blue
water. But what sights and what sounds are these ! The
two sons, attired in their trousers and shirts only, are on
the beach.

" Come back, come back, they cried in grief,
You may have stormy weather.
And I'll forgive yon weaver thief,
My mither ! oh, my mither 1"
But no—on dashed the boat; and the gallant Lothario
sent back a shout of defiance, while
" One brawny arm did guide the helm,
And one was round their mother!"
The pursuers, however, were not thus to lose their sexa-
genarian love.smit parent. Foaming with rage, they
sprung into a fishing boat, and an exciting chase com-
menced. Strong arms bend the oars, and the boats near
each other before they are more than a quarter of a mile
from shore.

"Now, gentle lover, hold thy own,
No maiden's arms are round thee thrown."
The boats are about to grapple, but the knight of the
loom had his " courage screwed to the sticking place,"
and was not to be conquered without a struggle. His
boat was ballasted with some large stones ; one of these
he lifted, and, with the force of a Titan, hurled it at the
frail bark of his pursuers. This artillery had a decisive
effect, for it crushed in the side of the pursuing skiff as if
it had been a twenty-four pound shot. As the boat was in
danger of sinking, the bold young men, like many others
in naval combat,when their craft is rendered unseaworthy
by the enemy's guns, now concluded that "the better part
of valour was discretion," and put their vessel's prow
shorewards. From the disabled state of the boat, it was
with difficulty they made the land. But though beat
back, they were not defeated ; raging, like a she bear's
cubs deprived of their dam, they seized and manned ano-
ther boat, and renewed the chase. The fugitives by
this time, however, were beyond sight. Still the gallant
hearts were resolved to die in the attempt, or save their
mother, and wreak their vengeance on their would-be-
stepfather, whom they swore they would immolate to
their resentment. After a gallant chase, the boats
again came in sight of one another about mid-chan-
nel. It now became a matter of life and death with
the weaver, and he was for again launching the ballast
at his pursuers, but maternal affection was awakened in
the breast of his companion, who would not permit the risk
of sinking the boat, and thereby endangering the lives of
her valiant sons ; nevertheless, they closed in battle, and
a terrible scene arose, in which both parties fought like
heroes, dealing fearful blows at each other with their oars.
Again victory crowned the " old Lochinvar," who suc-
ceeded in wresting an oar from his foes, and, amid three
hearty cheers, his boat shot a-head, leaving them " far
amidst the solitary main." with only a single oar to guide
their fragile bark. As it was useless to attempt further
pursuit in their disabled condition, the vanquished wights
were compelled to scull their boat with a single oar back
towards Kintyre, a distance of ten weary miles ; while the
victor, with his soul elate. sane in triumph, " Oh, steer
my bark to Erin's Isle!" The sun was high in the
heavens next morning ere tho young men, weak and faint
from the hot pursuit and hard-fought engagement, reached
their native shore, where a number of anxious friends
were waiting to receive them. The amorous couple have
not since been heard of, but it is to be hoped that after
all their difficulties and "hairbreadth 'scapea by flood and
field." they have now attained the object of their wishes,
despite of their reluctant and naughty children, and that
they are now spending a happy honeymoon in some corner
of the Emerald Isle, undisturbed by fears of molestation
or surprise. . .

The principal actor in the above ludicrous affair is a
native, we believe, of the parish of West Kilbride, where
he formerly plied the shuttle, but has for a number of
years rented a small farm in Kintyre.—Glasgow Daily
Mail,

DISTRICT NEWS.

WARRINGTON.
BLUE COAT SCHOOL.—The institution has just sus-
tained a severe loss by the death of Mr. Forster, the
head master. For the last 17 years he has filled the office
of head master, and his loss will be severely felt.
LICENSING DAY.—The annual licensing sessions were
held on Monday last, at the Sessions-house, and there
was a good attendance of magistrates; the mayor presided.
No opposition was offered to the renewal of any of the
licenses.

BOARD OF GUARDIANS. The usual weekly meeting
of the board of guardians took place on Wednesday last,
at the workhouse; eleven guardians were present, and Mr.
Webster, the vice. chairman, presided. The following are
the returns of the relieving officers :—ln No. 1 district,
963 persons had been relieved, at a cost of £45 2s. 6 1. ;
of which £23 3s. was in money, and £2l 193. 6d.
in kind : in No. 2 district, 204 persons had been re-
lieved, at a cost of £ll 3s. Id. ; of which £4 11s. ld.

was in money, and -.C6 12s. in kind : in No. 3, the
rural district. 390 persons had been relieved, at a coat
of .C2l. 6s. 6d. all in money. Total number relieved,
1,557 ; total cost of relief, £77 I2s. Id. The number of
inmates in the workhouse was 128, and the number of
vagrants lodged and relieved, 66. Compared with the
returns for the corresponding week last year, these re-
turns show a decrease of 241 in the number relieved, of
£7 18s. 11d. in the cost of relief, of 37 in the number of
vagrants, and of 4 in the number of inmates in the work-
house. The balance in hand was £122 ISs. hi.