Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-09-13
A Richmond ElOpement.
WASHINGTON Star

With the excursion party from Rich
mond, Virginia, yesterday, under the
auspices of Marshall Lodge, Knights OF
Pythias, there was a party of three
consisting of Thomas w. Cooke, Mary
Jane Isbell, Ia very pretty blonde and
their mutual friend, Mr.. r. l.. Jones, al
of Montpelier, Hanover county, Virginia
Mr.. Cooke and Miss Isbell were clippers
from Virginia, bent on matrimony, and
during the afternoon were made man
and wife. The couple were rather
youthful, Mr.. Cooke being only nine
teen years old, and the bride two years
younger. 1t appears from the state
ments made by their friends that the
parents Of the girl objected to Cooke as
prospective son-in-law, and some time
since closed their doors to him. Glove
laughs at locksmiths," however, and the
lovers found opportunities to do little
counting elsewhere. The counting at
home was done by proxy-Mr. Jones
acting the part of Il true friend-and
succeeded admirably.
The lovers and their friends, learning
of the projected excursion from Rich
mond to Washington, arranged to make
it the occasion of the marriage. Ac-
cordingly, on Saturday evening Mr..
Jones visited the Isbel residence,
spending pleasant afternoon and
taking tea with the family While
Jones was enjoying the hospitality O
the Isbell family the would-be bride
groom, Mr.. Cooke, was secreted in a
bunch of woods about 400 yards from
the house, ready mounted on horse
back, and Mr.. Chesseman, a friend OF
his, had three other horses ready sad
died behind the ice-house. After tea
the elder Isbell lay back to enjoy a
smoke, and Mr.. Jones invited the
younger Isben outside to talk about
trading saddles f; and in the meantime
Miss Isbell fixed up a few articles OF
clothing, slipped them out to Cheese
man, who strapped the bundle on the
back of his saddle, and then, mounting
the horse saddled for her, she soon
joined her afianced in the woods, as
did also the faithful Mr.. Jones and his
friend Cheeseman, and all four started
on their journey. Apprehending that
they would be pursued, they kept in the
woods as much as possible, emerging on
the public road some eight or ten miles
from their home. On the road through
the woods Mr. Jones was knocked of
his horse by the limb of a tree, and was
supposed to be badly hurt, but he had
started with determination to aid his
friend and he stuck to him. Mr.. Cheese
man lost the bundle (the young lady's
clothing) off his saddle, and going back
to find it failed to return, and it is sup
posed that he was Overtaken by the
father and brother of the girl, and that
he put them on the wrong track.
The clippers rode swiftly to Richmond
a distance of thirty-fve miles, arriving
there about 11:30 o'clock, making the
distance in about three and hall
hours, and placing their horses in a
livery stable they took the train with
the other excursionists for this city
| Arriving here, Mr.. Jones made known
| the object of his visit to Officer Lewis
but he not being able to leave his post
Mr.. George F. Poulson, of the baggage
department of the Baltimore and Poto
mac railroad, rendered his services, and
took them in charge. They united
/ business with pleasure, and proceeding
to the City Hall, viewed the Lincoln
monument while Mr. Poulson procured
the necessary license, and then the
party set out to find minister. Then
choice was either a Methodist or Bapt-
ist, but after proceeding to the residence
of several, and finding none at home
they concluded to look outside of these
denominations, and Rev. Dr. Domer
of st. PauPs Lutheran church, being
found at home, they had the knot tied
then and there. Mr.. Poulson saluted
the bride, as also did Jones, the faith
| full friend of the couple, who had
earned his kiss, and the party, after
the minister had been paid, set out