Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-17
SHOT WHILE Ell OPiNG.
A Hot Chase BIZ John Drake Afser HE Run-
away Daughter.

Il
SHOT WHILE ELOPiNG.
| A Hot Chnse BIZ John Drake Afser nis RAN
away Daughter.
A Bridgeport, Conn.,, special says:
| John Drake, an old farmer living In what
| Is known as the " Purchase district" a tract
| OF rough, broken country on the east bank
| OF the Housatonic river. thirty miles above
ITS mouth, is at present searching for his
missing daughter, Mildred, nineteen years
OF age. Drake lives in lonely house. half
| a mile from his nearest neighbor, on road
which Is seldom travelled. He makes q
scant living from few rocky, half
cleared acres, and ekes ont his sup
port by hunting and fishing In the
| half wild woodlands near his home. His
family consisted OF his wife, a paralytic,
and the daughter. Mildred. The latter Is
a tall, slender girl. llght.baired, with graz.
eyes. She was considered the beauty OF
the region. but owing to her fathers suspi-
cIous disposition was little known TO the
country swans. LAST June young man
giving his name as Henry G.. Bogart and
his residence rs Philadelphia went into the
hill country for bis health, aud secured
lodgings at the home OF farmer living
nearly four miles from Drake. He devoted
much Of his time TO fishing. and on one Of
his trips came across John Drake, with
whom. after some difficulty, he established
a sort Of intimacy. On few occasions he
visited brakes house, and there saw the
daughter.
By presents and flattery the stranger so
won Drake that the latterly finally agreed
10 take him Is boarder. Once established
in the house. he had no difficulty IN gaining
the affections OF Mildred Drake. In Sep
temher he left 1.-THE Purchase" but re-
turned last Monday o. brakes, announcing
his intention OF starting a singing-school,
il possible. On this preteXt he tramped
over great part OF the town, aud on
Thursday night came home late. Drake
was forced TO unlock the door, and, not
liking the interruption to his slunbers.
agreed TO leave IL open thereafter
till his erratic boarder came home.
On Friday Bogart returned early. but
on Saturday Drake awoke 10 find the door
open and guest aud daughter missing.
when he realized what had happened,
Drake seized his gun and started on the
iugitves' track. lie followed their foot
steps without difficulty to road hall mile
from the house. Then wheel.tracks plainly
showed their method OF digit. Returning
to his house, Drake hastily harnessed his
u
prints Of the earfiage-wheels. Bogart and
Miss Drake had driven as nearly due south
rs possible, but. owing to l)Sing their way,
did not cross the Housat0llc river at South
vile till nearly noon. after making an un-
Necessary circuit OF many miles. Their
vehicle, buggy, was hard pulling through
the snow on the rough roads. and as Drake,
by bis intimate knowledge OF the country.
manasod 10 guess their point for crossing
the river. he reached The bridge just in time
10 see a confederate Of Bogart draw up the
river road to the North just as the clippers,
with fresh horse and lighter buggy,
dashed across the bridge. Drake paid no
attention TO the confederate but kept in pur-
suit OF Bogart. The fresh horse gained an
advantage on the hill at the end Of the
bridge. but Drake eased his animals bur-
den Nv running by It's side, and the pursu-
ers and the pursued reached the level
not more thun 100 yards apart.
Drake called TO the young man TO
halt, and. receiving no answer, raised
his gun. aud. taking aim. fired. The ball
missed It's mark, and before Drake was
ready for second shot, Bogart had turned
into road running 70 the west. This was
little travelled, and the father gained con-
sideiably. Several times he had chance
10 fire, but his daughter threw herself upon
her lovers neck. and so covered his body
that her father dared not risk shot. For
over a mile The two teams kept about 10
wards apart, ana at aturn In the road Drake
fred. again missing. Before he had fairly
loaded again the pursued turned into q
well-beaten highway, where the snow
was melted, aud began 10 gain.
Here escape would have been easy
had not the music-teacher chosen
wrong road, and Drake. going by n
short cut, passed the Hawleyyille station,
on the New York and New England road,
IN hot pursuit. Bogart again missed his
WAY. brakes horse give out, and the old
msn. leaping TO the ground, fired last
shot. Boeart gave a cry, and instinctiye'y
pulled up his horse. Drake rau on, neglect
ing 10 load bis gun, and as soon as he
reached the side OF the elopers' carriage
saw that his prospective sOn-in-law had
been shot through the right Shout
der. He dubbed his gun 10 COM
pete his work, when his daugh-
ter. raising the heavy loaded whip,
struck her father blow upon his fore
head, making him stsgger, and before he
recovered himself the girl had grasped the
reins, and, striking the horse, was out Of
the old mans reach. Drake continued the
pursuit on foot, loading his gun AS he ran,
but an unlucky stumble caused him 10 fall
hopelessy behind. Still the i9domitable
old man kept on in pursuit, although in
five minutes the pair were ont OF sight.
Drake made inquiry along the road, but
near the head OF what is known as Fountain
lake lost all trace OF them. Believing tie
fugitives were bound for Brewster's, rs the
nearest point in New York. he made the best
| Of his way 10 that place, arriving late at
night. Learning nothing Of his daughters
| Whereabouts, he started, without stopping
for food or rest. for 1.-THE Purchase" TO
one man he said that he should sell what
little he possessed, lodge his wife ia the
poor-house, and devote himself to finding
Bogsrt and bis daughter. Ia case he sue
ceeded, well and good; II would be very
sad day for the music.teacher. Bogart Is
| about five feet six inches 10 height, with a
HIGHT complexion, and slight defect In
one eye.
A Mob Fired Into.
A Louisville (Ky.) special says: At
Horse Cave, Ky., Il. L. Slocum, school