Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-02-29
--------------- -
LUCK AT LAST.
Its an i'll Blizzard that
Blows Nobody Good"
A ROMANTIC STORY.

Many novel has been founded
upon facts far less romantic than those
which we will detail in this article.
But unlike most novels our hero is
not a "noblemaI in disguise" or
"diamond in the rough" but poor,
unfortunate and worthless ex-con-
Wet. But to the romance. Mr.. John
b. Bell, until few weeks ago, was
well-to-do farmer of this county who
owned fine farm about two miles
from this city where he lived for
many years and raised a large family.
About month ago Mr.. Bell sold ont
and removed to Abilene, Tex, where
he now lives. In the year 1867 he
had in his employ as farm hand an
illiterate, uncouth fellow named Joe
Blizzard. He was one of the most
unprepossessing specimens ofhuman-
itv it would be possible to find, but
it appears that he was "mighty takin
in his manners" and one night Mr..
Bell learned to his dismay that Biz
card had taken his daughter, Miss
Sallie, in buggy and that the loving
twain were we'll Oh their way to
Clarksville, Tenn, the Gretna Green
of Southwestern Kentucky. Like
Lord Ullin, Mr.. Bell lost his temper
and arming himself he bestrode his
steed and started in hot pursuit.
The night was dark and a buggy
could not travel with the speed of
horse Spurred on by an angry rider
and before half of the long thirty
miles was traversed Bell was rapid
" lcssening the distance between him
and his would-be son-inlaw. A few
miles more and he was upon the
fleeing couple and could hear Blizzard
urging on his tired horse. a halt
was called, but Blizzard only accele-
rated the speed of his animal. Bell
raised his weapon, a flash, a report
and bullet sped after them. 1t
was very dark but the ball fired at
random passed between the lovers i'll
the vehicle and shot an earring out
of Miss Bells ear. 4 kiss at that
moment would have cost both of them
their lives. Blizzard saved HIM
self by turning into the woods by
the roadside and Bell rushed past
him and thinking he was being dis
tanced dashed his horse into furious
rate and reached Clarksville ahead
of the clipping couple. Blizzard then
continued his journey AMI reached
his destination and was married about
daylight the next morning, while
Bell was still in the city.
When Mr.. Bell realized that he had
been baflled, he did not do violence to
them but contented himself with dis
inheriting his daughter and forbid
ding her his house forever.
For awhile Blizzard and his wife
made out to make living and the
T fellow really tried to make something
of himself. But bad luck followed at
ter him anC he soon became poverty
stricken an6 his name became syn
onym for all that was worthless ant
trihing. Two or three years ago hi
moved to this city, having with hin
:. his wife and five children. lie wa
in bad health and was about as poo
as poverty could make him. He livet
Cor rather existed, forhe did not max
a living in a cabin in the eastern sub
urbs of the city and one day he guar
relied with j. A. Ritch, his next doc
+ neighbor, and Selling a shot gun, h
, fred load of bird-shot into the LAT
ter's face. For this offense agains
the peace and dignity of the Com
monwealth he was incarcerated i
Jail, where he was kept for month
awaiting trial. During this time hi
q wife and children were forced to be
! on the streets to keep from starving
By spring Billiards. health had bee
q restored and he came out of Jail
"fat as a MOLE" He was tried la:
q March and the jury gave him on
+ year III the penitentiary as punish
q ment for his war-like exhibition {
y military tactics.
q He was sent to Frankfort and wit
20 other convicts was hired out by I'll
10 lessee of the penitentiary to work Q
\ railroad. While engaged in tn
X work he was severely injured an
n manned for life in an accident. ii
hip was dislocated and one hand WI
cut off. AS he was completely al
m permanently disabled, Gov. Kno
a. granted him pardon, and after &C
"a ting able to be about he placed h
10 case in the hands of Hon. Asher
10 Caruth, ofLoulsvllle, instructing hi
no to bring suit against the railroad col
" pany, and hobbled home on crutch
40 to find his family in the county pc
!, house. He was sent to the same /
Nv stitution himself, where he and |
or family remained for some time at
m expense of $40 month to the count
II Some weeks ago Blizzard went to I
lv county Judge and told him that wi
NC an allowance of $40 month
+hourbt ha could takn "a 70 Of him el