Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-01-01
An EXCITING ELuPEMENT.
A Couple Pursued by am Angry
Father " 18th "a Gun-The Daughter
shields the Body OF Her Lover


JOnn Drake, an old farmer living
in what is known as the Purchase
district a tract of rough broken coun-
try on the east bank of the Housa-
tonic river, 30 miles above its mouth,
is at present searching for his missing
daughter, Mildred, 10 years of age.
Drake lives in lonely house half a
mile from his nearest eiyhbor, on a
road which is seldom travelled. He
makes q scanty living from a few
rocky, half cleared acres, and eses
out bis support by hunting and fish
ing in the half-wild woodlands near
his home His family consists of his
wife, paralytic, and his daughter
Mildred. The latter is a tail, slender
girl, light-haired, with gray eyes.
She was considered the beauty of the
region but, owing TO the fathers sus-
picious disposition, was little known
to the country SWANS. Last June a
young man giving his name as Hetry
G. B,gart, and his residence as Phila
delphIa, went into the hill country
for his health, and 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 diff.
Guilty, he established a sort of intim-
acy. On a few occasions he visited
brakes house, and there saw the
daughter BY presents and hattery
The stranger so won Drake that the
latter finally agreed TO take him as a
boarder, Once established in the
house, he had no difficulty in gaining
the affections of Mildred Drake In
September, he left the Purchase,
but returned last Monday to Brakes,
announcing his intention of starting
a singing school, if possible On this
pretext lac tramped over a great part
of the town, and ON Thursday night
came home late Drake was forced
to unlock the door, and, hot liking
the interruption TO his slumbers,
agreed to leave it open Hereafter till
his cratic )arder came home. On
Friday Bogard returned early, but
on Saturday Drake awoke to find the
door open and guest and daughter
missing When he realized what Lad
happened, Drake seized his shotgun
and started on the fugitive's track
He followed their footsteps without
difficulty to a road half a mile from
the house. Then wheel-tracks plainly
showed their method of fight Re
turning to his house, Drake hastily
harnessed his horses to a light sleigh
and followed the prints of the carriage
wheels. Bogart and Miss Drake had
driven as nearly due south as possible,
but, owing to losing their way, did
not cross the Housatonic river at
Southville till nearly noon, after
making an unnecessary circuit Of
many miles. Their vehicle, buggy,
was hard pulling through the snow
on the rough roads, and as Drake, by
his intimate knowledge of the coun-
try, managed TO guess their point for
crossing the river, he reached the
bridge Just in time to see 81 c0nfede
rate of Bogart drive up the river road
TO the north Just as the clippers, with
fresh horse and a lighter buggy,
dashed across the bridge. Drake paid
no attention to the confederate, but
kept in pursuit of B CART The fresh
horse gained an advantage on the hill
at the end of the bridge, but Drake
eased his animals burden by running
by its side, and the pursuers and the
pursued reached the level not more
than 100 yards apart Drake called
to the young man 10 halt, and, re-
ceiving no answer, raised his gun and
nred The ball missed its mark, aud
before Drake was ready for second
shot, Bogart had turned into a road
running to the west This was little
travelled and the father gained con
siderably. Several times he had a
chance to fire, but his daughter threw
herself upon her lovers neck, and so
covered his body that her father dared
not risk a shot. For over a mile the
! two teams kept about rs yards apart,
and at a turn in the road Drake fired,
again missing. Before he had fairly
! Loaded again the pursued turned into
well beaten highway, where the
snow was melted, and began to gam.
Here escape would have been easy had
not the music teacher chosen the
wrong road, and Drake, going by a
short cut, passed the Hawleyville sta
ton. on the New York and New Ea-
gland road, in hot pursuit Bogart
again missed his way. brakes horse
gave out, and the old man, leaped to
the .reund, fred last shot Bogart
gave a cry, and immediately pulled
up his horse. Drake ran on, neglect
ing to load bis gun, and as soon as he
reached the side of the eloper's car
riage saw that his prospective son in
law had been shot through the right
shoulder. He dubbed his gun to
complete his work, when bis daugh-
ter, raising the heavy loaded who,
struck her father heavy blow upon
his forehead, making him stagger,
and before he recovered himself the
girl had seized 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
to fall hopelessly behind, To one
man he said that he should sell what
I little he possessed, lodge his wife in
the poor house, and devote his time to
1 finding Bogart and his daughter. In
J .un1t cd x.nzJ -