Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-01-01
AN EXCITING ELuPEMENI,.

AN EXCITING ELvPEMENr.
A Couple Pursued by an Angry
Shields the BODY of Her Lover
Hand-to-Hand struggle and Es-
cape.
New Haven Register
joan Drake, an old farmer living
III what Is known as the Purchase
district, " a tract of rough broken coun-
try on the east bank of the Housa-
tonic river, 80 miles above it's mouth,
is at present searching for his missin g
daughter, Mildred, 19 years of age.
Drake lives In lonely house half a
mile from his nearest neighbor, on a
road which is seldom travelled. He
makes scanty living from a few
rocky, halfcleared acres, and ekes
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 tall, slender
girl, light-haired, with gray eyes.
She was considered the beauty of the
region but, owing to the fathers sus-
plcious disposition, was little known
to the country swains. Last June a
young man giving his name as Herry
q. BLgart, and his residence as Phila
delphla, 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 sort OF intim-
acy. On a few occasions he visited
Brakes house, and there saw the
daughter. By presents and fattery
the stranger so won Drake that the
latter finally agreed to take him as q
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 Drake's,
announcing his intention of starting
a singing schaol, if possible. On this
pretext he tramped over a great part
of the town, and on Thursday night
came home late. Drake was forced
to unlock the door, and, Lot liking
the interruption TO his slumbers,
agreed to leave it open hereafter till
his cratic b )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 flight. 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 q confede
rate of Bogart drive up the river road
TO the north just as the clippers, with
a fresh horse and a lighter buggy,
dashed across the bridge. Drake paid
no attention to the confederate, but
kept In pursuit of B 1gart. 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 to halt, and, re-
celving no answer, raised his gun and
nred. The ball missed its mark, and
before Drake was ready for a second
shot, Bogart had turned into 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 shot. For over a mile the
two teams kept about rs yards apart,
and at turn in the road Drake fred,
again missing. Before he had fairly
Loaded again the pursued turned into
well beaten highway, where the
snow was nelted, 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 Hawleyvllle sta
ton, on the New York and New En
gland road, in hot pursuit. Bogart
again missed his way. brakes horse
gave out, and the old man. leaped to
the ground, fired last shot. Bogart
gave a cry, and immediately pulled
up his horse. Drake ran on, neglect
ing to load his 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 whip,
struck her father a 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