Omaha daily bee., 1892-02-13
won HIS BRIDE ON SKATES
Exciting Struggle Between Rival Lovers
With a Bride as the Stake.
HUNDREDS WATCH THE HOT CONTEST
Richard Parsons Victorious and the We'd
ding Follows-An Awful heating
Endured by both Men Before
the Final Test.

NoRTu PLAIN, Conn, Feb. 10. Miss Alice
Grover and Richard Parsons OF Milliugton
Green were married here a few evenings
ago. This was tho concluding chapter IN
romance of which the principal features
were jacket whipping contest aud askat-
ing match.
Richard Parsons and Alexander Boyce,
prosperous young farmers, began two years
ago paying attention to Miss Grover, who was
IL years old, very pretty and vivacious She
apparently had as deep a regard for one man
ns FOR the other, and neither could satisfy
himself that his suit was looked upon with
favor AS the months rolled by the two
sutors began to eve each other jealously.
Parsons called ut the Grover home last
May to invite Alice to attend picnic. He
found that she had already gone with
Boyce. Parsons drove to the picnic
grounds and managed TO work up .
fight with Boyce. Tho friends of tho
two men finally got them apart a,
week later Parsons challenged Boyce to
jacket whipping contest, IN which jackets
were to play no part. The men were to stand
bare above their waists, their left hands W ere
to be tied to their bodies. and they were 70
thrash each other with walnut whips until
quarter was called for The worst ted suitor
was to allow the victor TO win the hand OF
/ Miss Grover III he could.
Parsons challenge was promptly accepted
and the contest took place IN barn in presence
of dozen friends of the contestants. Tho
thrashing lasted until both men sank to the
floor from exhaustion. Miss Grover. hearing
OF tins affair, refused to have anything to do
with either of the men, but they continued,
80 far as possible, their addresses to the
young woman until she once more smiled
upon them.
Two weeks ago she told Parsons and Boyce
that she believed she loved one as well
the other; that she had decided to bestow
her hand upon the man who could prove
himself most worthy of her in q skating con-
test. This contest was to be on Colton's
pond, mile from Millngton Green, and to
last two evenings. The skaters were to start
from opposite sides of the pond at o'clock
and skate until 10. Parsons was to do his
best TO catch Boyce the first night. The
second night Boyce was TO catch Parsons. II,
nights, the men failed TO overhaul each other,
the contest was TO go on every night until
one of the men was caught. If Parsous
caught Bovce the first night and IL Boyca
caught Parsons the second night the contest
was TO be continued two more nights, until
it was decided which was tho better ma".
The shores of Colton's pond WEI Y ned
with hundreds of spectators when IT, J on
test began ana fires were burning arou the
pond. Miss Grover witnessed the st /ggle.
The first night Parsons caught Boyce after
nearly three hours skating. On the second
evening Bovce failed in his efforts and there.
fore Parsons was declared the winner.
Boyce took his defeat vely much to heart.
Miss Grover seemed to be well satisfied with
the result and readily consented to an early
marriage.