Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-12-13
A LONE STAR WEDDING.
The Brides Father Furnished Music
by Shooting at the Groom.

st. Louis Globe Democrat: All the
old residents of Montague county,
Tex, remember Uncle Henry Harris,
the preacher ferryman of Red river
during the latter part Of the eighties.
There have been many greater men in
this part of the state, and many more
intellectual ones, but there have been
few who were so universally loved or
who were so widely mourned for after
their death. Uncle Henry was a one
legged man, and the wooden stump
which supplied the place of his missing
member was very primitive affair.
1t was Joined to the stump of his leg
by a strap, which could be removed
in few moments.
Calvin Dubbs, half-breed Choctaw
Indian, courted his daughter, May
Harris Uncle Henry was opposed to
the suit of Dubbs because of his I'M
goodness and bad character. His
daughter did not share in these OBJ
jectionS.
One afternoon Calvin Dubbs rode
up w tlc IcIly, anu, DIS Tie river WAS
high, asked to be ferried over. The
old man and lobe started to take him
across, but no sooner did they reach
the middle of the river when their
passenger whipped out bowie knife
and in few passes severed the longer
of the two ropes that bound them to
the trolley. The boat Immediately
in hn
manned stationary in midriver.
whats tlat?' cried Uncle Henry
in alarm. Don't you know we can't
get across now?'
Don't know about you. 1 kin make
it all right myself"
Calvin sprang to the saddle, urged
his pony over the side of the boat into
the water, and struck out for shore.
The two captives Oh the boat watched
him helplessly until he gained the
shore they hal just left. AS he did SO
May came out of the cabin, arrayed in
her Sunday best, and two men on
horseback rode out from their conceal
ment back OF the bluff. The object
of the Stratagem gradually daWned
on the old mans mind.
There's goiu' to be a weddin,"
yelled Calvin from the bank. We'll
let you attend as a Witness"
"Whar's yore icense?' sariakcI the
father, ''and whars yoce preac.l'l:"
Here's the license" yelled Dubbs,
waving a legal-looking document; "can
you read it from there? And this man
here's the preacher
The couple took their places, and
the alleged preacher began the cere
mony. Uncle Henry began pleading
and expostulating, but all in vain
Suddenly he grabbed the Winchester
he carried in the bottom of his boat,
and drew bead on his prospective
son-in-law.
''Stop that tom-foolishness, or I'll
shoot"
SHOOT and be dr. yelled Cal
vim. go on, parson!' This latter re-
mark was addressed to the preacher
on shore. Whatever might be said
against Calvin's morals, nobody ever
doubted his nerve
Crack sounted the Winchester
from the boat, and with a thud bull
let buried itself in the horn Of the
bridegroom'S saddle. Calvin made
quick motion toward his own gun,
but May caught his arm.
''Don'tr' she cried. PA won't hurt
you. If he'd wanted to, he'd bored
you the first crack"
The ceremony was a brief one, but
eve few moments Uncle Henry
would blaze away, just close enough
to the bridegroom to be unpleasant.
When it was all over the party rode
away, with many tantalizing adieuX
to the captives on the boat.