The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-08-26
Leander Outdone
Hoosier Youth Swims
a HeIlespout With His Sweetheart.

New York, Aug. pa special CORES
pondent Of the Wodld from Bridgeport,
Ind, says: Leander swan the Helles-
pont TO meet his Hero and drowned.
John ". Ciemmons has surpassed this
feat. He stole his sweetheart from her
fathers house, swan fifty yards in a
raging torrent with her en- his back and
then faced hounds and was wounded by
bullets before he could call Florence
jackson his own.
If there was a prettier girl in Clark
county, Ind, than Miss Florence jack
son, no one ever discovered her. Ger
tainly John w. Clemmons did not
Clemmons is a railroad man, with all
the pluck and ready resource of his call
ing Girls have always said he was hand
some. Miss Jackson thought SO When
she met him at an ice cream festival
given by the Methodist church Of her
home town, Bridgeport, Clark county,
Ind, six months ago. On her mothers
side Miss Jackson Is related TO George
Rodgers Clark, for whom the county is
named, and the spirit Of that old hero
has descended in the blood even down
to the fifth generation.
The girl loved John Clemmons and he
loved her, but Mr.. Jackson thought his
daughters value above the seeking OF
even a plucky railroader
The lovers met by stealth until the
father became suspicious. Then Glenn
mons patience overleaped all bounds
They had to stop meeting. and Thurs
day afternoon was to be their last in
terview
-r~f11 -, srrT,+ >
man told his sweetheart just before
they parted.
"I'n sleep with my window open, to
show that 1 am not afriad," she an
swered.
At 1 o'clock Friday morning Clemmons
crept under the open window. Miss Jack
son was ready. In ten minutes the
orchard ladder did splendid service.
Rain had been falling for four hours
before midnight. and even as they de-
scended misty drizzle obscured every
thing. It was between six and seven
miles to the house Of Magistrate
Coombs Of Brown Hill, the nearest
justice Of the peace who could perform
the ceremony. ,
From Bridgeport to Brown Hill the
roads were impossible for vehicles. Hand
in hand, buoyed up by their love and
hopes Of happiness, the man and girl
stumbled and staggered over the brown
quagmire that unfolded itself dimly
through the drizzling mist They spoke
only in the language of lovers. with
little hand DRESSINGS and half whispered
sayings.
Three miles from Bridgeport the Mud
would be called river at anv time
Now it was a raging torrent. that tum-
bled and swirled and rushed along
hundred yards across from hank to bank
There was no time for delay For ten
minutes past the girl had thought she
heard the sound Of a hound baying be-
hind Leaving his sweetheart on the
bank Clemens jummped straight in to
try the ford. The encouraging cries of
the plucky girl on the shore kept the
man up. He had almost reached the
center of the stream when his feet were
swept from under him and he began to
swim. Then Florence Jackson shouted
to him:
Quick, John! Here comes the dogl' |
The man turned and with desperate |
strokes fought his way back to her. The |
noise Of the dog was coming closer now. |
Selling the girl in his arms, Clemmons |
plunged back into the torrent. He was |
swimming with two lives and all his |
happiness depending on the strength Of |
his arms. His sweetheart rested her |
hands on his shoulders and tried her |
best 10 help along. Downstream the |
pair were swept, and under once or /
twice But all the time the other shore |
was coming nearer. Then the girls head |
struck the low lying branches of an
oVerhanging tree. She threw one arm |
about the limb and elutched at her |
lovers collar with the other hand Glenn
mons caught the branch also. and they |
were saved. AS they drew themselves
from the water a big dog stood on the |
other bank and bayed at them.
1t was three miles more to Magis- |
trate COMBS house. Utterly exhausted |
rs they were, the man and girl dragged |
themselves through the heavy mud |
toward Brown Hin. At almost o'clock
TSlemmons gave a joyous shout, There's
the place." as a big white house showed
ap through the gloom on the left hand
side Of the road.
Clemmons entered the yard, and a big
log sprang at him. window in the
front Of the house was thrown up sud
lenly and a rifle began to splutter nasty
from the opening. With
scream the girl sprang before her lover. |
Is he sank against tree. holding a
hand n his wounded shoulder Then a
voice from inside the house shouted.
Whats the matter?" and head took
he place Of the rife at the window.
The farmer, was all sorrow and sympa-
ny when he understood He asked the |
overs to wait until he could drive them
o the home Of Magistrate Coombs. They
banked him, but would not delay It
vas after o'clock and pursuers on horse
'ack from Bridgeport might appear at
my minute.
Half an hour after they left the farm
house the clippers, hiding behind trees.
brew rocks at Magistrate COMBS front
loor TO get him up. The justice came
lown I'm paiamas and Il towering rage.
When he saw who his visitors were he
an hastily back TO ohange his rage for
pair Of trousers.
Clemmons produced a water soaked
license, procured in Jefferson
lille several days before and in the
arly dawn. with only the sleepv stars
nd the first peeping RAYS Of light for
Witnesses. the lovers We're married
John Clemmous had gone through IRE {
nd water and won a wife.
s 65--CHICAGO AND RETURN-Sss S. !
A. r. ENGAGEMENT, CHICAGO. !
ILL. AUG. q TO SEPT !.
For the above occasion the Santa Fe
iUway will sell tickets at half fare
Ickets on sale August q TO q, inclusive
GOD 10 return Senfen1har- 30 Tho Santa