The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-07-06
FRIENDS GOT EVEN.
When Certain Wells Young Man Conn
mitted Matrim0ny.

a WeuulHS Is Huo pnlnS, DuU IL
may be overdone At least SO thinks
recent bridegroom who was married
to the belle Of Faibault county at Wells
last week. The young people belong
to prominent families of the town, and
the coming nuptials were of much in
terest to the community. A week be-
fore the ceremony the bridegroom
friends got out some three sheet posters
and had them pasted on the bill boards
and fences of the village. They read
something like this: Next attraction,
Mr.. - in his side splitting comedy,
How l Escaped the Fool Killer, OF
why - Left Home - The time and
place followed The wedding was an
afternoon function and was elaborate
in all its appointments There was
trouble in the air and the bridegroom
scented it. He determined to out-wit
his jovial friends. Aware that he had
been the ringleader of numerous plots
to harrass his friends when they had
been married, now that the tables
were turned, they were equally deter
mined to pay up old scores. There
were four hours after the ceremony be-
fore the train left for Minneapolis.
The main features of the fortunes had
been prepared for this time. The brid-
al couples plans were deeply laid and
all but carried. The conventional
brougham was driven up in front of
the brides home and the admiring
maids were grouped about the foot of
the stairs to catch the bouquet that
never was thrown, when pair of fleet
horses and an open trap was driven up
to the back of the house. The bride
groom's coachman held them while he
helped his bride out Of the window and
made dash for the trap. They were
not discovered until safely landed and
we'll started on the road to small sta
ton seven miles above Wells.
When their destination was conjec-
and as yet out-witted friends, gave
chase to them The contracting pair
was too fast for the pursuers and when
the latter got to the town their quarry
was not to be found. They kept as
quiet as possible and when the train
came in bribed the baggage man to let
them all ride in the express car. Just
before the train pulled out, the object
of their search walked quietly into the
Pullman and took their seats with all
the composure that victims on such oc
| meanor
All went well until the train had
passed through Wells and the couple
thought themselves safe. The persecu
| tors then descended on them and,
armed with rice, white ribbon and
gum backed posters they decorated the
state room in a fitting manner. They
oret the bridegroom from the arms of
his better half while the girls of the
party proceeded to demolish the bride S
elaborate Culture and braided her hair
in two long pigtails which they tied
up with bows of white ribbon. At Al
bert Lea they took the couple out and
marched them up the main street with
big banner at the head of the process
sion announcing its character Here
the fun nearly ended in a pitched bat
tie. The Tuning bridegroom happened
to free his hands and he landed blow
on the best mans eye that laid him
low He then made a dash for his
bride and rescued her, and made off
for the train getting there just in time
to catch the last coach as it pulled out.
The pursuing party then played their
last card which was most daring of all.
The sheriff of Albert Lea was friend
of the groom, and so natural enemy
for the time being. He was persuaded
to send a Geographic summons to the
sheriff of Mankato to arrest the groom
the ground that he was clipping with
the maiden from Wells. AS it trans
pired the arrest was made and the ma
tron of hotel took care of the bride,
while the groom was locked up for the
night to await developments. Next day
all was made clear and the happy pair
proceeded on their trip When they got
to Minneapolis there was an express
package awaiting them. 1t was heavy
and the charges were up in the tens
of dollars. When it was opened, large
chunk of ice was revealed well packed
in sawdust and excelsior. A note on
the top read: sin case you are hot,
sit on this. - The bridegroom now re-
penis him of his former sins but is
thankful that marriage hits the major
| ity of men only once.
The above is from the Minneapolis
Journal. Sheriff Gerlach laughed when
shown the article and said that as far
as his part in the affair went there
was nothing to it, as he had never