Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-06-08
CLEVER ESCAPES
Ingenious Resorts of Persons to Ex-
tricate Themselves from
Awkward Situations.

y
employed himself in gathering from
the natives many tales and traditions
of the experiences of Orcadian men
during the days of the press-gang-
tales which form the staple of story
telling in the islands, and are handed
down with great exactness and detail.
Although many of the islanders were
pressed into the navy, many escaped,
by daring and cleverness in eluding the
press-gangs, and they were efficiently
aided in their escape by the women.
One man, Robert Miller, was about
to be married, the guests were as
sembled, and the ceremony was about
to begin, when the dreaded press-gang
arrived. The hated men were so hot
1y received by the ladies, including the
bride and her maids, who treated them
not only to sharp words, but also to
more or less dangerous missiles, that
they were forced to beat retreat.
No sooner were they gone than the
doors were locked, a back window lift
ed, and into the room bounded the
bridegroom, who had been secreted dur
ing the turmoil He was arrayed from
head to footin,feminine attire, ard was
married just as he was, in petticoat
and bodice, ready to fly instantly in
his disguise should the gang return.
Two girls, Barbara Wick and Bar
bara Dinnie, distinguished themselves
by rushing from their spinning wheels
to cover the retreat of two young men,
pursued in their dory by a cruisers
boat; one of the youths being the first
Barbara's betrothed.
They watched the shoreward race,
encouraged the exhausted rowers,
pointed out the best landing place at
the foot of a crag, meanwhile gather
ing stones in their aprons, and as the
hunted men leaped ashore they helped
them up the cliff, and then, bidding
them run on, protected their flight by
who tried to follow.
Barbara Wick fought so fiercely that
it was long ere any man dared face her,
but at@last one, holder than the rest,
sprang up, broke past her range of
stoning, and not wishing to hurt so
gallant an enemy yet intent ON pun
ishing her a little in fashion he deemed
suitable to pretty girl, caught her
in his arms to kiss her. But he only
courted disaster, for she flung him from
her so violently that he fell back on
his mates, and, each overthrowing the
other, the whole of them rolled pell-
nell down the rocks, while Barbara's
lover and his companion made their
escape.
One bright young fellow, with plenty
of fortitude, saved himself by an in
genious stratagem. He, too, was en-
gagged to be married, and was deter
mined not to be taken from his sweet
heart. He was pursued and headed off.
Seeing capture inevitable. before he
could be reached he stripped off his
clothes, rolled in a bed of nettles, and
dressed again.
When the gang came up, he submit
ted to be taken; but on being brought
before the surgeon to be examined
his whole body was found to be fright
fully blistered from head to foot, and
| the dismayed official, supposing him to
be suffering from some shocking skin
| disease, that was probably contagious,
hastily released him. He was declared
unfit for his majesty's service, and al
lowed to return to his lady-love and
| nurse his blisters in peace.-Youth's
Companion.