Mexico weekly ledger., 1902-04-03
College Girl Climbed Out Of Window to
Elope-Man Led Her Down Ladder
Filed in Night From Mexico
and Came 10 East st Louis.

Mr.. Baskett is the son Of James
Newton Basket, OF Mexico, a writer
Of nature stories and one Of the best
literary men in Missouri. The
young man Is 81 years old and is him
self local editor OF the Mexico daily
Infolligcaocr.
Miss Clendenen entered Hardin Col
lege last fall and Howard Basket was
one Of the first young men TO call.
long acquaintance with the college
authorities secured him frequent per-
mission to visit the girl and love grew
fast between the two young people.
"We planned the elopment several
times" said Mr.. Baskett to the Post
Dispatch after the marriage, ''but we
were always thwarted by something or
other.n
DECIDED TO LEAVE IN TILE NIGHT.
Miss Clendenen occupied a room on
the second floor OF Hardin College
dormitory. She and her fancee talked
the situation over for many days and
decided that they had best execute
their plans at night instead of at
tempting to leave Mexico by day.
Nj. Baskett let two of his most inti-
mate friends into the secret and Sc
cured the promise of their aid.
A little before } O'Clock Friday
morning a closed carriage assembled
the hill on which stands Hardin Col
lege.
1t stopped in the shadow Of some
trees outside the campus and three
young men alighted, one Of them al
rying a ladder. Mr.. Baskett was one
of the men.
Miss Clendenen, his hancee, was
waiting in her window for a signal
that be had arrived.
The men carried the ladder to the
window and carefully raised it against
the wall. The young roman say them
and waited breathleSsly.
She heard a low whistle and then
Mr.. Basket came up the ladder. She
passed her hand out the window TO
him and they descended 10 the ground.
The ladder was removed and the
little party hurried quietly 10 the car.
rage. One Of the young men placed
the ladder on the seat with the driver
and then the four entered the car
riage and were-hurrled to the station.
Quiet about the college as they drove
away told them they were not dis
covered.
They boarded a Wabash tain for
st. Louis at 3:45 O'Clock unobseryed
except by the two friends. They ar
rived in st. Louis at $50 O'Clock and
went at once TO East ST. Louis.
Marriage License Clerk Caughlan
was not at his office and they visited
his home on North Eighth street. He
granted a license and Rev. J. w. Van
oleaye, a neighbor, performed the
ceremony.
The young couple returned to st.
Louis and are guest at the LindeIl
Hotel.
Mr.. Baskett sent kilograms to Texas
and his home in Mexico.
The St.Louis Republic says:At 3 am
yesterday Mr.. Baskett, with two
friends, drove in a covered carriage to
Hardin College, In pursuance OF a pre-
arranged plan. His fancee was wait
ing for him In the dormitory window,
which is in the first story OF the col
building. The conspiratOrs
brought with them a long ladder.
This they placed against the wall di.
under the dormitory window.
Mr.. Basket mounted the ladder,
secured his tiancee's ~yalise, which he
threw to his companions, then silent
ly assisted the young lady to descend.
This feat safely accomplished, the en-
tire party hurried away TO the carri-
age, taking the ladder with them.
The driver was then instructed 10
drive posthaste to the station, which
was reached just in time for the
TO board the Wabash train,
which pulled through at 3;45 a. m.
They arrived in st. Louis at II
and, after a hurried break
asst, went TO East st. Louis in search
If Marriage License Clerk CaUghlan.
That gentleman had not yet come
Town 10 his office, but the couple
his home and had no difficulty
getting from the State permission
o wed. From Mr.. Caughlan they re-
10 the residence OF Rev. ]. W.
pastor Of the summit Ave
Tue Methodist Episcopal church, and
we're by him made man and wife.
To a Republic representative Mr.. Bas-
-ett said that he and Mrs. Basket
lad been engaged a long time. They
lad planned several times 10 elope,
nut On these occasions something had
come up 20 Illustrate their
cbemes MB. Basket is an exceed
ngly pretty and ~vivacious blonde.
he declares she is Is years old, but Is
mall in statue and looks two or three
younger.
The reason given for the elopement
Eas, that the father Of Ms Basket
bought she was too young b be mar
led, and wanted her 10 finish her
curse at Hardin College before think
Dg about marriage.
The father Of Mrs. Baskett Is Mr.
Libert Clendenen, Of Bonham, Tex.
Mr.. Clendenen Is a wealthy mill
wner and capitalist. The couple
IN remain 10 ST. Louis until tonight
lhen they will return % Mexico,
here they will make their future
The Globe Democrat says: last night
resident John W. Million, Of Har-
10 College Joseph Cleudeuen, a
Of the bride. and at present a
IN the Missouri Military
.esdemy al Mexico, and Cecil ~
iaskett, editor Of the Intelligence, and
brother o. the groom arrived from
All went az once 10 the Lin
eli and we're engaged for enme time