The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-09-09
The kidnapping of
Kate ). c. rHu,sn.n 9z
Ccopyrish.. 1901. BY Daily story Pub. Col

IF THE steamship Falcon had not
come in five hours ahead Of her
time But she did come in whistling
her propeller as if proud of her feat
and, as a consequence. the schooner
Amos Buzby, which was moored at the
steamers pier, where she had no busi-
ness, was obliged to pull out. which she
did, sulkily, like an evicted squatter, and
seek berth in the rear of the schooner
Young Eagle, thus exactly reversing the
former position of the two vessels.
Capt. Hornby knew nothing Of this,
he being uptown. secondarily. to clear
his schooner, primarily to arrange for an
act of piracy. While pretty Kate Bow
ers had blushingly acknowledged that
her heart was Hornby's. she refused to
hearken to his suggestions for an elope-
ment Most unreasonably. from Horn
by's standpoint. did Mrs Bowers op-
pose her daughters union with the man
of her choice. Mrs Bowers averred that
she had made a mistake herself in her
choice, which was hard on the late Mr..
Bowers. and she was resolved that her
Kate's husband must not be a Yankee,
and Hornby was from New England
She also insisted that her daughters
husband should be Baptist.
I'm liberal to a fault" said Mrs
Bowers. "but II anyone save Baptist
| born and bred gets to Heaven he'll
get there by accident, and he'll never
feel at home"
Hornby was not. as he expressed 1t,
anchored to any church. and was wiling
to become either Baptist or Mohamme-
dan, but Mrs Bowers disdained any such
OFFER A Baptist born and bred was
| what she desired
No man had ever beaten Mrs. Bowers
In an argument, or woman, either.
Abortive efforts in that direction were
said to have caused the untimely de-
cease of Mr. Bowers, and Hornby failed
most miserably. Then he resolved on
piracy. II he could get Kate away from
her mother, he was confident she would
consent to marry him without the ma
ternal blessing, and this he must effect
| in some way. The inspiration came tc
him as he was navigating his schooner
up the bay, and he directly set about
carrying it into effect
He invited Mrs. Bowers and Kate tc
make a voyage to Norfolk on the Amo:
Buzby, and, the city being hot and dusty
Mrs. Bowers accepted the invitation
With her watchfulness she was sur'
| Hornby would have no chance of per
suading Kate to do anything rash o.
disobedient, besides she had sister IL
Norfolk whom she would be glad u
visit Hornby laughed to himself ant
already eyed Kate with the glance o
ownership.
The procession to the schooner on tn
evening of departure was in this wise
Kate under the escort of Mr. Beavens,
friend of the family, and Mrs. Bower
with Hornby.
You go aboard the schooner further
est down the wharf" said Hornby t
Beavens. Mrs. Bowers and I'll wal
| slowly and catch up with you"
The night was moonless. and tn
smoke of the many factories about tn
it quite dark.
As they strolled along the stree
Hornby showed a most remarkable in
terest in the various saloons they passed
! and when in one of them, near tn
wharf, he noted Capt Suggs, of tn
Young Eagle, energeticaily laying /
, cargo at the bar, he muttered to hin
! self: Hes good for a whole night
stay"
Hornby assisted Mrs. Bowers over th
rail of the first schooner they reaches
and escorted her into the cabin
Where's Kate and Mr.. Beavens?:
asked Mrs. Bowers
"Oh." replied Hornby. earelessly, =
/ guess they're walking up and down Il
wharf. I'll go out and call 'em in. Yo
sit down in this chair"
e He sprang over the rail and ra
against MIR. Beavens on the wharf
q where's Mrs. Bowers. Kate's wal
0 ing for herr" asked Beavens.
She's aboard now" lied Hornb
- I'VE came the other way"
Beavens bade him goodnight al
sped uptown. while Hornby, putting h
hands to his mouth shouted the name
N Diggs. his mate.
II On that funetionary answering fro
the darkness. he ordered the Am
1t Buzby to be cast loose and made real