Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-09-18
.ELOPERS DODCED
GIRLS PA HERE
Peoria Young Couple, However,
Fail After Auto Run
to Davenport.

How an automobile elopement by a
Peoria young couple came to naughr
at Davenport after a chase through
Rock Island by the father of the girl
is graphically told by the Peoria Star,
as follows:
AN elopement a pursuit by the
father of the girl. and a final defeat
of the plans OF young couple from
| Peoria, had its climax at Davenport,
Iowa. when Wilbur Guthridge, 10 years
old, and Helen Wise. Is, decided that
they had best defer to tho wishes of
| Mr. Wise.
when the girls father refused to
give Guthridge his consent to the mar
riage the couple decided to elope.
Davenport was the city selected for
their wedding. Early Monday morn
| inS the young man asked permission
| for the use of his fathers automo-
bile for the day. His parents, not be-
ing the least suspicious. readily con.
sented. A few minutes later with
the girl seated at his side, they were
speeding from the city on their way
toward Davenport. At Galva, Ill,
they stopped to meet a young &C.
quaintance of the prospective groom,
who was to act as a witness.
while the young people were thus
engaged, the girls father had been
informed that his daughter had been
seen riding toward the outskirts OF
the city with Guthridge. Hastily he
secured another machine and gave
chase. Over the rough country
roads sped the two machines. the first
one being unaware that the angry
father was giving chase.
when a short distance from Rock
Island the young clippers encountered
their first trouble. The front wheel
of the machine struck a rough spot in
the road and one of the tires was
punctured. Just as the prospective
groom had repaired the damage the
machine carrying the angry fathey
loomed up a short distance down the
road. This was the first knowledge
that the young people had that they
were being followed.
"Guthridge Immediately jumped into
the machine and started down the road
at a breakneck speed Thus the race
Kept up until the first machine came
to Rock Island. Here, lodging around
the various corners, the clippers final
" thought they had succeeded in Civ
ing their pursuers the slip.
'"They again breathed easier. They
at once crossed the bridge and went
to Davenport, driving directly to the
court house to get the license. Dur
ing this time. however, the father had
not lost sight of them as they had
supposed. Suspecting that they were
headed for Davenport and the court
house, he took a shorter route, arriv-
ing a few minutes before they did.
He then secreted himself behind the
large stone pillar in front of the
court house and waited for his |
daughter and prospective son-in-law. |
He had not long to wait, for a few
later the young people drove |
up to the curb.
'"They Immediately started for the |
clerks office, talking and laughing |
about the manner in which they gave
the father the slip. Suddenly, how |
ever, their joy was turned to sorrow. |
The father suddenly stepped before |
t EN-, and the plans of Cupid" which
had been so clevery laid, were thwart-
ed. After considerable weeping and
wailing the father. finally persuaded !
the girl to accompany him home"