Old Missoula

Old Man Was Too Many

An Elopement Spoiled by the Girl’s Father

She Is Only Thirteen

The Couple Drove to Saltese – There the Train Crew, Taking Sides With the Father, Handcuffed the Lover to a Seat

Missoula, March 21 – There is one man in Missoula county who has learned that the saying that “true love never runs smooth” is a true saying, and has just passed through the experience, but in a manner that is not down in the story books and magazines. The story of his love affair has just come to light, and if it is true, of which there seems to be no doubt, he has gone through an experience that he will never forget. The young man’s name is Walbridge and he is a well known tie cutter living near the home of his would-be bride at De Borgia, a small station on the Couer d’Alene branch of the Northern Pacific.

It appears that the young man became infatuated with his intended bride, who is only 13 years of age, several months ago. He pressed his suit with the girl’s parents and won the consent of the girl’s mother, but the father could not be won, and here is where Walbridge had to scheme to get his bride without the father’s consent. He let things run along for some weeks without making any more trouble, and after a few days proposed to the girl that they elope, go to Wallace and be married. This suited the girl all right and they fixed their plans accordingly. To get on the train without the old man finding it out was a sticker, but they decided to hire a team at De Borgia and drive to Saltese. It was Sunday afternoon and they told the old folks that they were going out for a drive and would be back in a few hours. They got the team and drove away, but not sooner had they gone than the old man got wind of what was going on and went to the train, which was due in a few minutes. He got to the station at De Borgia in time and told the conductor what was up and pleaded with the train crew to help him out. They were willing to help the old man, but in what manner to proceed to stop the runaway couple troubled them. The father suggested that Walbridge be placed under arrest for stealing his daughter, but the men on the train said they had no authority to do so. The train pulled out and the boys promised to do what they could.

Before the train reached Saltese it was decided to try to scare Walbridge by telling him that he was guilty of stealing the girl, and that if he didn’t give he up they would place him under arrest. The train reached Saltese, and as sure as the day was Sunday Walbridge and his intended bride were at the station ready to get on. The conductor went to Walbridge and told what the father of the girl had done and further told him that if he did not give up the girl he would place him under arrest. Walbridge almost fainted when he learned his plans were thwarted, but said he would not give up the girl. The crew took Walbridge and placed him in the forward car, and handcuffed him to one of the seats, and, returning to the girl, placed her on the platform and telegraphed to her father that she was there. The train started again, and Walbridge was kept in the same position until Wallace was reached. When the train pulled out from Wallace on its return trip, Monday morning Walbridge was on it, and rode as far as De Borgia, where he got off and returned to his work, tie cutting, a broken-hearted but hopeful man.

The above article appeared in The Anaconda Standard newspaper on March 22, 1900.

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