Freeland Tribune

An Indian Girl's Daring Ride.

An Indian romance which almost rivals that of Pocahontas and Captain John Smith comes from Pine Ridge Agency. William Jacobson, a young fellow in charge of one of the classes at Carlisle, eloped with Julia Beallard an intelligent quarter-bred Sioux. The couple rode from Pine Ridge to Chadron, Neb., on their ponies during the night, pursued by the girl's relatives all the way. They arrived in Chadron in the gray dawn of the morning, thoroughly exhausted, and at once proceed to secure a license. Then, in the presence of friends of the bride, they were made man and wife.

The couple met about two years ago at Carlisle, where the young woman was attending a private seminary, and became enamored of each other. They became engaged, when the girl received a letter ordering her home to Pine Ridge. The young couple kept up a correspondence, fearing that their attachment would become known to the parents of the girl, who were very much opposed to her forming an alliance with other than a thoroughbred Sioux. A letter to the girl was finally intercepted by a young Sioux admirer and laid before the mother. Thereafter not a letter was permitted. Becoming alarmed at not receiving an answer, Jacobson decided to go to Nebraska and investigate. Upon arriving at the agency he contrived a secret interview with the girl and arranged an elopement.

One dark night the girl stole forth, and procuring a saddle horse from the corral, slipped a halter over his head and led him to the outskirts of the Indian village, where she was met by her lover in a lonely canon, near the historic battle ground of Wounded Knee. Mounting their ponies, they started on their journey to Chadron. The echoes of the hoof-beats awakened the village, and a thirty-mile chase was begun over the roughest country this side of the Rockies. The journey was dangerous and hazardous. The road at times winds around precipices and rugged cliffs and through rough canons, where a misstep might plunge the riders into eternity. For four hours they rode on their ponies, expecting at every moment to hear the cry of their pursuers. When the lights of Chadron appeared in view the pursuing party increased their pace, hoping to overtake the fleeing couple before they entered the city. They failed in this attempt, however, and the lovers managed to elude them.