Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 December 1874 — Sol Shipley’s Foot-Race. [ARTICLE]

Sol Shipley’s Foot-Race.

A good manj- years ago, when publishing newspapers In Michigan was a brigandish sort: of business, a man known as " Old Sol Shipley” was employed on a journal in Eaton County? He had just coqjf from the East and was In mortal terror of wolves; bears, and the other wild animals abounding in the swamps and forests. The proprietor of the paper had a big dog which took a great liking to Shipley. One evening the old man started to go out to a farmer’s, about a mile from town, where there was to be a grand “ hoe-down,” and the dog sneaked after him, skulking along so softly that Old Sol didn’t see hiqj until clear of the village. Then happening to turn around he found the dog at his heels and he made a clean jump of ten feet, believing that a wolf was with him. The dog gave a yelp and made after him, and Shipley flew down the road like a rabbit going for a hollow log. The dog kept close to him, thinking it wds all in fun, and the printer’s yells were plainly- heard half a mile away. Nearing the house he thought the was gaining on him and he

turned aside and began circling around a log barn and yelling with all his might The folks came running down the road, but they saw what was up and they stood back and yelled for Shipley to put in his best licks, until they could get a gun. Aj*d then they stood there and counted until he had made the circuit of the house thirty-five times. At the last he found his legs failing, and he would yell out as he came around: • “ Oh, mercy githegun giterquick—give ye flftydollar!” The race came near using him uji. When h 8 stopped he had but one boot on and was bareheaded, and no one could ever find the missing articles. —Detroit Free Press.