96 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
A YOUTHFUL HISTORIAN. Sometime before the holidays (1907) The Daily News of Spring- field, Ohio, offered three prizes for the best three essays on some local historical subject; essays to be written by the pupils of the public schools |
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mittee in such manner that the decision of the judges would be without their knowing the names of the respective writers previous to the award. The successful winners and prizes were as follows: first prize, ($15 in gold) Douglas Hypes, aged 16, Wittenberg Academy; second prize ($10 in gold) Paul F. Trout, aged 18, Springfield High School; third prize ($5 in gold) Clotell Dalie, aged 15, Springfield High School. Master Douglas Hypes, the winner of the first prize is the son of the Hon. Oran F. Hypes, member of the Ohio Senate. The youthful writer adopted the methods of a real historian, for he went straight to the original sources, and obtained his material at first hand, as his addi- tional notes testify. This fact gives especial value and interest to the article and shows the young writer did his work with the true historic interest and painstaking labor. It is, moreover, admirably written, and is as follows: THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD IN CLARK COUNTY.
BY DOUGLAS HYPES. It was on a cold dreary night in the early "fifties." A high gale was blowing, which seemed to drive everything before it with unabating fury. Soon after midnight, a wagon came noiselessly down old Mechanic street in Springfield, Ohio. The driver stopped the horses before a house, half way between Jefferson and Pleasant streets, and, quickly alighting, made his way up the hill to the dwelling. In response to his low knock, the back door was opened. "I have come a night earlier than expected," said the stranger, "for they were in pursuit." |