The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1813-12-30
MISCELLANY.
Fran ihe Riehmond Enquirer Of December Ia

The following singular achievement occur
red in this neighborhoood few night since
We record it as An example OF that happy
presence OF mind and rele ciion In the weaker
sex, which are worthy af imitation.
The heroine OF the story is the wife OF a
militiaman, who is now serving his tour OF
du,y at Norfolk. They are poor but respect.
aoie persons, who live in the county OF Han
over, aboai 70 miles from this city. Ther
house Is near the farm OF Mr.. Bootwright /;
il is small, aud has but single room 10 It,
The woman is mother, with an iufant IA
bon, four months old.--A few nights since
she nsd retired TO bed, lonely and unprotect-
cd, win no one but her sleeping infant beside
her.------Thc nigh, was dark and rainy--the
feeble light Of the fire, alone glimmered in
the ropm--Amidst such scene, SO cbccrless
and full Of gloom, so wol calculated TO excite
the fears Of woman, she was disturbed by
sudden rap at tho door. She asked, who was
there A gruH aud authoritative voice de-
manded an entrance. She again enqulred
the name Of the intruder. The person without
replied, that il she did not open the door i'm
pncdiltely, he would break it open. Sts beg
gcd hi IN TO wait for moment and she would
let him in. Having huddied ON few clothes
and thrown some light wood upon the lire, she
opened the door, was surprized 10 find negro
man, slave of her neishbor BootwrighSs !!
She demanded of him what he wanted. He
informed her with an authoritative air, that ne
had come TO sleep with her. Being acquaint.
cd with the fellow, she replied with more con-
fiience then she could otherwise have assum-
ed, that he must be drank and out OF his
senses. None of your airs replied the ruff
ian my mind is made up, will sleep in that
bed tonight, or take your life. e."--Tcrrihcd
by hls manner made desperate by her situ-
alton, yet determined TO yield her life rather
shan submit TO his wishes, she yet had cour-
age enough to devise scheme for her escape
which she carried into instant, execution.
Looking down at his feet she discovered that
they were maddy---"Why says she you
canao; think TO sleep in my bed with such
feet as thesc--you must wash them" The
fellow thinking himself on the eve of accom-
plishing his wishes, very readily asscnscd TO
the terms--And she pouring some water in
to noggin, seated him in a chair, OH the
hearth, with his back towards the rest OF the
room. Stepping back, she seized an axe
which lay on table near the door, and ere
the splashing of the water over his feet per-
milted him TO suspect her intention, she whirl
cd the axe with such tremendous effect upon
his skull, that he fell dead from mis- seat. She
caught up her child, rushed out of the house,
and made the best Of her Way through the
rain and gloom of the night to her neighbor,
Mr. Downright. To him she disclosed the
terrific event which had just transpired /; when
he replied in manner that does him credit,
- that he was sorry to lose such fellow
but that far from blaming her, he commended
the S:iri which she bad exhibited in the de
fence of her virfHe."-Persons were immed-
lately sent to the scene Of these transactions, /
when the evidences of her heroism were plac-
ed before them. SO etfectral was the blow
which he had received, SO powerful had her
arm, nervej by desperation and terror, fallen |
upon his skull, that in the act of tumbling TO
the hearth from his stopping posture, his
brains had fallen from their cavity into the |
iiJp rin hc, wern sis fesf