Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-01-06
MISCELLANY Y .
Heroic Women.

Heroic Women.
FROM MRS. ELLET's " PIONEER WOMEN"
| Mrs. Dunhdn and her Family. An instance
of female heroism which occurred at a station
some six miles west of Nashville, may be here
related. Mrs. Durham, the wife of one of the
pioneers, while sitting in her house at work
her little children playing in the yard-heard
them scream out suddenly, and rushing to the
door, saw them running from several Indians.
One of the savages was in the act of clutching
her daughter, six or seven years of age, and
succeeded in laying hold of the child, a few
yards from the door. There were no men on
the premises; but the mother seized hoe
standing against the house near the door, and
rushed at the Indian with the uplifted weapon
Before she came near enough TO strike him
with it, however, he let GO the child, who ran
into the house, the mother following. The In
dian pursued them closely, and pushed his gun
into the door before it could be closed, to shoot
Mrs. Dunham. She kept her hold of the door
and slammed it TO violently, catching the gun
between it and the door-post, and holding it
with all her force while the savage tried in vain
to get the weapon released. She then, with
singular presence Of mind, called aloud, as if
to some person within, Bring me that gun =
The Indian understood enongh of English to
know her meaning, and believing ihoro evoro
other persons in the house, he left his gun and
made off The other children had found shell
Ter in the house, and were thus preserved from
massacre by their mothers energy and self
possession.
Mad Ann" Bailey's Journey. Marauding
parties of Indians were often, seen in the valev
of Kanawha, and the Virginians doubted not
their intention of making desperate effort 70
dislodge them from this lavorite hunting ground
runner was sent from Capt. AIbuckle, at PIT.
Pleasant, to Capt. Clendenin, the commander
of the garrison, with information that a hum
dred or more Indian warriors had been seen the
day previous, crossing the Ohio at Racoon IS
land, some ten miles below 1t was supposed
their design was TO attack the fort at Charleston,
or at Big Levels, in Greenbrier county. All
the inhabitants around were Immediately gath
cred into the fort
AT this crisis the terrible fact was announced
that their ammunition was nearly exhausted
1t was determined to send Immediately to camp
Union, now Lewisburg, for supply; but few
m ho al
was willing to encounter, with small party,
the perils of hundred miles journey through
trackless forest. Mrs. Bailey heard Of the
difficulty, and Instantly offered her services,
saying she would 60 alone Her acquaintance
with the country, her excellent horsemanship,
her perseverance and fearless spirit were well
known, and the commander of the garrison at
length yielded 10 her solicitation. A good
horse was furnished her with stock Of ierked
venison and Johnny-cake. She set her face
towards Greenbrier, armed with rifle. &C., and
resolutely overcoming every obstacle in the
ruggedness of the way through the woods, the
mountains she had 10 cross, and the rivers to
swim, undaunted by the perils threatening from
wild beasts and struggling parties of Indians,
she reached camp Union in safety, delivered
her orders, and being provided with led horse
fully laden, as well as her own set forward on
her return.
She used to relate how her trail was fol-
lowed for hours together by wolves, watching
for an opportunity to attack her horses. When
night set in she was compelled TO make large
fires to keep the wild beasts at bay. To pro-
tect herself in slumber from the danger of the
rattlesnakes and copperheads, which infested
the wilderness, she had to construct pioneer
bedstead every night, by driving into the
ground four forked sticks about three feet high,
adjust upon them other sticks to serve as bed
rails and Stats, and overlay them with guam
tity Of green boughs, her blanket serving as a
musqnito bar. Thus she would sleep amidst
the bowling Of wolves, the screaming of PAN
theirs, and the buzzing of troublesome insects !:
at break Of day replacing the loads on her hor-
ses, and resuming her journey, her simple
breakfast being eaten on horseback. She ar
rived in safety with her supplies at the fort.
After the troubles with the Indians were
over, Mrs. Bailey still retained her singular
habits. She spent much Of her time in fish
ing and hunting, and would shoot deers and
bears with the expertness Of backwoodsman.
In person she was short and stout, and of coarse
and masculine appearance, and she seldom wore
full woman's dress, having on usually a
skirt with mans coat over it, and buckskin
leggins.
Men, like books, have at each end a