Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-11-07
A STORY OF THE REVOLUTION.
IIeroism of a Woman.

| the darkest PERIODS OF our revolutionary
struggles, in the small village of s.,
in Pennsylvania, lived V. one of the
finest and truest patriots within the limits
Of the the " old thirteen" and deep in
the confidence of Washington. Like most
| men of his time and substance, he had
| furnished himself with arms and amuui-
! ton, sufficient to arm the males of his
| household. These consisted of three sons
and about twenty-five negroes. The fe-
male part Of his house consisted Of his
wife, one daughter, Catharine, about
/ eighteen years Of age, the heroine Of our,
tale and several slaves. In the second
story of his dwelling house, Immediately
over the front door, was a small room
called ''armory," in which the arms were
deposited, and always kept ready for i'm
mediate use. About the time we intro
duccd our story, the neighborhood of our
village was much annoyed by the noc1ur~
nal prOwling and dcrredatlUnS Of hume
rou5 tories.
1t was on a calm, bright Sabbath af,
ternoon in the aforesaid summer when
Judge v. and his family, with the eX-
j cuption Of his daughter Cutharinc, and the
old indispoSed slave, were attending ser
vices in the village church. Not a breath
disturbed the serenity Of the atmosphere
NOT a sound Prolaned the sacred still
ness of The day the times were danger
Gus, and Catherine herself and al old
slave remained in the house until the re-
! turn of the family from church. \ rap
was heard at the front door. " Surely"
said Catharine to the Slave, the family
! have not vet come home-church can't
be dismissed" The rap Was repeated,
Il will Sc who it is" said Catharino, as
/ she ran up stairs into .hc armory. On
, opening the windows and looking down
she saw six men standing at the front
door and on the opposite sid Of the street,
three of whom she knew were tories,
who formerly resided in the vliiage.-
Their names were Van Iat. Finley and
Sheldon the other three were strangers,
but she had reason to believe them to be
OF the same political stamp. from the
company in which she found them.
| Van Zat was a notorious character,
and the number AID enormity of his crimes
had rendered his name infamous in the
vicinity. Not q murder or robbery was
committed within miles of -- that
he did not get the credit of planning or
executing. The character ot Finley and
Sheldon were also -dccrly stained with
crime, but Van Eat WAS master spirit
Of iniquiLy. The appearance of such
character, under such circumstances must
have been truly alarming to any young
lady of CaLharlnes age, if not 10 any la
dy, young or Old. But CaIhariue v
possessed her fathers spirit, " the spirit
Of the times" Van IaI was standing
on the stoop rapping at the door, while
his companions were talking in whis-
per on the opposite side of the way.
''Is Judge v at homc,?" asked Van
Zat, when he saw Cutharinc at the win
dow above.
"He is not" said she.
"We have business of pressing impor~
tancc with him, if you will open the
door, said Van Eat, " wc will walk in
until he returns"
"No," said Catharine, "whcn he went TO
church he left particulars directions not to
have the door opened until he and his
family returned. You had better call
when church is dismissed.''
"No Pll not" returned he, eve will
enter now or never"
Impossible" cried she, "you cannot
enter until he returns"
"Open the door," cried he, cor we will
breakit down, and burn you and the
! house up together" So saying, he
threw himself with all the force he pos
sesscd against the door. at the same time
calling upon his companions to assist him.
The door, however, resisted their efforts,
"Do not attempt that again." said
Catherine, " or you are a dead man." at
the same time presenting from the wins
dow heavy horseman's pistol, ready
cooked.
At the sight OF this formidable weapon
the companions of Van Zant, who had
crossed the street at his call, retreated.
} What" cried the leader, "you cow
ards are you frightened at the threats
of girl ? and again he threw himself
violent against the door. The weapon
f was Immediately discharged, and Van
, Zant fell.
The report was heard at the church,
and males and females rushed out to as
certain the cause. -..-e-
On looking towards the residence OF
. Judge " they perceived Eve men
running at full speed to whom the Judges
negroes and several others gave chase
and from an upper window of his rest. {.
+ dence handkerchief was waviRs' as II
beekoning for aid.
all rushed towards tbs place, and Hp-
on their arrival, XaP Sfnt was in theago.
MES of dCath. ,.sEs: stiu retained strength
enough,to aeEno wledge that they had hng
q contemplated robbia8 the house, and had
Ibcep-hequo cot saled in the neighs