The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-08-31
A COURAGEOUS WOMAN.

The following account of the courageous conduct
of young lady has been communicated to a New
jersey paper: .. .ase
impaired by the climate ofthe seaboard was induced
to remove from the city Of New York to the
interior of Illinois, his family consisting of his wife
and three children, the Oldest young lady OF
seventeen summers and the youngest some three
years. Early that spring, maiden lady, a
particular friend of the family, and very much
attached to Mrs. NJ. and her children, removed
from New York and took up her abode with them.
She had not been long in her new home before she
was suddenly taken away by death, While Mr.
and Mrs VI. were attending the funeral OF Miss W.
Miss. NJ. was left in charge of the house and the
young child, and the room containing the effects
of the late Miss W, Which was situated on the
second story OF the house, was locked by the young
lady and the child put to sleep in an adjoining
room while Miss. NJ. was busying herself with her
duties below. Some time afterwards, Miss. NJ,
hearing noise up stairs, and supposng. the child
had .woke, proceeded to look after it, but found 1t
sleeping quietly. With thought as quick as
electricity, she concluded that some one had
entered Miss w. s room from the outside for the
purpose of robbing it. Acting on this theory, she
immediately went down stairs, procured her fathers
double barrelled gun, and returning opened the
door of the room Of the late Miss. W., when her
expectations were fully realized in beholdinga
stout man in the very act of apPropratlng gold
watch and chain, which he had just taken from
trunk of the late Miss w. She ordered him I"
lay down the watch, and the fellow noticing her
determined attitude and manner, very readily
complied. She next ordered him to take the
money from his pocket, which he had extracted;
he denied having taken any, when she gave more
reremptory order, accompanied with suitable
movements of military nature, when he thinking
s'discretion the better part Of vaor produced the
money and deposited it with the watch. She then
told him to leave, which order he readily obeyed.
Cn the return Of her parents, measures were
taken (which proved successfully and the fellow,
after being caught, was speedily brought to trial
fully identified, convicted and sentenced to the
State prison. and the Court caused to be presented
to the young lady testimonial in the form OF
beautiful pin, with suitable inscription. t
short time after this, the same young lady was
r at home alone as before, and her parents not
returning at dark she took the precauton to fasten
r the outer door She had not long done SO when
! she heard knock, but before exposing herself to
2 danger, she took the precautien to provide the
means of defence in the same two-barreled gun
she had used on the former occasion On carefully
4 opening the door, strange man presented himself
, and injured care you Miss. NJ" She replied,
e eyes, what do You want?" He inquired again.
t care YOU the young lady who had man sent to
e the State Prison" She replied, II am. 'lhen'
e said he, II am his friend, and have come to put
you out of the way and drawings long dirk knife,
was proceeding enter the door, when she delbcr-
r ateIy aimed the gun at him, and told him if he
n advanced a step he would be dead man. She
p immediately noticed that he changed countenancc
t. and began 10 tremble; whereupon she pursuing her
d advantage, ordered him to about face, march
o which he very readily obeyed, and as ne was
d retreatinc she gave him a parting salute, by
!. dischargng one barrel of her trusty companion,
which unfortunately only accelerated his retrogradc
IT motion. -. i ..~-,-.- .l