Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-08-21
HEROIC GIRL.
UnexampIed Goodness I'm shooting q
Una WOuld.be Ravisher. 81 h.

1t was mentioned briefly a few days
ago that woman on Island No. 40, a
few miles above Memphis, had shot q
negro who stole into her room to commit
an outrage on her person. Fuller par
ticulars have come to our knowledge of q
thrilling character, and they are GER
tainly worth recording to 60 into the his.
tory Of the age. The days Of heroic wo-
men are not numbered. The girl of the
period in this instance is not all corsets,
false hair and Grecian bend.
The young lady in this case is named
Shaw-simply Sarah Shay, five are NOS
mistaken, She was raised in Memphis,
and is Of humble but respectable origin.
Her circumstances in life were such that
she has been obliged to earn living by
her own exertioDs. She is quite young
not more than eighteen or nineteen
yearg old--apd OF ooarss is sood.looking.
as brave girls always are. Some time
ago she went to live in the family of Mr..
Doc. Batemap, on Island No. 40. She oc-
cupied at night room adjoining Mr.. and
Mrs. Bateman's, little daughter of the
latter sleeping with her, Sorpe Two weeks
ago the young lady thought one night
that some one tried to get into her room.
This alarmed her, and the next day she
borrowed Mr. Batemans 2istal f;o4 ais
wife, but did not tell him for fear be
would laugh at them both. In two or
three days she returned the pistol, and
Mr.. Bate@an was not told that it had
been loaned
The night after the pistol was re-
turned, the young lady was awakened by
the conviction that some one was in the
room besides herself and the little girl.
She listened and listsns5, hut heard
nothing but the breathing OF her com
panion and the beating Of her own
heart. But not being abls 70 dispel the
IDEA, she fell on plan to place herself
on the defensive. She spoke to her little
companion, and told her that she must
get sons water, at the same instant
rising and going into Mr.. Batemans
room. Instead of alarming the family,
as almost any enc alss would have done,
she gently stole Mr.. Bateman's pistol !
from under bis head without disturbing |
him, and making noise with her foot to |
dro|n tue noise Of cooking it, returned to
bed, and was soon breathing with the
Of sound sleeper. She had
but q short time to wait. A noise was
heard at the bedside, and somebody
,alght her by the foot, and then sprang
up on the bed with the stealth and elias
tieity of cat His time had come she
raised herself up and fred two shots at
he bold intruder. Something fell heavily
10 the floor, and then she heard some
body scrsmbling out at the door. All
became quiet. aa1 ol4ans'
The young lady proceeded to arouse
Ar. Rstemsu, who had heard the pistol, |
,ut did net know it was 80 close. When
! light was procured, pool of blood was
ound on the floor, and in the yard was
Ound an expiring negro as black, fend-
sh and hateful as ever belonged to a mid
light league, His account vas settled.
lie was wounded 10 the shoulder aud in
he groin. Both balls took good effect,
md in an hour or so the brute was dead.
Ie bad been hired in Memphis week
'efoEs to work os Mr.. Batsmsn's place
aw the young lady, and resolved to out
age her. Had she been less firm and
he might have choked her to
cath aud succeeded without disturbing
hat sound-sleeping family.
We hope that the young lady will marry
husband as noble as herself, and that {
be race will prove prolific and long.liyed. c
MENFHIs pLUB.-In obedience TO q 7
equest Of many members special meet,
% viii be held ar our hall on Saturday J
vening at 3 o'clock. erain'ilf "a
By order Of the President: i
80 NJ. HIRscH, Secretary. c