Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1873-07-31
A Young Heroine,
[From the Wisconsin River Pilot

From the Wisconsin River FiloG.l
Thomas Velfe and wife, with a
family of small children, settled in
this county something more than
year ago, and, being poor, they. after
many hardships, erected a small dwell
ling and cleared few acres of land,
but they were in the wilderness ten
miles from neighbors. A few weeks
ago the father and mother left their
family, consisting of girl aged
twelve years, one aged nine years,
and two other children, aged respec-
lively three years aud thirteen
months, on trip to the settlement
to get cow and bring in some pota-
toes to plant. q
After the parents had been gone
few hours the house took fire and the
oldest girl Immediately rushed to the
roof with water, but not being able
to remove the shingles she could do
nothing to stay the flames, which
gained rapidly, spreading on the in
side Of the roof, until bursting through
they drove her from her work. The
heroic girl now turned her attention
to saving her brothers and sisters
Coming to the door of the building,
she found that the child next to her
own age mad got outof the house bring
ing the baby with her, but the little
three year old had crouchcd under
shaving horse in the further corner
of the room, There b,ing no cham
Der floor, the fire was dropping from
tie burning roof between the child
and the door, and when asked to come
out it refused to 10 so, saying: II
am safe here; the fire don't drop
here" "
Our little heroine hesitated only
moment. but rushing through the
falling embers brought the little one
to a safe place, both having their
clothes somewhat burnt. But now
comes the hardest part of the task
before her Scantily clothed and with
no food she took the babe in her arms,
and with the other children started
upon. the trail for the settlement.
After going Il few miles she encount-
cred Il rapid stream, swollen by ile
spring rains, so that in lor,ling it tie
water came up to her armpits. Sue
first carried the babe across, and then
the three-year old. and lastly hal!
led, half carried the older sister
through the wafer to he other bank.
Three times during the remainder OF
the day she struggle | through the
swollen streams in her way until
night set in, the deep forest snrrnnnd-
ing her. Cold, wet, and hungry, she
sought a place to camp, and by good
fortune found an old camp left by
the Indians, upon which about one
half of the roof still remained.
Under this she placed her little
flock and then collected pine boughs
and made rude bed. Placing the
little one in the r-iddle, the heroic
girl stripped off her dress and spread
it over the children, then covered
them with. boushs to keep them from
the chilly night air, and sat down
beside them, to watch through that
long, cold night, comforting the little
one when it cried. and speak, G words
Of cheer to the older one. The long,
dreary hours of night dragged slowly
by, and at the first peep Of day she
resumed her toijsome march. and had
nearly reached the first settler when
she met her parents returning, An
older and wiser head might have
found an easier way out Of the dilem-
ma, but we feel certain that no one
could have acted braver or endured
more than the little daughter OF
Tho mas Velfe.