The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1873-02-20
MATILDA HERoN's PLUCK.
prNrS1scENcE OF THE OHIO RIVER IN WHICH The
NOTED ACTRESS PLAYED PROMINENT PART


We have gathered from Mr.. Thoma.
Baird, of Bowling Greene, the facts 0
; quite thrilling story, and shall relate
them in their order. These facts have
never before appeared in print, and are
{ all the more interesting now on thai
account.
i The story runs that, in the Summer
of 1856, the steamer "Ohio Belle" was
making her usual trip from Louisville
to New Orleans. When the steamer
arrived at Paducah there came on board
man who was evidently recovering
from drinking spree. His clothes
were of good material and fitted him
we'll, yet somewhat impaired by use.
His face was suiled, and bis beard had
grown to an uncomely length. His
eyes were blood-shot and glared mnat-
urally. His linen needed change.
Soon after the steamer left Paducah
this man went into the barber-shop and
had his hair shampooned and his face
shaved, in payment for which he ten
dered the barber $40 bill.
The barber being unable to make
the change, carried it for that purpose
to the first clerk of the boat, who, upon
examination, pronounced the bill a coun-
terfeit. The barber returned the bill to
his customer, saying: "The clerk tells
me that this is counterfeit" The man
received the money with stern air,
and then handed the barber another
bill, which, feeling little suspicious,
he also carried to the first clerk, who
pronounced it, likewise, counterfeit
The barber returned to his shop with
the second bill, as he had done before,
and, handing it back to the man, said:
The clerk says that this, too, is
In the meantime, the
clerk had left his Office and gone to the
hurricane roof, passing, as he did So in
ront of the barber-shop When the
barber returned the second bill, pro- !
louncing il counterfeit, the strange
nan flew, as 1t were, into rage, ana {
ushed out of the shop in wild, des- :
crate manner. He ran along the ii
yards and up the steps II the Aurri-
anc roof, where the clerk Of the steam
I had gore to join party of ladies .
nd gentlemen who were amusing them
elves with observations of the river
cencry, and with whom he was chi
aged in conversation. The man, hay. OF
~ reached the deck, drew revolver, 2
lshcd upon the clerk and shot him 8
cad in his tracks. Then without NJ. :
ring word he instantly fled, run ar
ING back over the hurricane deck and q
own the aftcr-guard, several gentlemen 70
elng in pursuit Of him. Miss Matilda
cron, then wcll-known, and since IA =
Gus as an actress, was a passenger. 4.
ing III the ladies' cabin ut the time.
ID when informed Of the pursuit and ~.
arlng the cry Of "stop him. stop r,
m" she ran out on the after deck ID,
q saw the murderer coming down In
I'm the hurricane deck. She cried O.,
t to him to stop" but he went on. Il
&c then rushed upon and Selling him On.
rev him down upon the deck, and ~
lclng herself across his body. there of
ID him fast until the passengers ran a a.
ward and secured him. The cour- }
e thus displayed by Miss Heron was n 'eI,
lily remarkable, and won the applause tioI
all who witnessed it. a ala
The murderer was firmly secured, be. = !
tied hand and foot fast to a chair c caasi
ich, for the purpose of additional Sc. s 5ar,
'Ity, was tied tight to a stanclion VIII
2 dead body Of the clerk was sent to- Sa'
ne from Cairo when the steamer ar kin,
cd there, but a mystery hung over mai
disposition which was made of the 5,
rdcrer prisoner. He disappeared gers ger
ween Cairo, Illinois, and Hickman a, an 5,
ntucky. Was the man given to a 6.
terry grave or not? PEP DC
bic |
negi