The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-07-16
: Young kseroine-A Wisconsin GIrs
saving the Lives Of Her Little Sisters
ard Brothers

From The Wisconsin River Pilot.l
thomm, Iclfc and wife. with !: family Of
small children. settled in this county some
LIZ Mol. than Il Year ago, and being poor
,i.ry. inter many hardShips. erected small
iHcliu- aud cleared few acres of land,
hat they Were in the wilderness ten miles
,,om nrighbor>. 4 few weeks ago the ia
th"r and mother left their family, consisting
Il Z rjr aged twelve years, one aged nine
years, and TWO other children aged respect
.,"y three wears aud thirteen months, on 4
i.rto the settlement 10 get a COW and bring
III ~onc Potatoes 10 plant.
Attrr the parents had been gone few
hpur>. the house took fire, and the Oldest
-.lI immediately rushed to the roof with
wafer, but not being able TO remove the
Shingles. she could do nothing to stay the
1,lnr,, which gained rapidly, spreading on
Il, l>ld" ol the roof. until bursting through
ihrl drove her from her work. The heroic
II. npM turned her attention TO saving her
!g9'hcls and sisters. Coming to the door OF
the buiIding she found that the child next to
a"r own age bad got out Of the house, br1nS-
l!t- the baby with her, but the little three
y,.sr-old had crouched under sharlns-horse
~ The further corner Of the room. There
being no chamber-hoor, the fire was drop
iln- from the burning roof between the
cI.lI and tue door, and when asked to come
oul 1t refused to do 50, saying, . l am safe
-.rr. the fire don't drop here"
pl'r little heroine he>itatcd only moment,
blt lushing through the falling embers
"Tou@ht the little one to safe place, both
iuy!ng their clothes somewhat burnt. But
DON comes the hardest part Of the task be-
lore her. Scantilv clothed and with no food
'i' took the babe in her arms and with the
ot1er children started upon the trail for the
>"it!"men'. After going few miles she en-
rouulerrd rapid stream. swollen by the
'iTIns rains so that in fording it the water
z'ne up 70 her arm.pitS. She first carried
u" bahe across. and then the little three
}"ar-old and lastly bali led, half carried,
ne older sister through the water to the other
'4"k. Three times during the remainder OF
II" day she struggled across the swollen
>'Eeam> in her way until night set iD, the
o'ep forest surrounding her. Cold, wet,
aA1 hungry, she sought place to camp,
aad by .,uod fortune found an old camp
r't b! the Indians, upon which about one
hall of The roof still remained. Under
'n> she placed her little flock, and then
!oUec.ed pine boughs and made rude
h"d, Placing the little one in the mid
d". The heroic girl stripped of her dress
1Hd spread it over the children, then
Covered them with bOughs to keep them
nom the chilly night air, and sat down be-
,rlr them to watch through that long, cold
night, comforting the little one when it cried
and spclhing words of cheer TO the older
2n". The long, dreary hours OF night
dragged slowly by, and at the first peep Of
oiH -be resumed her toilsome march, and
.'ia nearly reached the first settler when she
"rt her parents returning. An Older and a
WISER head might have found an easier way
'ul ot the dilemma: but we feel certain that
10 one could have acted Drawer or have en-
3Hf"f more than the little daughter of
lhOlnas Nelfe.