The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1873-06-05
- q OF ale
Mary Mead's Defence.

t.~s~ " e~SsSha&Ss
Keep up a good heart, Mary, I'll
bo back in three hours at furthest
and don't think you'll be disturbed
in that time, but you must keep q
good watch there is no telling when
the red devils may be about,
The speaker was John Mead, the
time was 1850, and the place on the
banks of French Greek, midway OF
the region between Fort Duquesne
and the great lakes. John and his
wife had settled hero five years ago
when the country was an unbroken
wilderness, and his nearest neighbor
forty miles distant. Since then sew.
eral families had settled in the vicin-
ity, and it was to the next cabin five
miles away JohRwas going to borrow
some meal until it would be safe for
him to leave his family long enough
to 60 to mill, for the Indians were
especially troublesome at that time,
and several recent outrages had op-
Grated to keep the men Of the settle,
ment always within call Of their own
domiciles.
Meads cabin was situated on a
knoll near the creek, and commanded
an unobstructed view of the sur
rounding country country for a
mile in every direction. Substantial.
ly built of rough hewn logs, and hav.
ing n projecting gallery on oil sides
well loop-holed, so that it was well
nigh impossible for an attacking par.
ty to approach tho walls. 1t was
known as Meads fort, and a dozen
resolute men we'll armed could have
held it against any number Of In.
d. ms.
Mary Mead was a small timid, wo
man, at all times when not called
upon for immediate action, and yield
ing to her more powerful character
istic, her husband had hardly disap
peared when she drew her children
into the house, closed and barred
the door, securely fastened the only
window, a hole in the gable end
about two feet square and seven OF
eight feet from the ground, and sal
down in the semi-twilight to awai,
his return. At intervals Of q few
minutes she would peer through the
loopholes with which the house was
plentifully saturated and after 9
glance resume her seat. A nervous
anxiety seized her for which she
could in no way account, and she
could only pray silently for the swift
return Of her husband.
An hour had passed away wher
after gazing long aud earnestly
through the loopholes, she fell or
her knees for O moment and rose tc
all appearances an entirely different
woman. She saw seven Indians
leaving the forest and come toward
her dwelling, and her whole soul wal
now filed with q determination tc
defond herself and her little flock u
the last. From a shrinking woman
she had in an instant developed in {
heroine, resolute and invincible.
Hastily thrusting her children un
der tho bed and surrounding then
with barricade of firewood and sci
zing the axe, the only available wea
pom in the house, she waited The
coming Of the savages, meanwhile
carefully observing the movements
of the savages. She had not long t.
wait. In q few moments they sur
rounded the house with so little O
their usual care about exposing theil
bodies that Mary was certain they
knew Of the sbsence Of her husband
The door was first tried two OF
three ssvages dealingit sturdy blow
With q heavy log. The door itself
hewn from q single trunk-two fee
across six inches thick and securet
by two massive bars, would have re
sisted their most strenuous efforts
but Mary was no mean auxiliary X
the strength Of her fortress. A Ions
bar Of iron heated red hot was sud
denly thrust out Of the loophole ant
the next instant the two savsges will
loud yells dropped their bstterinl
ram and retreatsd rapidly from tn
still threatening iron.
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