The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1874-11-13
A Brave WOman's Exploit.
lEro1,o tia Giaani,a,aa&i Go lotto

The recent escape Of Marshal Ba-
zaine from the fortress Of St. Marguer-
lite, with the assistance of his wife, re-
calls an act Of womanly devotion, car
ried out in defiance of seemingly insup-
cradle obstacles.
William, fifth earl Of Nithsdale, was
one Of the unfortunate participant; in
the Stuart uprising of IT'S. He was
made prisoner, taken to London, put on
trial in February, l7l6, and condemn.
ed to execution on Tower Hill on the
25th of that month. His devoted wife,
Lady Winnifred Herbert, daughter Of
tho marquis Of Fowls, fastened from
the northern country to see her afflict-
ed lord. The roads in those days were
almost impossible in winter, and the ia.
tigue Of her long journey threw her into
fit Of sickness on her bed for several
days. She did not wait for recovery
before petitioning admittance to her hus-
bands prison. Permission was at last
granted, though under various restric.
tons. She was still hoping that Pc
tition to the king. through the house Of
lords, might obtain communion Of the
earl's sentence. Only two days before
the fatal Oath she became convinced
that such expectation was in vain.
Lord Nithsdale was confined in the
house Of the lieutenant.deputy Of the
tower, his room being sixty feet from
the ground, and exit from it lying
through the council chamber and the
passages and stairs Of the deputy's
house. The door Of the room was
guarded by one sentinel. Two others
were stationed on the same floor. Sew.
eral stood about the passages and
stairs, and two more by the outer gate.
Iu the face of all these difticultios, Lady
Nithsdale determined to make one des-
perate attempt to save her lord. The
moment she learned that nothing was
to be expected from the house Of lords,
she went to the tower and told each
guard she met that she brought good
news. mo more fears for the prison.
ers," she said, ''since now their petit
ton has passed. giving proof Of her
apparent joy by handing the soldiers
money to drink the health of the king
and peers. To her husband she said
AVNCA q "VAu VI lltf uCSIHu.
It was lucky for her that there we're
no reports Of the parliamentary. de-
bates in the papers, for she could not
complete her plan until the next day,
the 23d. She persuaded her landlady,
Mrs. Mills, and Mrs. Morgan, friend
Of her confidential servant, the latter
being not unlike Lord Nithsdale, in
shape and stature, to 60 with her to the
tower to pass for him. Mrs. Morgan,
by Lady Ms direction, put under her
riding.hood another Of the same kind.
On arriving, Lady Nithsdale was, as
usual, allowed to take only one person
in with her at time. She took Mrs.
Morgan, and when they had reached
the prisoners room made her leave the
riding-hood and conducted her out,
saying aloud: ''Pray do me the kind
ness to send my maid to me that may
be dressed, else should be too late
with my petition having previously
remarked audibly that she was going
to present separate petition Of her
own to the king. Mrs. Mills was then
brought in, the countess bidding her
hold her handkerchief to her face as
though in tears, desiring that the earl
should 60 out in the same manner, thus
concea'ing his countenance. She next
disguised her husband, doubling over
with white paint his long beard, which
there was not time enough to shave,
tinting his cheeks red and his eyebrows
yellow, to resemble those Of Mrs. Mills,
and putting blonde trcsses on his head,
Mrs. Mills then put on the riding
hood which Mrs. Morgan had brought,
and one of Lady Nithsdale's petticoats
furnished concealment for the lower
port Of the prisoners person. These
preparations having been completed,
Lady Nithsdale led out the real Mrs.
Mills, wearing the Morgan hood,
saying aloud, Dear Miss Catherine 90