Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-11-12
A Brave WOman's Exploit.

The recent escape of Marshal Bazane
from the fortress Of st. Marguerite, with
the assistance of his wife, recalls an act
Of womanly devotion, carried out in de-
fiance of seemingly insuperable obsta-
cles:
William, fifth Earl of Nithsdale, was
one of the unfortunate participants in
the Stuart uprising of 1715. He was
made prisoner, taken to London, put on
trial in February, 1716, and condemned
to execution on Tower Hill on the cath
of that month. His devoted wife, Lady
Winifred Herbert, a daughter of the Mar
| quls of Fowls, hastened from the north
country to see her afflicted Lord. The
roads in those days were almost impassi-
BILE in winter, and the fatigue of the long
journey threw her into fit of sickness
on her arrival which kept her confined
to her bed for several days. She did not
wait for recovery before petitioning for
admittance to her husbands prison. Per-
mission was at last granted, though un-
der various restrictions. She was still
hoping that petition to the King
through the House of Lords, might OBJ
tain Communication of the Earls SEN
tence. Only two days before the fatal
gath she became convinced that such ex-
pectation was vain.
Lord Nithsdale was confined in the
house of the Lieutenant-Deputyo of the
Tower, his room being sixty feet from the
ground, and exit from 1t lying through
the Council Chamber and the passages
and stairs Of the Deputys house. The
door OF the room was guarded by one
sentinel. Two others were stationed on
the same floor, several stood about the
passages and stairs, and two more by the
| outer gate. In the face of all these diff
| culties Lady Nithsdale determined to
make one desperate 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. No
more fear for the prisoner" she said,
since now their petition 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 never word of her de-
sign.
twas luck for her that there was no
reports Of the Parliamentary debates 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 con-
tidential servant, the latter being not un-
like Lord Nithsdale in shape and stature,
to go with her to the Tower to pass for
him. Mrs. Morgan, by Lady MS direc-
tion, 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 first took Mrs. Morgan, and when
they had reached the prisoners room
made her leave the riding hood and then
conducted her out, saying aloud: Pray
do me the kindness to send my maid to
me, that l may be dressed, else l shall
be too late with my petition" having
previously remarked audibly that size
/ was going to present separate petition
of her own to the King. Mrs. Mile was
then brought in, the Countess bidding
her hold her handkerchief to her face,
as though In tears, desiring that the Earl
should go ont In the same manner, thus
concealing his countenance. She next
disguised her husband, Gaubing over
with white paint his long beard, which
there was not time enough to shave, tint
| ing his cheeks red and his eyelashes yell
low, to resemble those OF Mrs. Mills. and
putting blonde tresses on his head
Mrs. Mills then put on the riding. hood
which Mrs. Morgan had brought
and one of Lady Nithsdales pet.
ticoats furnished concealment for
the lower part of the prisoners
person. These preparations having been
completed Lady Nithsdale led out the
real Mrs. Mills, wearing the Morgan
hood, saying aloud, Dear Mrs. Gather.
| inc, go In all haste and look for my
woman Evans, for she certainly does moi
know what o'clock 1t is and has forgotten
the petition am to give" The ante.