Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1877-05-03
TWO BRAVE WOMEN.

There died in this city. says Her.
aid letter, dated Detroit, Michigan, a
woman so little known, even to the peo-
pie IN the block in which she lived, that
the Grape on the door was the frat
warning many of them had that she
had been Ill.
II was the widow Hutley, and living
IN the same cottage, and made widow
at the same time, was Mrs. Ebberts.
As the trial Of John d. Lee brought
back 10 the public recollection the hor-
rors OF pioneer life in the West, the
death Of Mrs. Hutley may again uncov-
er that page Of history on which was
written the Indian massacres of frontier
settlers in Minnesota. Both widows
were victims Of that brief and bloody
strife which desolated so many cabins
on thatpicketl inc Of civilization. Histo-
ry forgot to record their names and their
heroism. Letboth be chronicled here.
When the frontier troubles began the
two widows were wives and mothers,
living in log cabins about a mile apart.
These two cabins were the only
ones for three or four miles either way,
and when the conduct of the Indians
became so conspicuous that prudence
counseled removal from the frontier.
the Ebberts family left their home and
consolidated with the Hutleys for mu-
tuai defence. Each family had two
children, making eight persons IN the
cabin. The Indians had thus far mo-
Tested no one, but they wore fierce and
surly looks, skulked about as if.keep-
ing watch on the settlers, and the pio-
neers were living in a state OF excite
ment and apprehension. One day,
when the women had occupied the
same cabin for two weeks, Mr.. Hutley
started Tor a settlement, seven miles dis.
tant to procure provisions, leaving Mr..
Ebberts to guard the cabin. All out.
door work had ceased. II the pioneer
moved outside OF the harricaded cabin.
his life was carried in his hand; and his
eyes were on the alert To detect the
presence of the expected foe. The av.
erage woman can sever the ties Of
friendship, or rise superior TO the peris
ot the hour, to carry her point Mr..
Hutley had not been gone an hour " her
the children, rendered nervous and ir-
ritable by their close confinement, en-
gagged in quarrel. The eldest child " As
only FIVE so that no great ply sical dam
age could have been inflicted, but the
quarrel angered the mothers, harsh
words passed, Mrs. Ebberts declared
that she would not remain IN the Hutiey
cabin another hour. Her husband
was weak-minded cnough to share in
her feelings, and Immediately prepara-
;ions were made 10 return and occupy
his own cabin. He took the bed on
his back, and the oldest child by the
hand. ard started for home, leaving his
wife to follow on with his rifle and the
other child. Anger brought such a
spirit OF recklessness that the man no
longer feared any danger. Mrs. Eb-
berts did not Immediately follow, hav-
ing to make bundle OF little articles,
and the husband had about 20 minutes
start Of her. While both women were
heartily ashamed OF their silly conduct
five minutes after their hot words had
been spoken, yet neither would be the
first TO make conciliatory advances, and
Mrs. Hutley stood in her cabin door and
saw Mrs. Ebberts and child disappear
in the forest.
just as she lost sight OF them she
heard the report OF rifles and faint yells
IN the direction Of their cabin. and she
instantly OWNED that the long expected
blow had fallen, Forgetting everything
but the fact that her neighbors were in
peril. she took down the spare rifle
which her husband had provided, and
which she knew how TO use, warned
her children not to leave the cabin. and
IN two or three minntes she was run
ming through the woods after Mrs. Eb-
ecrts. II subsequently, appeared that
-Ebherts had Just reached his home when
he was attacked BY band or d, feast
f'tey lodians. The child MAS shot de ad
st the fret volley. but the father pro-
longed his life for few minutes by
dodg,ng from tree to tree. His wife
was within eighty yards Of him when
he was killed. She heard the firing
and whocping, and while prudence
warned her to retreat. her love forced
her on to join her husband, The In
dams had caught sight Of her and open
ing frs-when Mrs. hstlsy cane up. -
History will never record hraver
deed. Rendered desperate BY the almost
certssn knowledge that her husband and
one child bad been murdered, Mrs. Et-
berts wss like . tigvees. She had her
husbsnd's rite, and for time the two
lone we~es held 'hss satre band Of