The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-12-22
BRAVE WOMEN.


Heroic Deeds ~ Members 81 the weaker
sexs
In October. 1877, the brigantine Moor
burg left Foochoo. in China, for Mel
bourne. carrying four seamen, the cap
tain, mate, and last, but by no means
least, the captains lwife, who was
little delicate woman, and her baby.
They had not gone far on their voyage
ere the crew fell sick, and one after
another died. The mate did not sue
cumb entirely, but became reduced to a
skeleton and was incapable of doing
much, while the captain himself was al
most In as miserable a plight, his legs
having swollen tremendously, and his
body being mass of sores. His wife
alone held up under the terrible heat, al
though she had nursed the sick till they
needed nursing no longer, had looked
we'll to her baby's needs, had done duty
at the wheel in regular watches, and
taken her share of seaman's work be-
sides. To make matters worse, the ship
sprung a-leak, which the captain luckily
was able to stop; and eventually the
Moorburg got into Brisbane harbor,
half full of water, with two sick men on
board as her crew ell told. and q woman
at the helm; the gallant woman bring
ing not only the ship but her baby safe
into port.
Some time In 1871 woman named
Theresa Maria, dwelling in the village
of Fratel, on the frontier of Portugal
and Spain, on the way across the fields
with her husbands dinner, was told by
ashepherd boy that he had seen a wolf
prowling about. Never having seen
one in her life, she put down her basket,
and, directed by thellad, climbed to
high place, and looking eagerly around,
deserted the animal in the act OF devour-
ing the lamb. Thinking to scare the
bru1e from its prey, the boy shouted at
it and pelted it with stones, 80 inturiat-
ing the wolf that it LETT its meal unfin-
ished and made for its dieturber, Jump
ing up at the little fellows face, tearing
She flesh, and then pulling him to
the ground. What did the horror
stricken on-looker do run awaye
Not she. Picking up a large stone,
she rushed on the beast and seized
hold of him. In vain he bit and tore
her flesh; the undaunted woman con-
tlived to keep his throat closely infolded
by her left arm, while she battered his
head with the stone, and at length
killed him. Meanwhile the villagers
had been alarmed and came hurrying to
her aid, armed with guns, sticks and
stones. Meeting Theresa on her way
home covered with blood from terrible
wounds in her face arms and hands, they
carried her to the hospital at Mia,
where, piliful to tell, she expired ex-
actly a month afterward, consoled in
her dying hours with believing that she
had not sacrificed her life in vain. A
false belief alasi for the shepherd boy
died OF hydrophobia day or two after
his lamented deliverer.
A poor servant girl of Noyon, in
France, once proved herself a real
heroine. A common sewer of great
depth had been opened for repairs. the
opening being covered at night with
some planking; but those in charge of
the operations neglected to place any
lights ear, to warn wayfarers of the
danger in their path. Four men return
ing home from work stepped on the
planks, which, being frail and rotten,
gave way under their weight and pre-
cipitated them to the bottom. 1t was
some time before any one became aware
of what had happened; and when the
people gathered round, no man among
the crowd was daring enough to re
spond to the frantic entreaties of th'
wives of the entombed men, by descend
ing that foul and loathsome depth
Presently, fragile-looking girl of seven
teen, stepping to the front, said quietly
"I'll 20 down and try to save the poo
fellows;" and creatures calling them
selves men were not ashamed to stanC
by and see Catherine Vasseur let dow
on her valiant and fearful mission
Then ensued a few long minutes @
anxious suspense before the signal +
haul up was felt, and two still breath
ing but unconscious men were, with tn
gallant girl, brought to the surface
Nigh exhausted as the effort had lei
her, the heroic maiden only stayed t
gain breath before descending again, re
gardless of the risk she ran The sec
ond venture nearly proved fatal. Upo
reaching the bottom of the sewer, an
fastening rope around one prostrat
form, Catherine felt as though she wa
being strangled by an invisible hanC
Unfortunately, the rope around her ow
waist had become unfastened, and wheI
after cropping along the dripping, clamm
wall, her hand touched it, she had M
strength sufficient to pull it down
Dazed as she was she still had her vii
about her, and, loosening her long hal
twisted the luxuriant tresses with tn
rope. The rope was hauled up and th
horrited crowd beheld the mammal
-e-> form of the brave young girl swingin
OF her hair and to all appearance deaC
Fresh air and prompt administration
stlmulants brought her to consciousne
and the happiness of knowing that,
she bad failed to saving all, her brav
endeavors had restored three of IL
bread-winners to their families.
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