The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-12-02
BRAVE WOMEN.
Heroic Deeds by N Members of the weaker
Ser.


Heroic Deeds by NJ embers of the weaker
Sex.
In October, 1877, the brigantiue Moor
burg LETT Foochoo. in China, for Mel
bourne, carrying four seamen, the cap
tain, mate, and last, but by no means
least, the captains wife, 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 brcame reduced TO n
skeleton and was incapable of doing
much, while the captain himself was al
most in as miserable plinht, hi legs
having swollen tremendously, and his
Nody being mass of sores. His wife
alone held up under the terrible heat, nj
though she had nursed the sick till they
neeeed nursing no longer, had looked
well to her babys 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,
balf full OF water, with two sick men on
board as her crew all told, and woman
at the helm; the gallant woman bring.
ing not only the ship but her baby safe
into port.
some time in 1871 a woman named
Theresa Maria, dwelling in The village
of Fratel, en- the frontier of Portugal
and Spain, on the way across the fields
with i er husbands dinner, was told by
q shepherd boy that he had seen a wolf
prowiiDg about. Never having seen
one in her life, she put down her basket,
| and, directed by the lad, climbed TO
| high place, and looking eagerly around,
deserted the animal in the act of devour-
ing the lamb. Thinking to scare the
brute from its prey, the boy shouted at
it and pelted it with stones, so iniuriat-
ing the wolf that it LETT its meal unfin-
ished and made for its disturber, Jump.
ing up at the little fellows face, tearing
the flesh, and then pulling him to
the ground. What did the horror
stricken on-looker do run away ?
Not she. Picking up a large stone,
she rushed on the beast and seized
| hold of him. In vain be bit and tore
! er flesh the undar nted woman con-
trived to Keep his throat closely infolded
by her LETT 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, pitiful to tell, she expired ex-
act.y a month afterward, ccnsoled in
her dying hours with be ieving that she
had not sacrificed her life in vain. A
false belief alas! 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 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 n 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-
cioitated 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 10 re-
spond to the frantic eptreaties of the
wives of the entombed men, by descend
ing that foul and loathsome depth.
Presently, a fragile-looking girl Of seven
teen, stepping to the front, said quietly
"Pll 70 down and try to save the poor
fellows;" and creatures calling them
selves men were not ashamed to stand
by and see Catherine Vasseur let down
on her valiant and fearful mission
Then ensued a few long minutes o.
anxious suspense before the signal tC
haul up was felt, and two still breath.
ing but unconscious men were, with the
gallant girl, brought to the surface
Nigh exhausted as the effort had left
her, the heroic maiden only stayed tC
gain breath before descending again, rt
gardless of the risk she ran The sec
ond venture nearly proved fatal. Upar
reaching the bottom OF the sewer, anC
fastening n rope around one PROSTATE
form, Catherine felt as though she Wiz!
being strangled by an invisible hand
Unfortunately, the rope around her owr
waist had become uniastened, and when
after cropping along the dripping, clamm!
wall, her hand touched it, she had 30
, strenGti sufficient to pull it down
Dazed as she was she still had her wit
about her, and, looeening her long hair
, twisted the luxuriant tresses with tn
rope. The rope was hauled up and to-
horrifi9d crowd beheld the inanImat
form OF The brave young girl swinging
by her hair and to all appearance dead
Fresh air and prompt administration q
stimuiarts brought her to consciousness
and the happiness OF knowing that, i
she had failed 10 saving all, her brave
endeavors had restored three OF tn
| bread winners to their fam lies,