Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-08-24
DAY, AUGUST "a, 1882.

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on, and headvised instant flight. He was carri
ed to his chair, and the whole household salliet
forth from the back door.
The scene was terrific. The night wa
pitchy dark, and when, just as they stepped
out, sheet of flame belched forth from th'
vessels, it seemed to be almost against thei
faces. The roar shook the ground. Thu
troops were too busy saving themselves to no
tice the fugitives and they pushed on as rap
idly as possible.
No one was sufficiently protected from the
rain. Little Mary had the hardest part, fol
nearly all the children were in her care Th'
mud was deep. Some Of the little ones coult
walk but a short distance at a time, and hat
to be carried-Mary having always one, some
times two in her aims. Several of the ser
wants were near her, but none of them seemed
to notice her or her burdens. The last hors
had been carried off that very day there wa
no escape but on foot.
Suddenly ball came crashing through th'
trees. Then charge Of grape shot cut tn
boughs overhead. They were exactly in th'
range Of the guns. 1t was evident they hat
taken the worst direction, but there was nc
help for it now-it was too late to turn back
In her agony the mother cried aloud on God tt
protect her family. Mary hugged closer the
child in her arms, and trembled so she coult
hardly keep up. Another crash The shO
shrieked past them, striking the trees in ever!
direction. The assault was fierce; the roa
was incessant. The frightened family rushed
on as swiftly as possible toward friends
plantation, far back from the shore ; but Il
was soon seen that they would not have
strength to reach it even if they were moi
struck down by the flying shot. The Ameri
cans were pouring their fire into these woods
thinking the enemy would seek refuge there
The wretched fugitives expected every moment
to be their last. On they pushed through muo
and rain and screaming shot.
Soon they found they were getting more ou
of the range of the guns. They began to hope
now and then ball tore up the trees around
them, or rolled fearfuly across their path
They reached one Of the houses where theil
field hands lived, with no one hurt they were
over mile from the mansion, and out OF
range. The negroes said no shot had come
that way. Unable to flee further, the family
determined to stop here AS soon as they en-
tered, Mrs Gibbes felt her strength leaving
her, and sank down upon a low bed. Chilled
to the bone, drenched trembling with terror
and exhaustion, the family gathered around
her. She opened her eyes and looked about
She sprang up wildly.
ooh, Mary % she cried, "where is John p
The little girl turned pale, and moancd
"Oh mother mother he's left % She broke
into crying. The negroes, quickly sympathet'
c, began to wiring their hands and wall.
''Silence !" said Mr.. Gibbes, with stern but
trembling voice. The tears were in his own
eyes, The little child now missing was very
dear to them all, and moreover, was deemed a
sacred charge, as he was one of the orphan
children of Mr. Gibbes' sister, intrusted tc
him on her deathbed.
The wailing ceased; there was a silence
broken only by sobs and the master asked:
s'Who is willing to 60 back for the child p
No one spoke Mr.. Gibbes turned to his
wife for counsel. AS the two talked in 10"
tones. Mrs. Gibbes called her husbands atten
ton to Mary, who was kneeling with claspec
hands, in prayer at the foot of the bed. In
moment. the little maid rose and came tC
them1 saying calmly:
"Mother, must 60 back for baby"
s'Oh, my child" cried the mother, in agony
II cannot let you!'
''But mother, 1 must" pleaded Mary, "Goc
will care for me-"
1t was fearful responsibility. The guns
yet roared constantly through the darkness
the house might now be in flames it might
be filled with carnage and blood. Mrs. Gibbes
turned to her husband. His face was buried
in his hands. Plainly she must decide it her
self. With streaming eyes, she looked a,
Mary.
''Come, here, my child" she called through
her sobs. Mary fell upon her mothers neck
One long passionate embrace, in which all q
mothers love and devotion were poured out
and the clinging arms were opened without
word. Mary sprang up, kissed her fathers
forehead, and sped forth on her dangerous
mission Of love.
The rain had now ceased, but the night was
still dark and full of terror, for through the
trees she saw frequent flashes of the great
guns. The woods were filled with the boom
ing echoes so that cannon seemed to be or
every hand She flew OH with all speed. Soor
she heard the crashing trees ahead, and kne"
that in a moment she would be once more face
to face with death. She did not falter. Now
she was again in the fierce whirlwind Al
around her the shot hOwled and shrieked. Or
every side the branches fell crashing to the
earth A cannon ball plunged into the GROUND
close beside her, cast over her heap of mud
and threw her down. She sprang up anC
pressed on with redoubled vigor. Not ever
that ball could make her turn back.
She reached the house. She ran to the room
where the little child usually slept. The bee
was empty Distracted, she flew from cham
Der to chamber Suddenly she remembered
that this night, he had been given to another
nurse. Up into the third story she hurried
and, as she pushed open the door, the little
fellow, sitting up in bed, cooed to her and pu
out his hands.
With tears running down her cheeks, Mar!
wrapped the babe warmly and started dowl
the stairs. Out into the darkness once more
onward with her precious burden, through
the cannon-roar, through shot and shell
Three times she passed this iron storm. I'm
balls still swept the forest; the terrific boom
ing filled the air.
With the child pressed tightly to her brave
young heart, she fled on. She neither STUN
bled nor fell. The shot threw the dirt in he
face and showered the twigs down upon he
head. But she was not struck. In safety she
reached the hut, and fell exhausted across