The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-11-02
NOW A GIRL DEFENDED A FORT.
A STORY FOR GIRLS.


they must fight. To all such we com.
mend the following story of the bravery
and sagscity of girl of fourteen, who
defended fort tor week, her garrison
consisting of two cowardly soldiers, one
OF whom she prevented from blowing up
the fort; two boys of ten and twelve, an
old man of eighty, and man who had
sever fred a gun. For week she held
Che Iroquois at bay; cheering the fright
ened women and children and still more
frightened soldiers, going without food
or sleep; always on the alert, and at last
delivering her charge in safety 10 de-
tachment of forty soldiers sent to her aid.
The history we copy, with the usual in
justice of history towards women, does
not give her full name-only Madeline,
although the lieutenapt's name, who
came to her did, is mentioned.
This feat of Madeline is one of the
most courageous on record. 1t was not
9 sudden squirt of enthusiasm, but long
contested battle with willy foes without
the fort and cowardly friends within.
From Brant and Red Jacket, by Edward Eggleson
and Lille Eggleson oeelye.
There was a settlement called Yer
chires, some twenty miles below Mon
treal. Settlers must always have place
of refuge. Here was fort connected by
q covered passage with a block house.
One October morning in 1872 the inhab-
itants were in the field at work. There
were but two soldiers at the fort. The
commander and his wife were absent.
Their daughter, Madeline, girl of four
teen, stood on the landing with hired
man, when she heard firing.
Run, Mademoiselle. runr' cried the
man; "here come the Iroquois."
Looking around the girl saw the In
dams near at hand. She ran for the fort
and the Indians, seeing they could not
catch her, fred at her. Their bull
lets whistled round her and made
the time seem very long"
a. she afterward said. As soon IS Made
line reached the fort she cried out: "To
arms! to armsr' hoping that she would
get assistance. But the two soldiers
were SO frightened that they had hidden
in the block house. When Madeline
reached the gate of the fort she found
two women there crying for their hus-
bands, who were in the field and had
Just been killed. Madeline forced them
In and shut the gate. She instantly took
command of the fort and went to ex-
anime her defenses. She found that
eome Of the palisades had fallen down,
leaving holes through which the enemy
could easily enter. She ordered them
immediately set up and even helped
among them herself. When the little
commander repaired TO the block-house,
where she found her garrison Of two, one
was hiding in the corner. the other viii
q lighted match in his hand.
"What are you going to do with that
match?" said Madeline.
Light the powder and blow us Ill
up." answered the soldier.
"You are miserable coward, said the
girl. Get out of this place"
People always like to obey in time o.
peril the one person Of resolution and
GOODNESS. The soldier did ~ Madeline
bid. She then flung aside her bonnet
put on hat and took gun. Msdeline'
whole force consisted Of the above men
toned soldiers, her two brothers Of TEL
and twelve years Of age and ~ old mai
cf eighty, with some women and chill
d<en.
ssIst ~ light 10 IL dsath, |" sid Made
NJ - hss brothers. I'VE 80 hehtin(