The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1882-05-25
LADIES' COLUMN.
Some Brave Women.

Some Brave Women.
A West Virginian named Van
Bibber was one day hotly pursued
by Indians, bent upon obtaining
his scalp; and after all access to the
river being cut of, he made for an
overhanging rock, just below Kan
awha Falls; and there, a hundred
feet above a seething whirlpool,
kept his foes at bay with his good
rife, within sight of his wife, stand
ing with her babe in her arms on
the other side Of the river. For a
moment she stood as if petrifed,
then calling to him to leap into the
river and met her. she laid the
child on the grass, sprang into a
skiff, seized the oars, and piled
them with a will. As she neared
the middle of the stream, Van Bib
Der, saw the Indians coming in full
force, yelling in anticipation of an
easy capture.
Wife, wife" shouted he: I'm
coming; drop down a littler lower
and springing from the crag, he
descended like an arrow into the
water.
As he rose painting to the sur
face the boat was along side of him,
and his wife helped him to scram-
bic into it, while a shower of
arrows and shot fell around the pair.
The brave woman wasting none of
her strength in words, silently
rowed her more dead than alive
husband to the bank, straight to
the spot where the baby had been
left. Some men pulled the boat
high up on the sand, and helped
Van Bibber on his feet. and gently
deposited him by the infants side,
whilst its mother bursted into a
wild fit Of weeping. The babe is
now living in the pride Of grand
fatherhood, and the rock is called
Van Bibber's rock to this day, IN
remembrance of his narrow escape.
Some time in 1871, a woman
named Theresa Maria. dwelling in
the village of FrateI, on the frontier
of Portugal and Spain, on the way
across the fields with her husbands
dinner, WAS told by a shepherd boy
that he had seen a wolf prowling
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 devouring a lamb. Think
ing to scarce the brute from its
prey, the boy shouted ut it and
pelted it with stones, so infuriating
the wolf that it left its meal unfn-
ished, and made for its disturber,
Jumping at the little fellows face,
tearing the flesh, and then pulling
him to the ground. What did the
horror stricken lOOLer-On do-run
away? Not she. Picking up
large stone. rushed on the beast,
and seized hold Of him. In vain he
bit and tore her flesh; the I'M
Haunted woman contrived to keep
MS throat closely EMBODIED by her
eft arm, while she battered his |
lead with the stone, and at length |
killed him. Meanwhile the villagers |
lad been alarmed, aud came hur-
ying to her aid, armed with guns,
ticks and stones, meeting Theresa
N her way home covered with
Hood, from terrible wounds in her
ace, arms and hands. They car
led her to the hospital at Mia,
here, pitiful to tell, she expired ex-
city month afterward, consoIed
4 her dying hours with believing
hat she had not sacrificed her life
n vain. y false belief, alas for
he shepherd boy died ofhydropho-
ia day or two after his lamented
oliver.
A poor servant girl Of Noyon, in {
rance, once proved herself q real1
eroine. \ common sewer Of great
epth had been opened for repairs.
ne opening being covered at night |
18th some planking, but those in
barge Of the operations neglected
D place any lights near, to warn
-ayfarers of the danger in their
ath. Four men returning from
-ork stepped on the planks, which
cling frail and rotten gave way I'M
er their weight and precipitated
hem to the bottom. 1t was some |
me before any one became aware
f what had happened: and when
he people had gather around, no
ian among the crowd was daring
nOugh to repond to the frantic en-
reaties of the wives of the en-
embed men, by descending that
Dul and loathsome depth. Pres
ntly, a fragile looking girl. of sew
nteeu, stepping to the front, said
uietly:
I'll 90 down aud save the poor
sllows;' and creatures calling
themselves men were not ashamed
, stand by and see Catherine Vas
eur let down on her valiant but
'artul mission.
Then ensued a few long minutes
f anxious suspense before the sig
al to haul up was felt, and two
ill breathing but unconscious men
ere, with the gallant girl, brought
, the surface Nigh exhausted as 9
lie effort had left her, the heroic
alden only stayed to gain breath
afore descending again. regardless
the risk she ran.
The second venture nearly proved
tai Upon reaching the bottom of [
e sewer, and fastening the rope i
ound one Of the PROSTATE forms,
ltherine felt as though she was 9
ing strangLed hv an invisible