Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-11-28
all y, eney Will murder u,

MIS-. Leach assisted her d.,,h.o.
nu uragglng the red coat to tha tnr 70. =,
1ne stairs, tumbled him beadlonotpo o sop "
70 "en .a closing the door, thew bastensi
fro,o .oss the still smoking fragment.
irom the floor to the ward s nen''
scarcely had they accomplised tb;.
tnah another party of soldiers wha '
da daa ueserted their command stin an m
e.ed'oring to prevent the debarkpant =,
tne Americans, retreating mast thi
nouse, ,es ana, seeing that it had not been
niea, Two Of them, carrying firebranJs
WIN tnem, attempted to fire it from
WITHOUT. But the brick Foundation
mhlch was carried several feet ahova
tne surface of the ground. made tb;s
difficult. "'"uo ''iiS
Inside with you p shouted soma .,
their fellows; ''you couldn't starr ,ba a
nre there in an hour.n
Upon this hint ther made for the
door, which having been broken from its
hinges by the first burning party. could
not De fastened against them.
But no sooner had the foremost NJ
the two entered the room where the
TWO women were than the heroic Mar.
gaiet Leach, who had armed herself
with the musket of the soldier she had
disabled, ran him through the BODY
with the fixed bayonet.
The man uttering a crv of agony
ieli forward on the weapon and forced
II from the courageous young lady.
But as quick as thought she snatched
1t from under him, and springipg to
the entrance like tigress prepared to
defend her young, she would have dealt
a death blow upon the other had not
her mother, reasured by the fearless
conduct Of her daughter, armed herself
with heavy fre-shovel and buried the
corner Of it in the soldiers forehead,
causing HIM to fall outside the door.
With great presence of mind, the
women first extinguished the brands
the wounded man had dropped upon
the floor, and then dragged the dying
soldier into the room lest the sight of
him might attract his passing COM
rades:
wow, mother" said Margaret, ''let
us go to the cellar with these fellows
too, before another set of them arrive,
for they seem to be determined that
our house at least shall not escape. If
these Yankees were only in the tow.
all would be WELL"
And dragging the two soldiers, still
bleeding profusely, across the floor.
they also were forced TO the cellar.
This done, they set to work clearing
up the blood stains before others should
make their appearance.
But while the brave women were
engaged in this they were alarmed by
sounds upon the cellar stairs. Steps
were heard cautiously ascending. The
truth at once flashed upon them. The
first soldier, whom Margaret had floor
ed with the fire iron, had been only
stunned, but revived by the cool air of
the cellar he was now returning to the
upper room to revenge himself upon
them for the rough handling they had
given HIM.
In another instant he would have
been upon them. But now the brave
girl who seemed equal to any emergency
sprang to the door, and grasping the
bow of the latch and throwing all her
strength upon it held it with such firm
ness that the fellow could make no i'm
preston against her.
LET me help you, Margaret. said
her mother, running up to her assist
ance.
s.Nol no ~ exclaimed the brave
hearted maiden. ''I'm sure / can hold
1t, mother. But do you run to Aunt
Lvdia's room and see if the Yankees
are in town-I'm sure they will save
us. And 'twould be so nice to make
these house burning raScals prisoners. !"
Mrs. Leach ran as directed to the
MINER room occupied by the sick lady,
from the window of which she could
overlook the town. To her great JOY
she saw the red coats retreating In con-
fusion In the direction OF the woods
while the Americans were In pursuit.
The latter, however, soon gave up the
chase. and attempted to save some OF
the burning buildings, and assisted the
citizens in saving some OF their GOODS.
s.Thank God |. Thank God !" was
Marparet's earnest ejaculation, as she
still tugged at the cellar door, while the
prisoner. was alternately begging 10 De
released and cursing in impotent rage
at his heroic young captor; ..
"Now. mother" cried the girl, ran
to the street and bring some OF those
hrave Americans here. Run ! L can
Iaen this fellow safe till you come
hack -
In few minutes Mrs. Leach return
ed accompanied by two young men,
ons of whom was an officer. 1ne
wboIe affair was briefly related to them,
and the prisoners--for there were txo So
of them, only one having dieo m Tue
cellar fthe man struck by ME-. LII
,rare taken in charge by them.
"a And Margaret Leach, who through
Ut tba whole struggle with the incen-
Sar S;nr;as had behaved with such heoric
n-d uiai 10 ovar ~ fine cellar door, fell FAINT
ar @ INTO the arms of her mother, ana !!
ins ii,es go some weeks before she recovereo
from the sudden reaction OF the 'eiii'
hle excitement of that hour.
But perhaps the most sngula' ON, amu
.. oil events the most romantic con.
q. o. of this truthful story Is the Iact
cta,'h eha, the Young American officer, struch
tnas LA - .h. remarkable beauty and extra
with whiting Tue ;utrepidity of the young lady,
ordlnat attorward made her his wife, ano
ibey % are at this time residing au. s;nan -
s;rbt S of the place where tney 81 ast. SnS =
iaSIv S met. They are now grantR,a ,;.i,a oms. ems.
nxay ls, plsssed to narrate to the little one q
ever p hem the story Of the capture ol
Fort George.
Bucking Bro noho'
Much has been said ana wi,stta .ns ha,f % ba,