West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1883-07-04
A Brave Woman.
A TRUE STORY.

Nearly a century ago, when
West Virginia, thinly settled and
cleared, was a favorite fighting
ground of the Indian tribes, there
lived near the Kanawha Falls a
settler of Dutch extraction, named
Van Bibber, a man of some note
and distinction in those early
times. His homestead stood below
the Falls; and opposite to it, on
the other side of the river, was an
overhanging rock of immense
size, jutting out about a hundred
feet over the seething whirlpool
caused by the Falls, and rising to
nearly one hundred feet above the
water. This rock was once the
scene of a remarkable adventure,
which exhibits what woman's love
will give her courage to achieve
for the defense and rescue of those
to whom she is united in the ten
derest bonds Of affection.
Van Bibber was one day return
ing from an expedition into the
dense forest on the opposite side
of the river to his home, when he
unfortunately crossed the path of
a party of Indians returning from
some distant fray, and dressed in
the full glorles of the war PATH
paint, feathers, and. wampum. A
moment more, and they were in
hot pursuit after him and the set
tier, though possessed of great agil-
ity, and being swift runner, found
himself unable to gain the bank Of
the river before the flying steps of
the savages had enabled them to
double on him. And cutting off
all approach to the water, he was
driven to the summit Of the over
hanging rock, where, by the aid of
his rifle, he kept the enemy for a
few moments at bay.
! He stood up Dravely in full view
of the savages both above and be-
low, who yelled with triumph at
the prospect of his speedy capture.
Across the river before him lay his
home; and as he looked, he saw his
wife emerge from the house, start
led by the noise, with her babe
nestled in her arms. She stood as
| if petrified with terror and amaze
ment helpless, as he then thought,
to render assistance. Suddenly,
borne upon the light breeze to his
ear, came the clear tones of her
voice.
Leap into the water and meet
meW
And laying her babe on the
grass, she flew to the little land.
ing, seized the oars, and sprang in
to the skiff alone. Well for her
that her arms were strong, and
that so many of her hours had
been passed on the sunny river,
which flowed with hundreds of
; eddies in its rapid current past the
wall of their home.
There is no indecision or weak
ness in the steady, firm stroke OF
E the oars which bears her rapidly
on her dangerous course. Her
husband must be rescued, and
there is no human arm but hers to
save him. Nerved by love to
double exertion, the brave woman
steadily nears the middle of the
river
drop lower, wife"
"Lower, YETI; and with the last
words, Van Bibber sprang from the
crag, and descended like an arrow
into the water.
With every pulse beating wild
ly, the devoted wife rested on her
oars to see him rise to the surface,
while her frail canoe danced like a
cork on top of the swlrling waves.
Ages seemed to pass in that awful
suspense. Had the fall injured
him? Had he struck the boulders
which lay, as she well knew, in
multitudes under the water, car
ried down from the Falls above ?
| Would he never rises Her eyes
l tried in vain to penetrate the
l depths of the water; and, in an ag-
E,ony, she swept the canoe still fur
Hther down the stream A moment
anaore, and his head rose suddenly
.near her, and all her mind was di-
lres,ted to helninp him climb into