Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-11-28
A REAL HEROINE,

Early IN the morning of the 9th Of
May, 1913, the garrison in charge Of
Fort George, on the Canada side Of
the mouth Of the Niagara. was alarm
ed by the report that a large American
force was approaching the place in boat.
with the intention of attacking it.
The troops of the garrison were com
manded by General Vincent. The at
tacking party o. Americans was LED
by General Boyd and Colonel Miller
Scarcely had the latter commenced the
landing, under the fire of British
soldiers drawn up in line along the
beach, than Vincent, foreseeing that
the place would fall into the hands of
the assailants, directed that the houses
of the town should be set on fire, hop.
ing under cover of the confagration
and the consequent confusion of the
distressed inhabitants, to make good
his own retreat to the woods in the
rear
For this unnecessary and barbarous
order the memory of the British general
is to this day held in detestation by
the people of this place. The first
notice the inhabitants mostly women
and children, the men being absent in
the service of the government had
was the red flames bursting from the
dwellings about them, and many of
them without clothes, as they leaped
from their beds, rushed from their
burning houses to return afterwards to
heaps of smoulderlng ruins.
One of the doomed buildings, which
stood apart from the rest of the build
ings, was occupied by family of the
name of Leach. 1t consisted of Mrs.
Leach her husband being absent with
the Provincial troops. her daughter
Margaret, aged 16, and some younger
children. Besides these an old lady,
q relation of the family, for many
months unable to leave her bed, was IN
an upper room of the house.
The first intimation this family had
of what was going on about them was
a heavy crash at the front door, which
aroused them from sleep and sprlnglng
from their beds they found number
of soldiers already in the house. Ihey
carried brands of fire, and hastily warn
ing the occupants to leave the house,
they broke UP the furniture and piieo
il in the middle of the room, where II
was soon In blaze.
Seeing this, Margaret, who was
beautiful and courageous girl, ran u
the outer room, and returning Win
nail of water dashed it upon the flames
before any of the soldiers could inter,
fere to arrest her. At this momen'
another soldier entered the house VIII
a burning brand. But before hls com
rades could reach him, to reklndle lht
splinters from it, the brave girl nao
snatched it from his hand, and strih
inc the soldier across the face Win H.
threw it into a puddle in front Oh tht
door. ord
All this had been done before Woio
had been spoken by terrified Mrs. Leacn
She now inquired the meaning ,;o u III
outrageous conduct In Brltlsh soiuIo,. =,
who she supposed were among thelh Ia, e,
protectors, and not to purh '"e'
houses over their heads. o
at is the orders, madam" Sald Que
of the soldiers. 1.-THE YANKEES M'
landing and will soon be in possession
of the place. Run, Jack," " ne eoa.lnu
ed. turning to one of his comrades, n ,ul
to the last house and get ano.n; !;
brand. We must obey orders, poys'
the women don't like 1t. ,ro
This was said to the fellow MaIsat,S a,S.
had so rpnceremoniously saluted Will sn'
burning torch. He instantly dlsappeaaii
ed ): but soon returned with punu'
of smoking faggots, when wete h. an,
upon the eXtingughed ruppion N,
falling upon his hands ana hneoO so1cot,
soldier commenced to blow tnS iSssTJI ;tI
into a blaze. Asthe room was LILLE "fo, fo
smoke. rendering it uncomfortao,e ~
the soldiers to remain, they not uo1D, !,
ing that all would soon be wiappe.us =
oonfiagration. withdrew to JOIN otno a,
narties of incendiaries busy In 'noN
work Of destruction. 1oroare
In the meantime fearless MAJ e.
Leach. who had fastened 10 tno anl
another pail of water, reluin "r.oet
finding the single soldier still ensSgS, .an
in kindling ihe fire, dropped her pulu nt,
and catching up an iron from an enIt l;t
nre.nIaee- struck the man a piow VIZ,
it on the back OF the .,s nsHI, his fac,
Knocked him senseless VIII - ~osrtl,
upon the flames. Dragging nhsd LII th
from the fire she again oao and ono
contents of the pail upon II, ,;shod Sm
more the flames were extlngu wbo
She now called to her me.nes,; ss.,;stin
Almost frantic with fear, was go, th
her younger children to escape iioD' "
1.-THE fire is out, mother = sne ,s snUu, xou
ed, "but come here, quick l "an' w.
help" .ho room an
found her daughter alone WIS ..as tr,
body of the soldier, which sue, sue "nenin
ing to drag towards the door
into the cellar. r,u don,
Margaret Have you killed M nln hra,
81 fear 1 have" replied tns nth II
girl, trembling excessively I IN ssF
terrible excitement she was ND IN An
quick. mother, If they return NV