The Portland daily press., 1886-07-26
A BRAVE WOMAN.
MRS. Kate PincIn Battles CowardIy
Ruffian.
An Attempted Robbery on a Maine
Highway.

LEWISTON, Me-. July 24.-Kate M. Pincin
of East Monmouth has lately been visiting
her sister in Auburn, and is woman per-
haps 40 years old, of fine physique, and, as
recent events have proved, abundantly able
to take care of herself. Mrs. Pincin tells the
story to Lewiston Journal reporter of re-
cent attack upon her by a highway robber,
while on her way from Augusta, abundantly
and fully vouching for its truth in all de-
tails. At the time of the last payment of
pensions in June, Mrs. Pincin started from
Monmouth and drove to Gardiner, where she
left her team, took freight train to Angus
long jaunt called at the pension office in
Augusta for the money which was due her
about $50, "Are you not afraid that some
body will rob you ?" asked the folks at home
that morning before she started out "The
road to Gardiner" they had said, sis long
and dreary and full of dark places, and you
are alone and woman, and it is dangerous"
But she had denied the danger, and declined
to inconvenience any enc else by the trip.
"Won't you take revolver?" they then
begged her, and she again declined Her
father, however, with rare foresight, as 1t
now seems, went into the house, took down
the revolver, Loaded it, and, carrying it out
to her, put it in a snug place under the wagon
seat, and told her to use it if the occasion de-
manded. Mrs. Pincin yielded to his wishes,
although she hardly thought of the revolver
until she stood by the desk in the pension
office counting her money. At this time she
did think of it, for, as she lifted her head,
her eyes met those of man who had been
greedily watching her as she counted it. She
put the money in her pocket, and watched
the man as he turned on his heel and walked
to another part of the office. She didn't see
him again in Augusta or on the train to Gar
diner. In Gardiner she found her team at
the stable where she had left it, and soon
left for home. Mrs. Pincin drove along
blithely enough until she had passed Spears
Corner, when she heard team coming be-
hind her, as if driven at full speed She
started her own horse a little, but the coming
team was faster than her own. She looked
around, and at the first glance was startled,
for she thought she recognized the lounger
whom she had seen at the office at Augusta.
She kept calmly on, driving the horse in the
middle of the road, the team every minute
coming nearer. The place was secluded and
well calculated for robbery, if any one had
that intention. The man in the team drove
up so that his horses head Tapped the wheel,
and then, turning to one side of the road,
drove quickly by. When a rod ahead he
pulled up, jumped out and grabbed her horse
by the bride, stopping her team at once.
What do you want?'' said the lady.
'Iwant that money" was his reply. "Fork
it overp'
Conversation was brief, for the lady was
one of action. AS the highwayman turned
to look at his horse and again at her. he sud-
denly noticed that he was looking into the
muzzle of cooked revolver There was no
trembling in the hand that held it either. 1t
was as calm and steady as a clock, and the
brute at the horses head saw that bullet
from it would end h, his days, if the hand
luton, too, in her face, for, as she expressed
it, she was not frightened, only '.just mad all
the way through" 1t was her trick, for she
held the trump card, and the man was wise
enough to see it, for with an oath he let his
hand drop from the bride and slouched into
his own team.
''Now, sir" said she, ''you turn toward
Gardiner" With the revolver still on him,
and covering him at every movement, the
resolute woman watched the man from the
minute he dropped her bride rein until he
had turned the wagon and was a hundred
yards back on the road on his way toward
Gardiner. Then she picked up the reins,
tucked the revolver under the seat and drove
home to East Monmouth.