Wichita eagle., 1888-10-23
4 BRAVE WOMAN.

Cape Colony known as Galekaland had
been in considerable ferment, and the
hres, after smoldering for some time, had
broken out In the flames of rebellion and
war. The fierce tribe who inhabited this
country from the first conquest by the
English in 1894 bore the yoke of thralldorn
with no good grace, ard had on more
than one occasion since that time broken
out in revolt against their conquerors,
and as many petty breaches Of discipline
and good behavior had gone unpunished,
had at length thrown down the gauntlet
to England and commenced hostilities BY
= sudden and violent attack upon her
native allies. the FiIgres, an adioin-
ing tribe. a call to arms was made by
the colonial authorities, and as soon as
forces could be organized they were sent
with al haste to the front to check these
savages in their career of rapine and
plunder. It is during the time that passed
between the breaking out Of the war and
the arrival Of troops to the rescue of the
scattered white population in this rebel
Eous district that the following episode
took place.
Situated about fifteen miles from Tbeka.
q small native village and in the Idutche
reserve. was lonely mission station,
comprising small chapel, house and
few native huts. Here it was that
member Of the Church of England Mis-
sionary society carried on his labors and
sought to turn these savages from their
ways ef darkness TO those Of light. The
family besides the minister consisted Of
his wife and three small children. the
eldest q girl aged 12 and two boys, aged
respectively 10 and 2 besides which were
two native female servants.
At the time of the attack By the Kaffirs
upon tho Fingres the missionary was
away from home attending TO his religious
duties at a neighboring village. The first
news Of the rising that reached his wife
was Of dreadful massacre that had
taken place by the Kafirs near Tbeka- in
which the proprietor Of a store and his
family had been murdered by band Of
these bloodthirsty warriors after stub
born resistance and the store looted and
burnt. The poor woman was for the mo-
nent paralyzed with fear as to what would
be the fate OF her husband, far from home
and unarmed, and in the midst Of these
relentless foes, and also what would be
the fate for herself and her children il an
attack was made upon them The first
night was passed IL anxious watching and
waiting and hoping against hope that her
husband might return, though she knew
that unless warning had reached him In
time he must be ere now surrounded
The morning dawned without any event
ofimportance having occurred, and the day
wore on and no sign Of either friend or
enemy was scene Another night passed
and another dawn broke, and with il came
terrible news. 4 friendly native who had
foa-, -v>ora1i-,rr i,r-;,,r- La -,frr
ported 10 one Of the servants that the
fends at Quintana had cruelty bUtchered
the missionary is a drunken frenzy, turn
ing deaf ear to his entreaties TO spare
hin who had done them no harm. and
that he had died after enduring terrible
torture, asking pardon for his murderers
The shock was terrible to the afflicted
wife, but the instinct Of the mother
arose within her for the preservation of
her children She assumed command of
the little garrison and set herself about
victualing it 20 withstand siege if reces-
sary. Everything was brought in from
the chapel and stored in the house, the
windows and doors were barriceded with
bags of mealies corn, and anything
that came to hand that would serve to
turn spear or stop bullet. 4 plentiful
supply of water was brought in from the
stream, and lastly all the available arIn4s
of the quondan fortress were turned out,
loaded and put in readiness at some small
loopholes that had been left for the pur-
pose.
A friendly native went out to recon
noiter, and about 10 o'clock returned with
the startling information that q band of
about fifty men, on foot and on horse
back. were making their way across the
plain in the direction of the station, and
were then about three miles distant, COM
ing on at leis1rely pace. but fully armed
The doors were instantly fastened and
barricaded and every corner of the house
was inspected by its brave commander,
who determined TO sell herself and her
little ones as dearly as possible. She
struve to rally the courage of her little
force by prayer and a recollection that
they were In God hands. bat the servants
were almost beside themselves and
moaned and wept az their impending
danger. a little hero arose in the eldest
boy, who said: You and Tomb shoot,
mamma, and I and Harry viii load the
guns" Nearly an hour passed in this
dreadful suspense. The approaching
party came leisurely on and headed toward
point quarter OF a nile to the left Of
the house. where they paused, and hope
began TO assert itself that after all they
might pass and leave them unharmed.
But it soon became evident that the re-
salt OF this short halt only meant q
council of war as to the plans TO be pur-
sued IL attacking the house. their
eagle eyes having taken IN tho fact that
Il had been pUt into stage Of siege and
that the inmates were determined 10 show
fight About a dozen Of the borsenen
galloped forward, and pulling Up their
horses hundred yards from tho house,
one OF their number rode forward few
PAGES and sending out his strong voice, ne .
uttered IN the peculiar rolling. uellifuous
language of the ka1hr g summons upon 4
the garrison TO surrender, promising that
their lives should be spared There was
not an inmate Of that household that Gid
not know hcw little the word Of . hstlr
could be relied upon. and the rerIy tha.
was sent forth 20 this demand was tias
the band should rove on about their busi-
ness aud leave their masters. the English.
TO theirs. A derisiye laugh from the saw
age followed tals, and lie yelled out s
blood curdling answer that his ba-d
would tear the hearts out Of the inmates.
rs they had from the f@ther They then
retired towards their Slies On foot. and
sitter q short consultation cs-2c forward
with many yaIls aid h-andishins Of as
secSis tovarls the hose III the- vera
within seventy yards. when rne- stopped
and commenced wild firing upon the
fort, the balls from their rites patterine
Upon tie sides and roof, but doing 10
damage
The brave lady. with her one eonpan-
lon n a-Ds and surrounded By the two
boys, who each grasped cartridge, sent