The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-11
A BRAVE WOMAN.

In the autumn Of 1877 portion Of the
Cape Colony known as Galckaland lad
been in considerable ferment, and the
fires, 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 1884 bore the yoke Of thralldom
with no good grace. and 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and good behavior had gone UNPUBLISHED,
had at length thrown down the gauntlet
10 England and commenced hostilities by
q sudden and violent attack upon her
native allies, the Fingres, 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 all haste 20 the front TO check these
sayages in their career Of rapine end
plumber. II 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
lious district that the following episode
took place
Situated about fifteen miles from Ibela,
small native village and in the ldutche
reserve, was a lonely mission station,
comprising a small chapel, house and
few native huts. Here il was that a
member Of the Church of England Mis-
sionarv society carried on his labors and
sought 10 turn these savages from their
ways If darkness to those of light The
family besides the minister consisted Of
his wife and three small children. the
eldest @ girl aged - and two boys, aged
respectively 10 and :. besides which were
two native female servants.
AZ the time of the attack by the kafhrs
upon the Fingres the missionary was
away from homo attendingto his religious
duties az a neighborng village. The first
news of the rising that reached his vito
was a dreadful massacre that had
taken place by the Kafiirs near lbeka, in
which the proprietor OF a store and Ids
family had been murdered by a band Of
these bloodthirsty warriors after stub
born resistance. end the store looted and
burnt. The pCoI woman was for the no
ment uaralyzed with fear as to what would
hs the fate Of her husband, far from home
and urarmod. and in the midst Of these
relentless foes, and also what would be
the fate for herself and her children if an
attack was made upon them. The iirst
uirlt was passed i'm anxious watching ard
waiting and hoping against nope that her
husband might return. though She knew
that unless warming had reached him III
time he must be ere now surrounded.
The morning dawned without any event
ofimp0rtancc having occurred, and the Gay
wore on and no sign Of either friend or
enemy was seen. Another .ight passed
and another dawn broke, and with II came
terrible news 4 friendly native who had
been travelling on during tho night re-
ported 90 one If the servants that the
feuds IN Ouiutana had cruelty butcheied
Tine missionary Is o drunken frenzy. Turn
iur a deaf car 10 lis entreaties 10 spare
him who had done them DO harm, ana
that le had died after enduring terrible
torture. asking pardon for his murderors.
The shocl, was terrible 30 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
victualiur il 10 withstand q siege II neces-
s1ry. Everything was brought IN from
the chanel and stored in the house, the
windows and doors were barricaded with
bags If mealies CORN, and anything
that came 70 hand that would servo 10
turn a spear or stop a bullet 4 plentiful
supplv of water was brought in from the
stream. and lastly all the available arms
Of the Quondam fortress were turned ont;
loaded and put in readiness II some small
loopholcs that had been left for the pur'
pose
friendly native went out TO recon
noifer and about 10 o'clock returned win
tbc startling information that band oil
about fifty men, on foot and on horse
back. were making their way across INC
plain in the direction OF the station HiiO
we're then about three mics distant, com
inc on at a leisurely pace, but fully armed,
Tie doors were instantly fastened ano
barricaded and every corner of the mouse
WAS inspected by its brave commander
who determined TO sell herself ana mel
little ones as dearly as possible Sh'
strovc 10 rally the courage OF her illI'
force bv PRAYER and recollection thai
they were in God hands. but the servants
were almost beside themselves an1
moaned and wept at their impending
danger. 4 little hero arose in the eldes
nov who said. you and Tomb shoot
wemna and | and Harry will load The
o,uus Nearly an hour passed in TIN
Sreadful suspense The approaching
marty came leisurely on and headed TOWARD
n point quarter Of a mile to the LETT o
the house. where they paused and mop
bcgan 10 assert itself that after all the;
might pass and leave them unframed
nm IL soon became evident that tho re
snlt of this short halt only meant
copncil Of war rs to the plans to be pnr
sued in attacking the hopse' the'
eagle ewes having taken in the fact ina
it had been put into stage Of siege an'
that the inmates were determined 10 snow
fight. About a dozen Of the horsemel
galloped forward, and pulling up thei
horses hundred yards from the house
one of their number rode forward I'
PAGES aud sending out his strong voice h
uttered In the peculiar rolling meiiihuou
LANGUAGE of the Kaffir summons upo
the garrison 10 surrender, promising ina
their lives should be spared. Ihere wa
not an inmate of THAT household that 1l ~.
not know now little the word OF eshi
could be relied upon, and the reply ina
was sent forth 10 this demand was ina