Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-09-13
STORIES OF TIE DAY.
How "A Brave Girl Saved Her Fathers

How Brave Girl Saved Her Fathers Life.
The neighborhood OF Union Depot,
Tenn, was distracted with feudal troubles
during the war, says a correspondent of
the Philadelphia Inquirer. Coils. Snap,
Ledhetter, and Leith of the confede, g
forces, with their partisan bands, favaged
the country from one end to the other. and
were met with stern resistance by the
Union Home guards. At the beginning
of the hOstilities of the bridge across the
Halston, above Union Depot, was fixed up
on for destruction by the confederate Off
cials.
A band of men under Col. Ledhetter was
sent from Knoxville to the structure They
arrived in the town just after sunset, and
proceeding to the bridge found it guarded
by two men. One of these guards ran
away when the confederates began to
smear the bridge with coal oil. but the
other remained, and, shotgun in hand,
opposed the marauders. As they advanced
he retreated, fighting them step by step,
and several of the guerillas. shot dead.
fell from the bridge into the turbulent
stream and were carried on down toward
the Tennessee.
Finally the brave defender was over
taken and one of the confederates, who
knew him, cried out, with musket cooked
and presented to his heart:
Surrender or you are a dead man.
"Never!' cried the watchman and he
discharged his shotgun full at the advanc-
ing man S heart.
The confederate fell upon the ties. and
his body, resting for a moment. finally
tumbled into the river below. The burly
watchman's gun was empty and had shot
away alIshis ammunition He dubbed his
gun, and in the lurid light already faring
about him from the fired bridge. he faced
his enemies. reSolute, defiant TO the last.
They rushed upon him and he was over
powered. His gun was wrested from his
hands. and stout rope was wound about
his body, first incl sing his arms.
What shall we do with him. asked
the leader
He should hang! Hang HIM" echoed
the chorus.
To the cedar grove" was the order.
and those grim guerillas, with the bound
watchman in their midst, marched back,
across the bridge, now a sheet of flame,
and through the town, to a cedar grove ON
the ridge beyond.
Here they halted, and the leader of the
band, addressing the prisoner. said:
Its the verdict of the crowd that you
be hanged. Have you anything to say
''Nothing?' was the defiant answer.
You are whelps and | am Il Union man.
Do your worst.
String him up ordered the leader.
and rope was produced and knotted about
the patriot $ neck
He was allowed a minute for prayer and
his white lips were inaudibly voicing a
last petition to the great father. when a
slender. girlish figure. attired in snowy
white. burst through the grim throng and
threw her arms around the doomed man ;
neck.
With nervous fingers she undid the
moose and, forcing the stern-vizaged crowd
aside. cried out in daughterly Indignation.
For shame. You are fifty to one. and
you would commit murder. This is my
father. If you hang him you shall hang
me also
The guerillas were abashed at this bold
defense and for a time said nothing Fin
ally one man spoke. and he evidently voiced
the sentiments of his fellows, for his words
were wildly cheered.
Now. said he. lets adjourn JEFF
Davis Is free man.
Aye, eye!'' was the answer. and they
slunk away. leaving father and daughter
to make their way back to the little town.
which now vas Photographed against the
sky's background by the lurid glare of the
burning bridge.
Father and daughter still live in Union
Depot. and every night the brave girl
now a matron with children about hel
knees. gathers up her two bright tn
buckets and journeys to the spring below
the town. chatting gayly with her neigh
Dor women