Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-12-18
a BRAVE WOMAN
She Proposes a Plan for Her Fa-
mily s Safety.

with the whites, II possible, on the
land occupied by their fathers, while
Otheys were exceedingly anxious to e1-
terminate the pale-faced intruders.
Mr.. Bodwelrs family consisted of
himself, his wife, and three children
the Oldest, Hannah, being Is years of
age, and the others, a boy and girl, 10
an 8 respectively. A cabin had been
built, several acres cleared. and the
seed sown-
Many Of the neighboring Indians had
Called at the cabin, inquired after the
crops, and taken a great interest In the
children; and although they had often
requested to take the smaller ones to
their camp, and as often been refused,
they appeared friendly and willing to
do what they could for the family.
Hannah's features were finely formed;
her eyes were dark. and her beautiful
brown hair, generally hanging in
tresses over her shoulders. always
called forth from the Indians express
sions of praise and admiration. After
an acquaintance of several months an
Indian chief desired TO take Hannah TO
his camp and make her one OF his IA
mily. To this proposition Mr.. Bowel.
of course, refused 10 accede, giving as
reason that his daughter was at that
time too young to he taken from her
parents, and suggested t. the chieI that
while he felt IL his duty as a father to
retain Hannah IN the family, he yet
wi-hed to live on terms or peace with
his 1.-THE chief's) tribe, and hoped that
the refusal to comply with his request
would hot be considered a mark of dis
respect, nor be the means of creating an
unfTiendly feeling between them.
The savage chief sat few moments
in silence, and then. heaving a sigh, re-
piled that he was so;ry they would not
do as he wished them 10, and at he
should not visit them but once more,
yet there would lie NJ trouble between
them, and none OF his tribe should in
juIe him
: After the chief had left the cabin.
MIS- Bodwell sud: "Jau es, L believe
that Indian means mischief"
"Why do you think sOT'' inquired
her husband.
because he said he should
visit US but once more, and / fancy
that would be TO kill us, she replied.
81 fancy not; he wouldn't do that. -
II hope not; but then 1t would be
Just Ike the Indians.
BE like some OF them, l know, but
/ think there's no danger"
''I'll tell you one thing, now," said
Mrs. I5Odwell in a decided tone, 81
shall not go TO bed tonight. / mean
to be awake IL they come prowling
about here They'd scalp us and take
Hannah and the otter children of witt
them.
1t was evident that Mr.. Bodwell him
self was somewhat alarm d; yet, wish
ing TO appear rs cool as possible. he IN
Quired: suppose they should come
what would you do if you weF'
awaken
.I'd show fight IN some way o
other"
Yes, but there are lot of then
and only few of us
There are guns in G e house." eN
claimed Mrs. Bodwell, "and We know
how TO use them"
Father" exclaimed Hannah, ''hoy
much powder is there in the house!
"A good quantity
IL know what to do, then!"
YES, you women always contriv
something" replied the father III
sarcastic tone.
IL know it'll succeed"
Then explain yourself"
You know" said Hannah, ''tha
he goes TO door and demands that 1t h
, opened, and those who come with him
llf any. stand Just behind him. Now
my plan is to put some powder unde
the ground round the door, and the
, explode it when they demand admit
l tance."
> Mr.. Bodwell shook his head as he e,
+ claimed, ''impossiblel'
. ~ think that it can be DONE" II
piled the daughter.
$ II know il can" said Mrs. BOdwel
D You can try IT if yOu wish" ";
e MT Bodwell's reply, as he procSe lie
[ get the powder.
/. After digging suitable hole tile
filed Il with powder and small stone
u a. 4 laying fuse SO that 1t could
!, lighted from the inside, the mine W.
: pronounced complete" by Mr.. BO
Z well, who, though he dIs;rusted Il
scheme when il was first suggeSte
, WIS now almost in ecstacy over IT.
u As. night approached the muske
were loaded. the doors barred and 3
o lights extinguished. Mr.. Bodwell toS
n his station at the lookout" as q
a orifice in the wall was called Sever
new holes had been made To fire throus
and IL was understood that after {
d explosion, II any human forms We
n seen. the muSkets should BE- diScharg'
n ut once.
y The evening hours passed slow
away, and vet no visitors. Night W
we'll advanced. When al natu
seemed asleep the listening ear caug
the souEd Of a footstep in the distanC
N then another, and still Grother. Nj
: Bolwell's fears were about TO be re
y Ized. \ form was visible IN the ST
II nyht. and then a SECOND, and 50 on U
sr IL between twenty and thirty India
le stood before the door. They VT
"a close together, and most OF them sto
NJ on the mine.
., The chief advanced, and striking
III the door with his club, eNclaIms
a. s-PaIeface, open door Me break IT, y
he All was still within the cabin
$: Again the Indian knocked, and
q, manded that the door be opened
!, Mr.. Bodwel pointed his musl
IN ough the orifice in such mani
d. that the muzzle was in line with
tn head of the chief. Then giving
MT signal for Hannah TO touch the fuse,
m aimed and fired, and as the victim
:, the magazine exploded, and twenty
dians met their fate while on a miss
Is Of cruelty and death
es Those not killed by the explos
he took to their heels. but bullets from
lis remaining muskets brought Two
n them TO the ground.
-. Everything was quiet now, anu
'A' the rays of the sun lighted up the "a
TX ern hills the gallant family unoar
IN, the door and stepped out to gaze vi
in the scrne- 1t was terrible 10 looA "
nf
OF the niahgieo iOin' 49, % wy - i;yss n
ng the Isnees.on Mcisn, 70 vindicate