The morning call., 1890-11-17
A FIGHT WITH OUTLAWS.
A Sixteen-Year Old Girl Proves Fl,
Erny yrrv-A Daaneraia Chance

BrHv"ry-A Desperate Chance.
The adventure of Hattie Benton, girl Of
16, with gang of outlaws OIL the Arkansas
River, proved her bravery to be equal to that
Of any man living. Soon after the war,
while everything was yet in confusion in
the South, and especially in the Southwest.
Benton moved from Missouri to Arkansas
and settled upon the Arkansas River at a
point midway between Pine Bluff and Ar
kansas Post He lived on the banks of the
river and furnished wood to steamboats,.
Hattie was his only child, and had been ac-
cust0med TO the wild life Of the West since
babyhood. The mother was an invalid.
who could scarcely leave the house or wait
upon herself.
The father was man Of fiery temper,
and people soon learned that 10 attempt
any love making with the girl would be
pretty certain 10 end in somebody's death.
Then 1t was that an outlaw named Jack
Cummerford sent the old man q message
that he was coming to make Hattie his wife.
Inc fellow was proprietor Of floating
whisky sbanty, ana had two or three hard
cases constantly with him. The father
boiled over at the impudence of the message,
and he arranged to kill the outlaw. on sight.
Had IL been known Just how he would come
Cummerford would have been welcomed
with bullet, but the messenger did not
state that part of it.
piles to lind shanty-bOat moored at the
bank and rough-looking fellow coming
ashore. Jack COmmerfurd and his gang had
arrived. and the villain intended to make
his words good. Benton was not armed;
tile outlaw had rifle in his hands. Suspect
ing some evil. the pioneer started TO retreat,
but was shot in the back before lie had gone
thirty feet, and he was dead almost as soon
as the outlaw reached him. The three men
then proceeded to the house together. The
mother and daughter were preparing break
fast, and were ordered TO make provisions
for the visitors. They had heard the rifle
shot, but before they could voice their sus-
plcions OF what had happened the leader of
the gang brutally said:
Come now, hurry up. I've come to take
the gal away, and as l thought the old man
might object just laid him out at the start.
No snivelIng, now. but git breakfast ready
and then prepar' to go with me-"
The mother was so overcome that she
dropped into a chair and began moaning
and weeping. 1t was terrible shock to the
girl, but she realized from the first moment
that IL she was to be saved from the fate
planned for her she must save herself. She,
therefore, went ahead with the preparations
for the meal, and about tae time the men
were told TO sit down to the table the
mother hobbled out and sat bown beside the
dead body of her husband, SO dazei and
terrified that she could not shed tear.
After the first shock the girl began to plan
against the gang, and every move made by
the men was narrowly watched. As the
place was isolated they had no fear of being
disturbed, and took matters leisurely. They
talked of the shooting of Benton as cody as
If they had only fired upon dog.
The frightened girl said nothing, but kept
her wits about her and watched every move
ment.
Cummerford had brought his rife to the
house, while the others had left their fire.
a oh ord IN Thn nj 40
against the wall in the rear of the men, and
just as they got fairly to eating the girl ex-
amlned 1t sufficiently to note that the cham
Der contained four or five bullets. No sooner
was she certain of this than she snatched it
up and sprang out doors, and as she ran for
her mother, who was in the direct line of
the boat, she called to her to leave the body
and hasten aboard the craft. Dazed as she
was the mother did not hesitate second
about complying, and she was aboard be-
fore any OF the outlaws came out.
When they did appear it was to find the
girl with the rifle at an aim, covering the
mothers retreat and walking slowly back
ward herself. The ruffians were all upset
for the moment. Then CummerfOrd sprang
into the cabin after the dead mans rifle,
and when he reappeared he brought it to his
face and commanded the girl, who was by
that time on board the shanty-bOat and try
ing to cast Oft the line, to come ashore. She
PAID him not the least attention. and he
cooily fired at her head. The bullet drew
blood from the edge Of her right ear. and in
retaliation she picked up the rifle and fired
an off-hand shot, Which killed the mau who
stood on the right of Cummerford.
Cummerford ran back into the cabin after
ammunition, but before he found it the boat
was half a mile below the house, and when
he opened fire the women sheltered them
selves in the cabin. As fast as he could load
and fire he fired upon the boat, hoping that
a stray shot might wound or kill. The girl
made no reply until the current carried the,
float into a tree top on the opposite side of
the stream Then when the outlaws began
to prepare to swim or float off to it, she
opened fire from the three or four loaded re-
vovers hanging in the cabin, and did such
good shooting as to force them to abandon
the attempt.
But the craft had not been detained more
than an hour in The tree top when Gov
eminent survey party came along and were
soon in possession of all the partic liars.
Tie women were taken off, the boat WIS
stripped of its pllnder and then the struc-
ture was given over to the flames. During
this time two men were landed to hunt for
the wretches, but, like the towards they
were. they left the locality with all possible
speed, and Cummerford was not heard Of
again until killed in fight at Arkansas
Post Rnstnp Conl m al Rullatin