The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-01-17


contest and Betty was left In posses
sion OF the prize Of battle.
She stood guard over the hemp pile
until tho Indians went away. after
destroying everything but the house
itself. and when the young warrior
looked back he saw her waving at him
the ono object which. above all others.
ne wanted as a trophy OF the descent
upon the house OF the Brave White
Squaw." name which Mrs Van
Alstine had already earned. From
that eventful day Betty's hat enjoyed a
notoriety II had not had before. and IL
is said that long afterward when the
colonies had secured their independ-
ence and when Betty had little
household OF her own--a Mohawk
Indian came TO her home and laugh
ingly recalled the gallant defense OF
the philadelphia bonnet" Strange
TO say he was the same warrior who
had tried TO carry il of the day the
band plundered her mothers house.
But the historic Mohawk valley did
not furnish the only girl patriot OF the
revolution. There Is an old saying
that Gen. Greene exchanged his
northern laurels for southern will
lows. IL is true that be met with
many reverscs during his famous cam
paigns in the Carolinas. and more
than once was compelled 10 flee from
n victorious foe; but these defeats do
not detract from his greatness.
During one OF his retreats, when he
had Lord Rawdon ut his heels. as IL
were, Gen. Greene was DESTROYS OF
sending n message TO Gen. Sumter. the
'Gamecock OF the revolution who
was then on the Waterce with his de-
tpchment Greene was anxious TO
form junction with Sumter believ-
ing that combined the American
forces might fall upon Rawdon with
success, as he had divided his army
and seemed TO offer himself as an easy
prey.
In vain did Greene look for some
one TO carry the message. The coun-
try between him and Sumter was full
OF Tories who meyer neglected an OPP
portunity TO shed the blood OF Wings.
as the patriots were termed. The
bravest men In the neighborhood
shrank from carrying the dispatch,
and Greene was despairing when a
young girl presented herself ut his
headquarters.
II hear that you want TO send mes
sage TO Gen. SUMTER said the beauti-
ful stranger. 81 will take 1t to him.
My name 81 Emily Geiger. and | want
to do something for my country"
The patriot general was thunder
struck, but at the same time he hailed
her proposition with unbounded do
light
IL know the country through which
| will have TO pass. - continued Emily,
and II you trust me with the message
promise TO place IL in Sumter 5
hands,
Accordingly Gen. Greene wrote a
letter which he gave the. fearless girl,
at the same time telling her its con-
tents. which she was 10 communicate
verbally to Sumter in case OF accidents;
and with the paper carefully concealed,
Emily Geiger mounted her horse and
rode away. She had embarked on IA
dangerous journey, but this did not
deter her Her way led through some
unbroken country and over ground In
tested with British and Tories. and on
tho second day she was halted by some
OF Lord Rawdon's scouts who refused
to believe her artfully contrived an
swers aud conducted her into their
camp.
Confronted by the new danger,
Emily Geiger's daring did not desert
her. She recalled Geu. Green's in
structions. and when she had been
placed in room. there TO remain
until she could be searched by one OF
her own sex. she made up her mind
what she would do. A Tory had been
dispatched for the woman who was to
search the suspected girl. and before
he had returned with her Emily ate
up Greene's written instructions 10
Sumner. piece by piece. II was her
only hope TO escape punishment IL not
death. and at the same u me keep
Green's designs from becoming known
to the enemy.
When the Tory woman arrived
Emily was carefully searched. but
nothing damaging was found on her
person. and. as she refused TO disclose
the secret she was suspected OF hav-
Ing In her possession, the Tories were
compelled 70 set her at liberty. Even