Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1895-01-10

the other lived near the scene of &C.
lion.
Early in the war, the inhabitants
On the frontier of Burke County, North
Carolina, being app~rehensive of an at
tack by the Indians it was determined
to seek protection in q tort in a more
densely populated neighborhood in an
interior settlement. A party OF sol.
diers was sent to protect them on theil
retreat. They proceeded some miles
unmolested- the soldiers marching in
. hollow square, with the refugee fam.
lilies in the center.
The Indians, who had watched these
movements, had laid a plan for THEN
destruction. The road to be travelled
lay through a dense forest in the fork
Of q river, where the Indians concealed
themselves, and waited till the trav.
elers were in the desired spot. Sud.
denly the war whoop sounded in front,
and on either side: a large body q
painted warriors rushed in, filing uE
The gap which the whites had entered,
and an appalling crash Of firearms fol.
lowed.
The soldiers, however, were pre-
pared. Such as Glanced to be neal
trees darted behind them, and began
to ply the deadly rifle. The others
Frustrated themselves upon the earth,
among the tall grass, aud crawled to
trees. The families screened them.
selves MS best they could.
The onset was long and fiercely
waged. Ever and anon amid the din
and smoke, the warriors would rush,
tomahawk in hand, towards the cen
ter. Bnt each time they were driven
back with heavy loss by the cool aim
and firing Of the back-woods rife
men.
Suddenly an appalling sound struck
terror to the hearts Of the little band
of women and children in the center.
It was q cry from their defenders "a
cry for powder! sour powder is Civ
ing out" they exclaimed in despair
Have you any? Bring. us some or VIC
can fight no longer"
A woman of the party happened to
have q good supply. Quickly she
spread her apron upon the ground,
poured the powder into it, and then a,
the risk OF being killed every step.
started to the nearest soldier. Having
supplied him she crept hurriedly tt
the next, and SO went the round from
soldier to soldier. This she continued
to do until not only her own supply
but all she could collect from the 9th,
er women was distributed where it was
most needed.
At last the savages were compelled
to give way and departed badly de
feased and crippled.
The victorious whites then returned
to those for whose safety they had
ventured into the wilderness. In,
quiries wereanade as to who hal been
killed, and n running up cried:
where is the woman who gave us
the powder? l want to see her"
"Yes-yes-le let us see her" echoed
from mouth to mouth. Without he,
we should all have been lost"
The soldiers ran about among the
women and children looking eagerly
for her and making inquiries.
Soon others returned from the pur.
suit and asked the cause Of the com
motion.
You are looking in the wrong
place." they replied.
is she killed? All, we were afraid
Of that" exclaimed many voices.
Not when l saw her." answered
soldier. "When the Indians ran of
she was on her knees in prayer at the
root OF yonder tree, and there l left
her"
There was a simultaneous rush fol
the ttee-and there, to their great joy,
they found the woman safe, and still
on her knees in prayer. Thinking moi
Of herself she received their applause
with great modesty, and did not mani.
fest any other feeling than gratitude te
God for their great deliverance. The
memory of this noble heroine is still
held in the greatest respect.--Ram'
Horn.