The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-10-17
4 WOMAN'S COURAGE.

Morgan's men arc on uls
1t was in 1868, at the time when
John Morgan and his famous band Of
guerrillas were raiding the country, pill
Laying, burning and striking terror to
all the country round about, that a lit
tie band Of Union men, about 500, de-
tachment Of General Lew Wallaco's di-
vision, who had been left to protect SUI
plies at a point in Kentucky near the
Ohio line were surprised and surround
ed by Fllsworth's division Of Morgan S
men.
A sergeant dashed without ceremony
into headquarters with the startling
news. There was no time for delay The
outposts had reported the simultaneous
appearance Of lines of mounted men
springing like ghosts from all points Of
the compass.
"Morgan's devils? That means trou-
BILE, =" cried the colonel. "Here, Craw-
ford, wire Cincinnati for re-cnforce-
merits"
Frank Crawford, an aid to General
Wallace, enc detailed as telegraph OPP
orator, sraspad Vie key o, the ecker and
1doLlINA al tSblDttl ONCl lllc WIZ
Back came the answer:
Especial train, 1000 men, south
bound, pass you in an hour. Stop
them.
Preparation for defense were useless.
| The guerrilias began to close il and
the bluecoats found themselves outnum-
bered five to one. But there appeared to
be no intention on the part Of the raid
ers to press a fight. They amused them.
selves by slowly riding around the camp
and setting slow fires to the supports Of
railroad bridges over the river near the
camp. This gave the Union boys no lit
tie alarm. Some one must get through
the lines and flag the train.
"Who will volunteer to run the
gartlet?" asked the commander.
He looked at the circle of brave men
around him. There was a pause. 1t
meant almost certain death.
81 viii go, " cried one.
"What you, Crawford"
eyes. Here, give me the flag.
| Frank Crawford was no coward, but
| in tent adjoining headquarters lay a
handsome brown eyed woman, his wife,
and by her side bright little baby boy,
born under the old flag but four days
before Near by an old colored nurse
was comforting 3-year-old lad who
was frightened by the noise without.
The husband and father choked back
| the emotions which threatened to shake
his brave purpose, and after a hasty en-
brace and parting kiss rushed out of the
! tent
The guerillas were riding around out
side, keeping close watch over every
movement in camp. Stealthily Craw-
| ford moved along, watching for an UNI
guarded point at an opportune moment
Mrs Crawford was as brave as her hus-
band. Rising from her bed, she stag
gered to the door of the tent just III
! time to see him captured. Her heart
stood still for 2 moment; then, quick as
flash, she turned, pressed her babe to
her bosom for an instant, then glided
out and across the camp between the
tents, like white robed specter. Heed
less of danger, she hurried on, the ex-
element giving her strength.
The soldiers stood aghast as the wo-
t
bridges and clouds of smoke were slow
ly rolling skyward from the rebel fires
beneath.
"Haltl" The order rang out above
the din.
The determined woman paid no at
tention to the command.
"Fire!" A cloud of bullets fell on all
sides. She needed them not, but ran on,
her long black hair flying about her
shoulders and her loose gown and bare
feet giving her the appearance Of an in
sane woman. She reached the bridge
and leaped from tie to tie in safety. Be
You'd was a second bridge. Gould she
make it? 1t was burning underneath.
She could see the flames leaping vi
around the beams. She grew dizzy. She
dared not look down. Everything wa:
getting black. With superhumal
strength she gathered herself for the
final effort. Another beam was reached
another, one more. Thank God, she was
over!
Her foot had scarcely left the last
beam when, crashl the whole structure
collapsed. Mortified and stunned by the
effect of her narrow escape, for mo
ment she was powerless to move Thel
she heard the whistle of the locomotive
as it rounded the curve. Springing for
ward, followed by the angry and disap
pointed cries of her pursuers, and grasp
ing the little red skirt of her baby
which she had picked up from the flool
of the tent as she left, she raised it, and
summoning all her remaining strength
waved it frantically above her head.
rifle shot rang out, and the brave woman
fell, pierced by a rebel bullet.
The signal was seen. The train will
its precious freight was stopped almos
at the brink of the ravine.
On the side track in front of the en-
CINE lay she who had risked her life t.
save the soldiers White and still wa
the upturned face, as though death haC
laid his hand upon her. Tenderly thu
silent figure was carried into a car anC
laid upon a hastily constructed cot, ans
gentle hands ministered to her needs.