The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-10-29
A WOMAN'S COURAGE.


my God, colonel. we're surrounded
Morgan's men are on usi''
Il was in 1858, 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 q lit
tie band of Union men, about 500. de-
tachment of General Lew Wallace's di.
vision, who had bcen left TO protect sup
plies at q point in Kentucky near the
Ohio line. were surprised and surround
ed by Ellsworth'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 reinforce
ments."
Frank Crawford. an aid to General
Wallace, and detailed as telegraph cp-
orator, grasped the key Of the ticker and
flashed an appeal over the wire.
Back came the answer:
Especial train, 1900 men, south
bound. pass you in an hour Stop
them"
Preparation for defense were useless.
The guerrillas began to close in 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 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 tho Union boys no lit
tic alarm. Some one must get through
the lines and flag the train.
"Who will volunteer to run the
gantlet?" asked the commander.
He looked at the circle of brave men
around him. There was pause. 1t
meant almost certain death.
az will 60, !" cried one.
"What, you, Crawford?"
eS. dere, give me zoe laS.
Frank Crawford was no coward, but
in a tent adjoining headquarters lay a
handsome brown eyed woman, his wife.
and by her side o 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 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 I'M
guarded point Mt 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 in
time to see him captured. Her heart
stood still for a moment; then, quick as
fash, 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 cx-
| element giving her strength.
The soldiers stood aghast as the wo-
man rushed past them. Ahead were the
| bridges, and clouds Of smoke were slow
| " rolling skyward from the rebel fires
beneath.
"Haltp The order rang out above
the din.
| The determined woman paid no at
tention to the command.
"Firev' 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 ir-
sane woman. She reached the bridge
and leaped from tie to tie in safety. Be-
yond was O second bridge. Could she
make IL? 1t was burning underneath.
She could see the flames leaping mp
around the beams She grew dizzy. She
dared not look down. Everything was
getting black. With superhuman
strength she gathered herself for the
final effort Another beam was reached.
another, one moro. Thank God. she was
overi
Her foot had scarcely left the last
beam when, crashi the whole structure
collapsed. HorriRed and stunned by the
effect of her narrow escape, for. Q mo-
ment she was powerless 70 move. Then
she heard the whistle Of the locomotive
a. it rounded the curve. Sprirging for