The times., 1899-08-27
WITH GUN AND AK.
Mrs. Kennedy Used Them 10 Defend
Her Home

-"'S' Nehheuy Used Them to Defend
Her Home.
Talk about your new women-read this.
On the southern slope OF a hillside. about
nifty miles west from ST. Louis. saws the
Republic OF that city. and midway be-
tween the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.
is the ruin-and even this has almost dis
appeared-of quaint heavily built log
structure, known in the early days Of the
white mans advance into Missouri as Fort
Kennedy. This outpost Of the westward
march or civilization was the scene of a
battle waged on one side by a party Of
marauding Indians, on the other by a
woman. and the result OF which was the
wonan's victory. 1t was the battle of a
woman for her home and little ones. and
for her own life. The fort was years aft
er superseded by substantial frame
house. the forest has given way to the
AK. and what was once thick woodland is
now divided into pasture and grain fields.
AT the time mentioned maraudings and
murders by the Indians had been more fire.
quent than usual and it was no wonder
that Mother Kennedy. being alone with her
babies, should feel apprehsnsive until her
ANNShNAt o ACtulH lLUtl 4UutlGE.
1t was almost dark when Mother Ken
nedy finished the evenings work and en-
tered the fort. The evening meal over,
the anxious woman stepped outside to
listen. She thought she might be notified
OF her husbands approach by his singing
or whistling, for he was CHEEKY man. or
the barking of the dogs She waited till
II grew quite dark. and then suddenly the
cry OF panther broke on the still night
air. 1t seemed long way on. and was
plaintiye as the waiiing OF child PAINT
ers?" she said Thar amt been nary
painter round this settlement all summer
and again she listened The cry was re-
peated- Her trained ear this time expect
ing the sound. told her that it was a coun-
terfeit Of the crying Of that animal. The
cry this time was nearer, too In an in
slant ii was repeated on another side OF the
house, some distance away, but still nearer
than the first. ''Injuns," said the hearty
woman II reckon 1 better git things
ready for the varmints."
Without saying word. she put her little
ones TO bed This done, she looked, or rath-
er felt about for something else to do.
There seemed nothing She listened. The
false panther cry grew very close to the
fort Peering through the port-hole of
the fort, Mrs. Kennedy faneied she could
see forms of Indians gathering on the edge
OF the clearing. few rods from the build
ing. She raised her rife. Another contin-
gency now presented itself. She no sooner
thought of it than she emptied the mat
tress her bed of its stuffings of geese
and turkey feathers, into the fireplace.
Then TO be prepared for an emergency. she
awakened her little ones and made them
stand near the door ready to run for the
timber II 1t should be necessary, to at
tempt to save herself by flight.
Tn
on the rocf. She sprang from the portfolio
TO the fireplace. flint and steel in hand.
There was flash and flame and pungent
smoke from the fe>thers rolled up the
chimney.
Howls of disgust and a quick Gambler
ing from the chimney to the roof told
that the movement had been successful
the Indians who had started down ths
chimney had retreated from the heat and
sitting smoke
Presently the Indians began butting at
the door. At the third blow the lower
half of the plank in the centre of the door
gave way. leaving an aperture large
enough to permit man crawling through
Mrs. Kennedy sprang to one side of the
door and stood with upraised ak. A paint
ed face appeared at the aperture, but as
Mrs. Kennedy stood close to the wall and
on one side and the children on the other,
all keeping quiet. the little ones obeying
every sign of their mother, and, like
young partridges, ready to run and hide
at her signal, the warrior saw nothing
The painted face was thrust further into
the opening and seeing nothing the Indian
started boldly through the broken door
Mrs. Kennedy compressed her lips until
blood was forced from them. and when
the Indian had got well within the room
and was about to draw his tomahawk she
brought down the axe with crushing force
upon his skull, then hastily pulled him
aside, while death quieted him. The In
dians, thinking there was no danger their
comrade having uttered no sound, started
another of their number through But he
caught sight of his predecessor in death
agony and started back. uttering a wild
yell. Mrs Kennedy struck at but only
wounded him. He ran off yelling at the
top of his voice. Shots from another quar-
ter at this moment caused a stampede of
the Indians TO the timber. A moment later
there was a signal which Mrs. Kennedy
understood, and she gave one in return. In
few seconds her husband was at the door
of the fort, which opened and although
several shots were fired by the Indians from
the edge of the clearing, none was effective,
and the master of the fort entered un-
harmed Hastily barricadlng the door and
putting the children to bed, husband and
wife took station at portfolios on opposite
sides of the fort and watched till morning.
but the Indians did not return. Next
forest and buried The wounded ones were
carried away by their comrades. The Ken
nedys strengthened the fortifications. but
hai- rf rr1nIasfod