The Savannah morning news., 1901-08-22
A GIRL SAVED THE FORT.
Heroism of MndeIaine Jnrret In
Spired the Men.


From the New York Tribune.
Boys and girls, no less than men and
women, in the troublous times when
America was first settled, held them
selves ready at any time to face sud-
den danger without fiinching. The story
of Madeleine Jarret is still preserved
in the records of French Canada to
show what has been done by a young
girls quick wit and courage.
On the southern bank of the St.
Lawrence, just below the Island of
Montreal, lies the little Canadian coun-
ty of Vercheres. The town of YER
cheres, the capital of the county, is
now commonplace manufacturing
community, but 200 years ago, after
the outbreak of the bitter struggle
between the French and the Iroquois,
it was a fortified settlement, of great
Importance as we'll as of great danger.
The only highway from the Indian
haunts in the forests of New York to
the Canadian settlements lay along the
water course of Lake George and Lake
Champlain and the Richelieu river.
Vercheres, which was midway between
Montreal and Sorel, and at the junction
of the Richelieu and st. Lawrence,
guarded the immediate approach by
water to Montreal, and was at the
same time within easy reach of the
marauding bands of savageS that
swooped down on the ripe fields of the
Canadians. These attacks became SO
frequent that men at last dared not till
their lands alone, and either abandoned
their farms or worked in companies,
going first to one farm, then to an
other, to gain the added security of
numbers.
According to this custom, twenty
farmers had assembled at Vercheres in
October, 1892. 1t was late in the aft
ernoon of the 22d. The men were has
tening to finish their task in the fields,
half a mile or more from the little fort
which crowned the river bank. The
day was bleak and gloomy. Great
clouds hung gray and lowering in the
sky, sending a chill of foreboding into
the stoutest heart among the workers
Yet two persons in the little settle
ment OH that dreary Afternoon paid no
heed to the threatening weather. These
were Louis and Alexander Jarret, sons
of the commander of the fort, who
were watching Laviolette, the aged
boat builder, as he put the finishing
touches to a new bark canoe. Made
leine, their sister, IA years old, had
joined them, but an anxious look stole
into her face as she glanced now and
thsn toward the distant fields. M. Jar
ret, the commander, had been called
away with his garrison by Gov. From
tenac, on the rumor that 10000 Boston
ians were on their way to destroy the
Canadian capital. Only the old carpen-
ter and two broken down, half-witted
fellows were left to guard the fort.
Upon Madeleine then came the care
OF her two younger brothers, and, in
fact, she felt responsibility for the fort
itself in the absence of any suitable de-
since all had been quiet for several
weeks.
The little group about the boat build
err were absorbed in admiration of the
beautiful canoe, when suddenly dis
tant yell, shrill and piercing, burst
upon their ears, blanching their faces
and freezing them with terror.
Run, mademoiselle. run! The Iro-
quois!' gasped Laviolette, regaining
his voice. Selling a boy with each
hand, he fairly leaped up the bank to-
ward the gate of the fort.
The Indians were soon in full view,
hurrying along the open country be-
tween the fort and the fields where the
farmers were at work, They must have
come from the wooded edge of the river
below Vercheres for as the stream
made slight bend at that point they
could not be observed from the land
had been. Had a proper watch been
kept at the fort, however, the farmers
might perhaps have been warned in
time. Madeleine knew at once that
there could be no help for the work.
men among so many savages. Her only
hope was to save herself and the few
who might be in the fort. Pressing
closely behind her three companions,
she threw herself inside the gate of
the palisade.
ITO arms. To arms!" she shouted,
breathlessly. "Gachett! La Bontei To
arms! To arms!" There was no re-
Spouse. Only two terrified women came
rushing from their cabins in the in
closure to meet her, and chung to her
skirts with tears and sobs. Their hus-
bands were in the fields, and that very
moment perhaps would prove their last.
The firing and yelling outside grew
louder, mingled with cries of distress.
Madeleine rushed about in search of
the two men. AS she entered the COW
cred passage leading to the blockhouse
she saw one of them in the further
corner. and before she could reach him
the second appeared with lighted
taper in his hand.
what are you doing with that torch.
Gachet?" she called out sharply as the
fellow turned toward the store of pow
der near him.
There is no chance for us, Made
moiselle," he said, his pale face grow
ing more CHASTITY in the fiaring light.
You do not know the Iroquois. Retter
to die here together than, roast over
the camp fires of those devils. We must
blow up the blockhouse."
sYou are a miserable coward cried
the girl "and you, too, Pierre La Bonte.
Give me the torch. Shall we fling away
our lives without shedding one drop
of their miserable blood? Let us fight
to the last breath" Madeleine seized
a musket as she spoke, and her reso-
lutte tones reused the men. They armed
themselves, and, taking muskets for
each of the two boys-for very young
children in those days of terror knew
how to handle firearms-the five placed
themselves in readiness at the loop
holes. Laviolette was already busy re-
pairing a breach in the palisade
For some time the Indians were too
much occupied with their easy prey in
the fields 10 turn their attention to the
fort. which was some distance from
them. and the little company were
able to lay their plans of defense. From
time to time they fired the single cam
non. the pride Of the fort. AS night
drew on a strong north wind began to
blow. and soon a cold. driving sleet
was upon them. Not one of the men
had made his escape to the fort, so
cunningly had the savages arranged