The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-01-26
BRAVE SCHOOLMA'AM.

bkAfE SINOOLuA Am.
Continued Teaching While Reds and Yanks
Fought Near By.
I noticed in recent story about the
war in the orient tina. the writer says that
Gen. Kuroki planned the battle at Taitse
river and then calmly proceeded to fish
for minnows while the shells were flying
and men were bayoneting one another"
remarked ex-State Senator William d.
Sears. "While one cannot help applaud
ing the superb nerve of the little fighters
across the sea, I want to say that I knew
tall woman teacher of Missouri who
beat the gallant Japanese general to it as
regards nerve by two or three degrees.
"Miss Lizzie McKittrick was the hero
inc. remember well the day, because it
marked my 18th birthday, and it was the
end of the summer term of school, Aug.
8, 1861.
"The little log house was about seven
miles south of Callao and not far from the
Charlton river. A few days earlier the
Confederate forces under Gen. Porter and
the federals commanded by Gen. Voolfolk
met in battle at Kirksville, and after
ward along the Charlton river.
"We were drowsily thumbing our
books when we heard the sullen roar of a
cannon in the distance. We looked up
at the windows and then at the teacher.
"She frowned and motioned for Us to
resume our studies. There was another
detonation from the cannon and another
and then crash of musketry. A window
light was knocked out by the conclusion
and fell noisily on the floor. The pupils
jumped up in wild confusion.
"Miss McKittrick arose from her chair,
but not in confusion. She was just mad.
"The school will come away from the
door and resume its Seats she said.
"The school did.
"She stood in the centre aisle with a
heavy ruler in her hand. The pupils were
more afraid to risk an encounter with that
ruler than the possible chance of stray
cannon ball crashing through the build
ing. A teacher who could run school
while people were being bayoneted and
blown to pieces right next door, as you
might say, was too serious thing for our
youthful spirits to defy, even if she did
wear spectacles.
During the entire afternoon the firing
between the two commands continued,
sometimes breaking into volleys that
sounded dreadfully near. We were all
little rebels, because our parents were,
and we secretly prayed for the success OF
Porter and his men. The fighting was
just across the hills, and looking through
the windows we could see the smoke ris-
ing from'the valley.
1T was hard task to keep our thoughts
on our books with such thrilling event
so near US. In our imagination every
time the canpons spoke we saw whole
platoons of men torn to pieces and their
dismembered limbs sailing skyward. Once
in a while cheer would come floating
across the hills, and we hoped it was our
side and that we could holler with them.
"But that teacher of ours, grim, alert
and determined, seemed to be unusually
successful in finding something for us to
do.to keep our minds from the battle.
"The long afternoon session ended at
last, and as we bade our teacher hurried
farewell she admonished US not to 60 too
near where the fighting was. She needn't
have done that, but Isuppose she thought
it would make her conscience easier If
any of US were inclined to get in the way
of the bullets-which we were not.
GAS for herself, believe if her way
home had led across the battlefield she
would have commanded the soldiers to
cease firing till she got by. She had the
nerve" Macon, Ga., Cor. New York Sun.