New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-08-09
WOMEN SAVED PIERS.
Continued from first page.
Photograph by Jessie TarbOx Beals.)

guilty of such thing 1 am ashamed that 1
hve In the same town that you do cannot
believe that 1 am in my right senses. You are
| lot of cheap politicians. Perhaps you hope TO
| gain few miserable votes by doing this. but
you shall suffer for to-day's work. mark my
| words"
By this time Commissioners Underhill and
Hawxhurst had mounted the pier at the shore
end. and were closely followed by half dozen
persons with axes, crowbars and saws. Mrs.
Coudert came after them. stepping proudly as
though she expected TO suffer martyrdOm for her
rights
Telephone at once 20 my son. Tell him that
our property is being torn down by a gang OF
loafers. Tell him to stop this outrage at once"
cried Mrs. COudert, in French. 10 her Partisan
maid, who was luttering about the porch of the
house in great state of excitement
One or two men who were employed about the
place, either as wOrkmen or as guards. were
also observed TO be in a greatly agitated state,
at a safe distance from hOstilitles. At first the
pier wreckers thought these men might be look
ing for Mr.. Coudert's shotgun, but later they
decided that they were herOically attempting to
| reassure the frightened maid and house SER
wants. The maid, in her perturbation. had a
dreadful time getting connection with New
York, but finally managed to reach Mr.. Coudert
and repeat his mothers message.
EMULATING HORATIUs AT THE BRIDGE.
1t is presumed that Mr.. Coudert said he would
come home soon as possible to use the shot
gun.
Here will stand, and here will fall! Now
do your worst" cried Mrs Coudert. planting
| herself the third section of the pier, some
twenty feet out from shore.
go on with the work. commanded Commits
sioners Underhill and Hawxhurst in a breath,
and the words were scarcely out of their mouths
before rails and floor boards began to fall splin-
tering into the water. Before the floor of the
second section fell another determined defender
arrived in the person of Mrs. Whitney She was
dressed in white, and her snowy garb in start
ling contrast 20 the widows weeds worn by
Mrs. Coudert, costumed the scene effectively.
why are you doing this?" demanded Mrs.
Whitney planting herself beside the elder wom-
an, and facing Commissioners Underhill and
Hawxhurst with a look of determination. Mr.
Underhill explained that they were acting under
orders, because Mr.. COudert had disObeyed the
law
'It is monstrous! 1t is false! 1t is outrage
Ous!' cried Mrs Coudert. THE case is i'm the
You acting under order! This is not America;
it is Siberia!
why not allow the matter to be adjudicated?
asked Mrs. Whitney. 1T is shame, burning
shame, to come like this and destroy ones prop
erty."
The commissioners told her that they had no
choice. and warned Mrs. Whitney TO step off the
pier before IT was thrown into the water.
II will not move STEP" exclaimed the young
woman. IF you throw Mrs. COudert into the
bay you will have to throw me- too
This was poser. couple OF little boys in
the mean time. brought camp stools out to the
pier in a rowboat and handed them up to the
defenders. Mrs. Coudert and Mrs whitney
thanked the boys, and planting the stools side
by side seated themselves and awaited develop
ments. After a consultation the commissioners
decided that they would not tear down more
than one section of the pier-that which had
hcosa toad nh a.,
the women from shore.
Being assured that Mrs. Coudert stood in no
fore the chasm was made; but Mrs Coudert
held her ground, rather her camp stool and
looked on in scorn, with occasional outburst
of wrath while the commissioners converted her
refuge into an island.