The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-11-03


 hearted. however. to be discouraged by hardships. and ss endeavored 10 ina food for merriment in the various ifi- conveniences they had to encounter She spared not her own strength. not shrinking from her share of labor in the Held or in the woods, she also learned in a short time the use of the rifle, and became an excellent shot.
 They were not long solitary: the two currents of emigration. from Charles- ton and the seacoast on the one side and Pennsylvania and Virginia on the other. meeting in this neighborhood in the course of a few years several them. These families visited each other, going up and down the creek in canoes. In time 1t became necessary to unite in their defense against the hostile Indians. The place owned by Mir. Steel was fortified as block-house. to which the inhabitants could betalxe themselves when danger threatened. It was named Steel.s Fort. While the men were out fighting the Cherokees, or engaged In providing for the defense and maintenance of their , families. the women were in the habit of resorting. on any alarm. to this place of refuge. Mrs. Steel was chief and ruler among them. not merely by her right of ownership, or her superior firmness and courage. but by virtue of her hearty kindness and gooG humnr. She was acknowledged master of the fort and was called famiIiarIy Katy of the Fort" Possessing great inffu- ence, she could at once calm the fears | of the women who had quilted their homes at dead of night to fleet thither; 1 they felt. in fact. a sense of security | In her presence. She taught the young girls the use of the rifle. For weeks together the females would occupy the | n Nf kTsaf fAs 4cs or fathers.
 Mrs. Steel had some friends who lived on the YadlSin. in North Caro- lima, ninety miles from her home. When she wished to visit them she would take her child, year old twelve miles to the house of Robert Brown. her nearest neighbor in tho direction of l Yadkin. Leaving the infant in their care. she would proceed alone on h0ree< back. making her way through the Catawba Nation, and travelling through wild country which might be called uninhabited. for so sparse was the pop- ulation that from Camden to the Ca- tawba Eation---a distance of sixty miles --theFe were but four houses of white settlers. She was unsurpassed in the I qualities of a horsewomRn. nor was she impeded by triflrng inconvenience or dangers.
 In l7s4a Thomas Steel. who was on his way homeward from a trading ex- 1 petition, suddenly disappeared. Ona l morning he left the encampment, aud Intentionally walked out of his cofn- panions' sight. His friends, who await. ed his return. heard gun discharged | In the distance. and went fin search qf him; but their search was fruitiesns nor did their misaing companion ever l come back They supposed he had been killed. and that his body was either carried Of by the murderer oreonceHied l in the woods.
 Certain of his death thev pursuea their way home. bearing q sad news to his family. Mrs. Steel was now left alone with a famiiy--three daughters and two sons--and she devoted all her energies to their careful training. inc structing them in all things useful and teaching them to labor not merely the community.
 The home of Mrs. Steel was at no l great distance from that of John Cas- ton. whose family she and her children ofteu visited. going in canoes up and down the stream sThe sons of Gaston were the companions of her son. When there was a call for men. John Steel was foremost in profferina This services. After the fall Of that city (Charleston), when news came l of the horrible butchery of Buford's men by Tarleton at the Waxhaws. he
 
 house of John Gaston, appealing soI- emnly to the god of battles. and piedg- ing their oath that they would never accept British protection, nor lay down their arms while there remained an enemy in the land.
 On that memorable morning. when l the devoted little band went forth from | Justice Gaston's to make the attack on | the British. Katharine Steel called ups | on her young son, about IT. to go out with the rest. You must
 yo." she said. with John; it must new | CT be said the old Squire's boys have l done more for the liberty of their
 country than the Widow Steersy | At the time of the surprise
 of the army at Fishing Creek, Captain John Steel not only saved Sumter by
 his own forethought and personal exer-
 tions, but subsequently, rescued the 1 valuable papers lost in the confusion
 Tn this duty he narrowly escaped cap-
 ture by a band of Tories. who so com | pletely surprised the men that thay
 seemed utterly at a loss when Mrs. Steel, starting up. cried: You must | hght!' Finding. however, that the odds were too great for the handful of Americans. she reversed her order. and herself let down the bars for them to
 escape-Captain Steel having leaped | them with the valuable papers in his | charge. In the attack and struggle.
 two men were killed. and in falling
 from their horses. bore the brave wo- man to the ground. Releasing herself.
 her first thought was for John and the
 papers; learning that those we're safe,
 she turned her attention to the wants of those about her. The Tories. mean while. ascribing their failure to her energetic aid burned her house to tic ground and destroyed whatever prop erty of hers they could find.
 In every matter relating t0 | the war she took a special interest.
 But when peace returned to the coun- | try Mrs. SteeTs jealous efforts were directed to healing brooches among her neighbors. and removing obstacles to s | good understanding.
 Her days were ended at the old fors in l7s5. She retained to the last of life the sprightliness and sweetness Of disposition which had distinguished her in youth. She could laugh and l jest with the merr!est; while all the tenderness of the woman, as well as an indomitable courage. marked her | character. Her personal appearanc.
 was attractive, and her face bore tlfs impress of the spirit that shons fortit | In so many noble actions.
 | Most homes have many old photo- | graphs too precious to be thrown away. | yet of little interest to those outsfde | tha immediate fauafIy ITO eox,a s,..s,sa