Omaha daily bee., 1916-03-05
DARING FRENCH WOMAN DEAD
Succumbs to Physical Exhaustion
After Undergoing Privations
Aiding Soldiers.
GETS PLEDGE FROM GERMANS

GETS PLEDGE FROM GERMANS
Correspondence of the Associated Press.)
PARIS, Feb. 7--Madame Daredevil
is dead, Madame Daredevil was the
name given by French soldiers to Madame
Meunier, wife of farmer at Lessart, not
far from the Nanteuil-ie-Haudouin where
the English troops passed September 2
last under the pressure of continually
multiplying German troops on it's left
flank. The peasants of Lessart, most OF
them. piled their personal effects into
carfy-alls and carts and fled before the
conflict Madame Meunier however. re-
fused TO bulge. Soidly braced against
her door-sill, she turned a deaf ear to
all appeals She remained alone there
with her old mother of 70 and three young
servants. She buried her choice pro-
visions, her wine and a number of bottles
OF old brandy in the garden. bought a
poignard for personal defense and waited
for the Germans.
From the surrounding countrx there
succeeded wave after wave of thick ranks
of gray Five army corps, nearly 10000
men, marched through that region toward
the Marne. In the early morning hours
Of the next day a German officer knocked
on the door of Madame Meuniers farm
house with the hilt of his sword
Il must have milk, bread, meat, wine,
salt and pepper for my men," he cried.
Names the Condition.
Madame Meunier got together all the
provisions that were visible in the house.
and when the count had been made the
German officer offered her a bank bill.
Madame Meunier drew herself up and
pushed the bill back with her hand.
I have only given you what you would
have taken IL had refused. 1 do not
want your money. You can take every
thing you find here free of charge" she
added. But on one condition"
"A condition."
Yes, on condition that shall go and
come at will l will attend to my affairs
In my own way. Otherwise you shall have
nothing more at ALL"
so be It," the officer replied, %but let
me give you little advice. Take good
care or yourself. My men don't trifle."
scarcely had the officer turned upon
his heels when Madame Meunier ran to
the stable, hitched up the only convey
ance she had, stuffel her cart full of the
provisions she had secreted and in few
minutes the old horse was trotting at top
OF German troops on the march. AT
Versigny patrol stopped her searched
the cart and showed their delight ar
the find they had made. The legend has
it that Madame Meunier, with a raised
whip, exclaimed:
Down with your paws. These nro-
visions are for the German general staff"
Passes the Guard.
At this fa so4d A.
respectfully and allowed the cart to
pass on.
Violating all orders by her audae,tv
Madame Meunier got through the Ger.
man lines. reached the hospital at Mar
teuil-le-Haudouin and distributed her pro-
visions among the wounded French ana
English soldiers at the hospital, slipping
pieces Of money into their hands. anS
left with the triumphant cry;
Until tomorrow, my lads
The next day and the following ana for
ten days thereafter, Madame Meunier
passed through the German lines every
oay with her charge of provisions for.
ner proteges in the hospital at Nanteuil-
ie-haudouin. On September IL on tba
road from Nanteuil to Lessard. her old
cart was suddenly caught in a storm of
shels. The Germans all around. under
DrleI ana nervous orders, were forming
in columns' hitehing their horses to their
iieiu guns Within short distance from,
her farm house Madame Meunier picled
up the ruse or she'll II was a French
tuse and she believed that the deliver-
ance of the region was near al hand
Ihat night Madame Meunler remained nm
10 watch the German retreat under tba
salllhg Tire OF the famous French three
inchers, and before morning counted n
score or more of the gray-coated men ,,ho
mad passed by few days before WAITING
burial on the high road. At one place sbe
Jumped out of her cart and found .. Gar-
man soldier bleeding from a wound with
his rifle beside him
Takes Nj Prisoner.
The gun first, my fellow" orde-a5
madame Meunier. She seized the rifIa
uhioaded it, Installed the German In her
cart and ten minutes later arrived 81
the hospital at Nanteuil now surrounded
by French chasseurs.
'pring you prisoner" cried Madame
Meunler, but I am going to keen the
gun when my husband comes back from
the war it will be proof to him that 7
nave not simply remained at home twid-
/ ding my thumbs"
madame Meunier would have received
the war cross certainly. and probably the
nilltafy medal, but the privations she
imposed upon herself and the exhaustion
from the great effort she made to pro-
vision the French soldiers in the Nantanu
hospital through the>GerInan lines DURING
the ten days were too much for her ana
she died literally Of physical exhaustion
and priyation. Her grave I'm the Iittls
cemetery near Lessart is Kept covered IN,