White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1933-03-16
American
Heroines
By
LOUISE M. COMSTOCK
The Women of Bryant's Station

mand heroism as great as the most
gallant brandishing OF weapons. The
little company of pioneer settlers hold
ing the fort at Bryant's Station, near
Lexington KY. during the Indian
siege of 1882, was in desperate need OF
water. A not August sun beat mercl-
l&sly down on the clearing, and within
the close interior OF the stockade the
children became restless, crying for
water, and the men kept their grim
watch beside their portfolios with
parched thrOats
The nearest source of supply was
small spring outside the fortitication,
several rods away from the protecting
walls The Indians had divided their
force into two bands. One of them, In
plain sight of the defenders of the
fort, prowled about the clearing, yell
ing, waving tomahawks. letting fly ran
dom arrows. trying to entice them out
into open battle. The other, lying in
ambush near the spring, waited to at
tack them when they ventured forth.
But water was necessary. Without
1t the little stronghold could not hold
on to even it's slim chance of survival.
The question was who should go
after it? Were men to appear out
side, they would simply be playing into
the hands of the waiting Indians. and
both those in ambush and those in the
open would Immediately join In an
attack which must prove fatal. The
women of the fort on the other hand
were in the habit of bringing water
into the stockade from the spring
every morning Were they to go about
1t now in their usual way. the Indians
might conclude their ambush was still
undiscovered and would not wish to
risk making 1t known and defeating
their main purpose for the sake OF
firing on handful of mere women!
Thus the lot was cast. Some of the
women, terrified by so dangerous a
prospect, at first refused to go. There
was no little hysteria in the fort.
Finally, however, spurred on by the
more courageous, they all consented.
Grimly they took up their water buck
cts, swung back the gate Of the stock
ade and started out across the clear
ing. A homely little band they were,
straight shouldered pioneer women. In
shabby lnsey dresses and broken
shoes, wane from anxious days within
the fort, tight-lpped in the expecta-
ton of instant death. In puzzled
silence the red men watched them.
They reached the spring, filled their
buckets, one after another, walked
back to the fort and through the oper
gate to safety. They had reckoned
we'll. Not shot had been fired!
Emily Geiger
CEN. NATHANIEL GREENE. whose
NJ vigorous campaign in Georgia and
the Carolinas eventually won that ter
ritory for Washington and the col
onists, was retreating before Lord
Rawdon from Ninety-Six. When he
reached the Broad river word was
brought him that the pursuing troops
had divided forces. He Immediately
conceived the plan Of taking advantage
of this division to make an attack
confident that though he had beer
helpless against the superior numbers
of RnwdOn's combined forces. he cOulG
easily defeat the two smaller forces
taken one at time. His own lines
were depleted. however. by the recent
engagement. his men weary To in
sure his success it was necessary tt
gain the aid of Gen. "Game Cock
Sumter then scouting on the banks OF
the Wnteree. many miles away. The
message must he carried through dan
gerous country. ridden with Tories
Not man would volunteer to make
the journey.
Then there came to General Greene.
quarters, Offering to undertake thi:
hazardous commission. young cir
named E1nfly Geger. OF Emily's fam
lily, of her appearance, we know yer!
little. OF her later life we know onl,
that she eventually married rcf
planter and became mistress OF plan
tation on tie Congeree river.
But we do know thai General Greene
trusted her with a letter TO Genera
Sumter, and read its contents to her
Just in case of accident. SO she Sc
out, mounted on horseback and ridn,
side On the second day of he
Journey, she was intercepted by Lore
Rawdon's scouts and sharply ques
toned Now Emily could not tell al
untruth without busting. Her look
were very guilty indeed. Lord Raw
don's scouts promptly took her pris
Oner and confined her in room in
nearby farmhouse. They sent for al
old Tory matron to come and searc
her.
Alone in the room, waiting for tn
matron, Emilys composure returned
Drawing out the precious letter. sh
tore II in bits. put II into her molt
piece by piece, chewed them, an,
swallowed them. The matron entere
and searched the girl But her scare
revealed nothing suspicious, and Emil
was eventually released to go her wa!