Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 August 1889 — She Acted Promptly. [ARTICLE]

She Acted Promptly.

Some years’ ago'four men who were employed in cleansing a common sewer at a place called Noyon, in France, upon opening a drain were so affected by the fetid vapors that they were unable to ascend. The lateness of the hour (it was 11 o’clock at night) rendered it impossible to procure assistance, and the delay must have proved fatal had not a young girl, a servant in the family, with courage and humanity that would have done honor to the most elevated station, at the hazard of her own life, attempted their deliverance.

This generous girl, who was only 17 years of age, was, at her own request, let down several times to the poor men by a rope. She was so fortunate as to save two of them pretty easily, but in tying the third to the eopd which was ■let down to her for the purpose she found her.breath failing, and was in great danger of suffocation. In this dreadful situation she had the presence of mind to tie herself by the- hairto the rope and was thus drawn up, almost expiring, with the poor man in whose behalf she had so humanely exerted herself. The instant she recovered she insisted upon being let down again, but her exertions this time failed of suceetes, for the fotirth unfortunate man was drawn up dead. The corporation of the town of Noyon, as a small token of their approbation, presented the heroine with 600 livres and conferred on her the civic crown, with a medal engraved with the arms of the town, her name and a narrative of the action. The Duke of Orleans also sent her 500 livtes and settled 200 yearly on her for life.— Philadelphia Press.