Rensselaer Union, Volume 3, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 March 1871 — Heroism of a Young Lady. [ARTICLE]

Heroism of a Young Lady.

Lake Champlain is one of the most beautiful sheets of water probably in America, and Cumberland Bay, near Plallsburg, where one of the most brilliant naval engagements of the war of 1812 was fought and won by Commodore McDonough, of the American licet, against the British, under Commodore Downie, furnishes one of the grandest skating parks or ponds one could wish to see. It is the favorite resort of the young ladies and gentlemen of this vicinity on moonlight evenings. One evening, a short time since, a young lady and gentleman who had frequently been skating on the bay before, went out upon the bay, but believ mg in the old axiom that “ two is company,” went to an unfrequented part, where they could enjoy the skating in each other’s society unmolested. After skating for some time near the shore, the gentleman proposed that they should go lurther out, where the ice was smoother, to which she consented, and they accordingly ventured out about two miles. Here they found the ice in bcautiful pondition, and the gentleman was pro cceding to do the grapeviue, forward and backward roll, together with many other figures only known to accomplished skaters, when suddenly the ice gave way beneath him, and in a moment he found himself struggling in the water, and unable to extricate himself, the ice breaking as fast as he attempted to raise Itimsclf on its edge. The young lady, true to her womanly instincts, began to scream at the top of her voice, but the privacy they had sought had taken them beyond the hearing of all who could have been of service to them. lie besought her to go to the shore and endeavor to procure assistance; but she well knew he must perish before she could get hack, even if she found no difficulty in procuring assistance. Then an idea came into her head, and she immediately put it iu execution. -She first took off her jacket and dress, and tying them together undertook to reach him with one end ; but it was too short, as the yielding ice warned her when she moved toward him and endeavored to throw him one end. What ntoro could she do? She hcsita'ed a moment; then slipping off her gaiters, both stockings were soon tied to the end of the dress and jacket, and yet it xvas too short. Meantime the young man was rapidly becoming exhausted, and if she was to save him no time was to be lost. For a moment her hands disappeared in the drapery about her waist, and then something fell on the ice about her feet —it was her hoop-skirt. This was quickly severed into half a dozen pieces, and added to the jacket, dress and stockings, and, to her delight, this made the line long enough to reach him. Bravely she tugged at one end of it, while he clutched at the other end with the grip of a man who knew that that was all which stood between him and eternity. In a few minutes she landed him safely on the solid ice, and then the red jacket and dress were wrapped about her as best they could be, and the two started for home, where they arrived without being noticed by any one. Few were the words spoken on the journey home, but they must have been to the purpose, as the wedding suits are ordered, and before the ice shall disappear from our beautiful lake this spring, they will be married. —Eastern Exchange.