A BEAVE WOMAN.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2393, 17 November 1880, Page 4

A BEAVE WOMAN.

Old Madame Annette Drevon, who keeps a vegetable stall in the Parisian Halles is (says the “ Daily Telegraph”) the only woman in France upon whom the Cross of the Legion has been bestowed for an actual deed of arms performed on the battle held. She was attached to the 2nd Zouaves as vivandiere when the regiment was serving in Italy, and during the battle of Magenta the Zouaves being at close quarters with the enemy, two Austrian Grenadiers seized the regimental colours, and were carrying (hem off in triumph, when Annette rushed after them under a heavy lire of musketry, shot one dead, severely w ounded the other,and brought back the flag in safety to her comrades. For this feat she was decorated and subsequently she proved herself, by another deed of reckless daring, abundantly w'orthy of the distinction conferred upon her. Throughout the Franco-t iermau war she acted as sutler to the J2nd Infantry, and behaved on several occasions with conspicuous gallantry. One day, shortly after the conclusion of the armistice, she was standing near one of the gates of the Thionville, when a Havanan soldier grossly insulted her. Without an instant’s hesitation she drew her revolver and shot him down where he stood. She was arrested on the spot and conveyed to Metz, where she was promptly tried by court-martial and sentenced to death. Fortunately for her, Prince Frederic Charles happened to ride into Metz early in the morning appointed for her execution, and hearing that a woman was about to be shot for bring upon a German soldier, gave orders that the proceedings should be stayed until he should have looked into the evidence given at her trial. Four days later Annette Drcven received the Imperial pardon, was set at liberty, and supplied with funds to defray her expenses to her native place. All honor to the gallant gentleman, whose chivalric recognition of this brave woman’s indomitable heroism saved her from an ignominious death.