"REAL GRIT."

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2575, 12 January 1889, Page 2 (Supplement)

"REAL GRIT."

A telkgram published last September, in an American paper, relates the following stirring incident of courage in a woman : —San Antonio, Sept 24.—The " Lone Highwayman" who for two years has been a terror to travellers, has been killed, shot by Mrs Lizze Hays at her home on the head prong on the Rio Sabinal, in Bandero county last Monday. Mrs Hnys' story is as follows : Last Monday morning I was sitting on the floor in my room, when suddenly a man appeared in the front gallery. He had a red handkerchief around his hand and a piece ofblackcalico over his face. " What do you want here ?" I asked. " None of your business ?" was the reply. " Got off that gallery or I'll shoot you," I then said, to which he laughingly answered, ' You are a plucky woman, but I'll have whatl want out of the house or burn it down over your head." By the time I secured my needle-gun he had entered. I drew it on him within eighteen inches of his heart, but it snapped, and he said, " D—n you, I'll kill you ?" at the same time producing a long knife and striking at my throat. I warded off the blow, but the next time he struck me the end of his knife struck my forehead, making an ugly gash. At the same time I reversed the ends of the gun and struck him on the head, felling him to the floor. Before he could rise I had reversed the gun aud pulled the trigger. This time the load was discharged, the bullet taking effect in the left side. He gave an ugly yell and rolled out on the porch. I looked for another cartridge, but the blood was streaming down my f.nce so that I could not find them. I wiped it off with my apron and reloaded the gun. He had almost reached hie horse when I took good aim and fired, but I don't think I hit him. My husband was up in the canon, but when he came home a few hours after dark, he organised a party of rangers. They trailed the robber a distance of twenty miles by his blood aud then found him dead.