Brave Feat by Miss Parish - 1878

A Brave Girl

Bainbridge News & Republican, September 19, 1878

 

On Thursday night of last week, as a young man named Parish, accompanied by his sister and Miss Sigsby, daughter of the former purchasing agent of this railroad, were driving up the river from Otego [Otsego Co., NY], homeward, in the darkness, they met a load of hay on a dikeway that was not wide enough for them to pass, without tipping one wagon up sideways.  The young people concluded to take the roadside and allow the load of hay the center of the road.  In doing so, the carriage was partially capsized and young Parish who was sitting on the ladies laps and driving, lost his balance and fell out carrying the lines with him, when the horses started to run away with the ladies.  After the wagon was in the road and the horse was making lightning speed through the darkness, Miss Parish decided on a desperate plan to stop them.  She told Miss Sigsby to take and hold firmly to her dress till she received orders to let go.  She then reached over the dashboard and seized the horse's tail and thus steadied she stepped over on the cross-bar of the thills and took a firm hold of the back strap.  Miss Sigsby then let go of her fearless companion and in a twinkling she was on the back of the flying brute, gathered up the reigns, stopped the horse, turned him around and drove back to her brother, and all rode safely home.  No damage was done, but we have no doubt it was a very exciting time.--Afton Sentinel.