Litchfield Enquirer

Youthful Courage.

The following extraordinary circumstances occurred about a fortnight ago, in the family of Mr. Eagle, a respectable farmer, living at the junction of the Frenchtown and Red Lion Roads, about a mile from this city. Mr. Eagle and his wife had gone from home to spend the night, leaving in the house his son of about 12 years of age, a nephew of the same age, a daughter of about 8 years of age, and a negro boy and girl—the boy about 20 years of age.

In the evening, when the children were about retiring for the night, the black boy came into the room and manifested the most brutal intentions towards the little girl, took up a loaded musket which was in the room, and threatened the boys with instant death if they interfered. The boys, who both displayed remarkable presence of mind and intrepidity throughout the whole affair, contrived to secure the musket, and forced the young ruffian from the room. They had been but a short time in bed, when the negro returned to the door, and with violent threats and imprecations began to force it with a heavy instrument, which he broke through the panel, and was making his way into the room, when young Eagle, who had the musket along side of his bed, and was coolly watching the operation, took deliberate aim at the villain and shot him through the breast, of which wound he died in a few hours. A Coroner's inquest was held upon the body, and found the facts as we have related them.

Wilmington Journal.