Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1852-02-28


The hostile savages, instead of being far dis
tant, were close at hand. The very warriors
she had just seen might have intercepted her
lover; and his scalp might be even now at the
girde of one of them. At this horrible idea
sheclasped her hands shudderngly over her
eyes, and, for an instant, forgot her misery in
oblivion.
But this lasted only for moment Lizzy
Zane was no weak, timid girl, whom danger
rendered burden to her friends on the con-
trary, hers was soul cast in the heroic mould
of Joan of Arc, and others of the brave and
dauntless of her sex. Hastily springiag to
her feet, she cried: This tremor is childish.
What if Francis is dead, since peril surrounds
my parents, and not only Them, but the whole
settlement. The Indians have waited till the
moon was dowa to commence their attack, hop
ing to surprise US; and the two have seen
are doubtless ontaying scouts, who, fortunate
ly for US, have shown themselves too soon. l
will rouse father at once. 1t will be time to
weep for the dead, when my duty TO the lv-
ing has been fulfilled
With these words she hurried from the
chamber, though not till she had taken an
other guarded look from the easement. This
time net living soul was in sight She right
ly judged that the scouts had gone to bring
up their companions, and lost no time copse-
quently in arousing the household.
At that period in the history of the West.
every frontier man slept, as it were, on his
arms But the present summons was so un-
expected. and the assault of the savages might
be looked for so soon, that preparations for
defense could not be made with the usual
care. Col Zane, On being aroused, despatch
ed servants TO summon his neighbors to the
contiguous fort which stood about ferty rods
from his own dwelling. About twenty men
answered the call, bringing with them their
families, but necessarily abandoning their
stock and everything else to the chances of
war. He determined himself to hold his man
sion. it being favorably situated as an outpost
and containing large stores of ammunition !;
accordingly retaining three men TO assist him,
he ordered the remainder of his people to re-
pair to the fort. In vain did his daughter
entreat to remain with him; be bade her re-
member that while duty made him stay, it
would be criminal temerity for her TO remain !;
and. deluged with tears, she obeyed his COM
mands.
Scarcely had the gates of the fort been
closed, less than half an hour had elapsed
since the first alarm, when the army of saw
ages appeared emerging from the forest 1t
was not long before they saw that their ap-
proach had been discovered and that the fort
wss in readiness to receive them; so, with
yell Of rage and hate, they rushed to the as
saut.
Keep cool, my men, said the commandant
of the fort, an uncle of our heroine, and fire
only when you can clearly make out an Iadian.
It is easy to confound the dusky redskins
with the shadows; and this they know; so take
care and waste no ammunition. The women
will load for you, when the hounds come to
close quarters and quick firing is necessary
fortunately we have plenty of muskets. so that
fresh ones can be handed to you as fast as you
require them. will set you an example,
and my niece will load for me. and show how
an American woman can assist in the hour of
peril
His words were cut short by the necessity
for instant exertion. The Indians had, by this
time crossed the field in front of the fort, and
were approaching, partly under cover of trees,
toward the entrance, hoping TO force their way
in. Instantly, from the house of Col Zane, as
well as from the fort, heavy discharge Of
musketry was opened on the savage assailants
Every man, in each edi6ce, knew that he was
Sighting, not only for his own life, but for
those dearer than life. Their wives, daugh-
ters and other female relatives, conscious of
the same truth, heroically assisted them, load
ing The muskets as rapidly as they were
discharged and praying silently for aid from
heaven.
'Ha! they recoil,' shouted the commandant,
Ihe redskins can't stand the fire of desperate
men. The colonel is giving it to them gallant
ly from his house. Hark! that is his hurrah
Let us give him back cheer That was a
true Virginia shout. God be praised they run
Huzza for victory
With exclamations like these the old soldier
sustained the spirits of his men during that
short but terrible conflict, until, as his last
words betokened, the assailants were in full
flight; and then another shout went up from
the fort, which was answered back as sturdhy
from the outpost, where with his three assist
ants. Col. Zane kept his dwelling against the
saVages. It was worth peril unto death to
hear and participate in that huzza -a
But if the defenders of Wheeling hattered
themselves that they bad achieved perma-
nent triumph, they were soon destined to dis
cover their mistake. The Indians. though re-
pulsed, were not defeated, and, after slight
Interval, were seen again rushing to the as
sault Again, at the COMMANDMENTS injunction
the men withheld their fire till the savages
were close to the walls. Again the muskets
blazsd in an almost continuous stream; again
the women moulded bullets and loaded the
still smoaking guns; and again the lion-like
voice of the commandant rose over the sharp
crack Of the rifles, encouraging his suhordi-
mates, while the loud, joyous huzza of Col
Zane answered back from the outpost, as if be
laughed at and even rejoced in She peril
Meantime on the side of the nssailants the uG-
most fury prevailed. The loss of so many of
their number had excited them to apparently
demoniao madness. and their yelIs alwars hid
eous, ROW sounded Ike those of fends let
loose on earth. Their dusky, painted FORMS
dimly seen by the red glare of the mnskess
fitting hither and thither as they dodged
froua shelter to shelter in their approaches
added to this horrible Illusion
'Blsze away. my lads shouted the COM