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

o their covert IN front, and dashed, Ike pack
of hounds, fierce for blood, at the palisades
e Their leader had reached this destination first,
= and leaping, MS would deer, had gained the
= top at single bound, when the rife of the
: commandunt covering him. in an instant after
S he fell dead within the fence. His death was
r the signal for his followers to retreat terror
e struck in all directions, an event which was
A again hailed hy shout from the fort, and an
answering huzza from the outpost
There, we are safe for this night at least
said the eommandant, bringing the breech of
bis rifle to the floor 4 never knew the red
skins to make two assaults before, in darkness
and the mischief is in them, if they risk third.
/ But, at daybresk, look out. We shall have
them on US again, at that hour, in all !heir
ferce, and bowling like ten thousand 6ends in
csrnate. Such of you as would like to sleep
can do so; it will be easy to awake you if nee
essary.
But all we're too anxious to sleep. From
the loop holes of the fort, eager eyes continu-
ally watched the distant wood, in which the
savages had sheltered themselves, in order TO
detect the first movements Of the foe. The
prediction of the commandant, however, prov
ed correct Ne further assault was Ventured
that night. Blu; an attempt was made to des-
troy. by stratagem, the house Of Col, Zane,
the FIRE of whose defenders had been, from
its proximity, particularly fatal TO the Indians
For this purpose savage crept up to it with
lighted brand; but watchful eyes were on
the foe in the outpostS as well as in the fort;
and, Just as the Indian was about to apply
the torch, shot sent him limping and howl
ing away
During this cessation of the strife, the
thoughts of our heroine REQUIRED again to her
lover. But her uncle, who perhaps suspected
her fears, eheered her by the assurance that
he had escaped; may, look not 81 dull, Lizzy.'
he said, now that the battle is over. Frank
is safe before this, at Shepherds fsrt. His
route lay ia the opposite direction to that by
which these clearly came. The peril for him
will be tomorrow. when he attempts to join
I US, for, know nothing of him, if he don't
gallop to our aid, even if he does it alone
The dawn was now approaching. With the
first gleam of light the savages we're seen to
be in motion; but they did not risk close as
sault, as they had done in the night; they shell
tered themselves at distance, and opened
desultory Ere on the fort and outpost, seeking
to pick off the garrison ohe BY one. The men
however, kept themselves carefully concealed,
so that none were hurt; but on several oeGa-
| StoHsy a savage WHO ndO In0me0LAEly expos
ed himself, met his death.
An hour passed in this desultory warfare,
when the commsndant, looking forth, said:
What can the redskins be at now? Here,
Lizzy, your young eyes are sharper than my
old ones. Have they wagon thers%
IT looks rather ike cannon only that In
dans never have such things. They are
wrapping something around is; ah now l
- =. l.1I. Al
some chains from the shop, with which they
are binding it. And there, too. are cannon
balls.
Now understand it, said the command
ant, laughing. 'Jim Stokes who found his
way into the fort just before day ybreak, had a
load of cannon balls in his flat-boAt when the
savages surprised him last night The fools,
suppose, are about to fire them at us from
their hollow log! Batter us down with wood
en- cannon! Ha. ha, ha. fancy we shall
first see some of the redskins blown to king
dom come
The Indians had, by this time, finished their
preparations, and, almost Immediately after.
the crowd opening from around their improm-
to gun, match was applied TO it. As the
commandsnt had foretoId. the crazy weapon
exploded, scattering death among the throng.
| The first effect Was to paralyze the the saw
ages; the second was to rouse them to phren-
zy. Breaking into yells of rage they bust
from the spot, taking the direction of the fort,
evidently determined to avenge death of their
slain, even if they persisted themselves
Now, my boys, comes the final struggle
said the commandant If we beat them back
this time the victory will be complete; but if
single trigger fails, our scalps will be drying
before month, in the Wyandot lodges
Think of your wives and children
He was already taking station, when his
arm. Her face was full of perplexity and ev-
en- terror; and, for the first time since the
siege began.
WHAT'S it, my child?' quickly asked the
commandant, his countenance assuming some
thing of the look of hers, for be was aware
that no common incident could have worked
such change in his niece. And he drew her
to one side, saying: speak in a whisper
The ammunition is OUT was She reply, 'un-
less there is more hid away than you gave in
to nv charge
A blank dismay settled on the command
ants countenance.
'HeaveHs!' he exclaimed, iii is all over With
us, for we have no moreiB the fort. 1 brought
what thought enough, from your fathers
house, but these repeated assaults have con-
sumed it,
Cannot some one,' said his nsice, go to our
house, and bring back supPly?'
But who? 1t would be almost certain
DEATH
There was moments pause. Then, with
no change in her countenance, except that ii
grew shade paleE, she answered,
4 will 60
'You!' said the veteran, starting back
And why not? l am young, active, and
feet of foot. I can go quicker than any one
else. Besides, the savages, seeing it is oAly
woman may not Ere till they detect my
purpose; and in that ease only the return
will be periloas. If 1 do not 60 we are all
sure TO die. Even if mortally wounded |
think can succeed in gaining the fort. aghia,
and if this can be done, and your lives saved,
| f,nB