Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-07-22
TALE OF FRONTIER LIFE.
THE oUTP oST.


Towards the latter part of the year 1751, the
French, aided by vast bodies of the Huron and
Iroquois Indians, had begun to make them
selves very disagreeable neighbors to the Brit
ish and American colonists in northern Vir-
ginia, Ohio, and the northwest portions of New
York Statc-the French by their encroach
ments on the frontier, and the Indians by their
numerous forays, and savage barbarity to all
who were unfortunate enough to fall into their
hands.
To put stop to these aggressive proceed
ings, numerous bodies, both of .sregulars' and
the colonial militia, were dispatched TO the
several points assailed and amongst the rest,
a Col. Henry InDes, with company of thirty
men, among them were party of some dozen
Virginia rifemen, was ordered to occupy a
small outpost, or log fort, which at this period
stood within few miles of the north fork of
the Allegheny river.
Having arrived safely at their quarters, the
little company set about righting up the old
post to make it as comfortable as circumstances
would permit !; and this being done and order
once more restored, scntries were placed at all
the advanced points of the station, while the
cised by day and night.
Among the Virginia rihemen who had vol
uRteered into the company, was tall, manly,
fne-looking young fellow, who, from his fatal
and uperring skill as marksman, had Iecev
ed the somewhat awe inspiring nom de plume of
Death. But with whatever justice this name
had been applied to him for his skill, his dis
position certainly entitled him to no such ter
ror spreading epithet. On the contrary, he
was the very life of the company.
His rich fund OF mother-wit, large social
propensities, and constant good nature, rem
dered him general faverite with the men
while the never failing stock of game which
his skill enabled him to supply the mess-table
of the officers with, not only recommended
him to their good graces, but caused many
ssshort coming" of his to be winked at and pas
sed over in silence, which, otherwise, perhaps
he might not have got over so easily.
The company had not been stationed at the
fort much more than week, ere Death, in one
of his excursions for game, discovered that at
n small farm house, some three or so miles dis
tant from the fort there lived a certain Miss
Hester Standhope, whose equal in beauty and
to render himself still more certain of the
fact, he called the day following, under cover
of the pretence of having left his powder-fiask
Death was invited to come again, by Farmer
Standhope, who happened to be from the same
parish as the father of our hero; and we need
scarcely say that the invitation was accepted,
and. as often as circum stances would permit,
complied with.
place, was marked by two events, which,
though 10th affecting the welfare of the little
community a. the fc~t. were of widely differ
ent degrees in Importance.
The first was, that Death had either sudden
IL lost all his skill as a maFksman, or, that the
rame had removed to safer and more distant
neipht,orho ood, for the officers larder had been
found sadly wanting in the items Of wood
cocks, blackcocks, parmigan, &C., for the week
rast--and tie second and most important oi
the two events, was, that in regular succession:
four sentinels had disappeared from the ex-
treme left line, without leaving the slightest
trace to elucidate the mystery of their disap-
pearance.
This last circumstance struck such dread in
to the breasts of the rest of the company, that
no one could be found willing TO volunteer to
take the post-well knowing that it would be
only like signing their own death warrant,to
do SO; and Col. Innes, not Sishing 10 wilfulIy