The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-05-19
The Perils of the border.


the frightful massacre Of several white
families by the Black foot Indians, we
were reminded of thrilling event which
occurred in the "Wild West" a short time
subsequent TO the Revolution, in which
highly accomplished young lady, the dsugh-
ter Of distinguished officer Of the Amer
ican Army, played an important part. The
story being of a most thrilling nature, and
exhibiting in striking manner the Per-
lis Of the Border" we have concluded to
give an extract from it, as originally pub.
lished, as follows
The angle on the right bank of the Great
Kanawha, formed by its junction with the
Ohio, is called Point Pleasant, and is
place of historical note Here, on the 10th
of October, 1774, during what is known
as Lord Dunmore's War. was fought one
of the fercest and most desperate battles
that ever took place between the Virgin
ians and their forest foes.
After the battle in question, in which
the Indians we're defeated with great loss,
fort was here erected by the yictors,
which became post Of great Importance
throughout the sanguinary scenes Of strife
which almost Immediately followed, and
which in this section of the country were
continued for many years after that estab-
lishment of peace which acknowledged the
United Colonies of America free and in
dependent nation,
At the landing of the fort, on the day
our story opens, was fastened hat-boat
of the kind used by the early navigators Of
the Western rivers.
Upon the deck of this boat, at the mo-
ment we present the scene TO the reader.
stood five individuals, alike engaged in
watching group of persons, mostly fe-
males, who were slowly approaching the
landing OF these FIVE, one was stout,
sleek negro, in partial livery, and evident
ly house or body servant three were
boatmen and borderers, as indicated by
their rough, bronzed visages and coarse
attire but the fifth was young man,
some two-and-twenty years Of age, of fine
commanding person, and clear, open in
tslligsnt countenance and in the lofty
carriage of his head-in the CLEAN of his
large, bright, hazel eye-,here was some
thing which denoted one of superior mind !;
but as we shall have occasion in the course
of our narrative to fully set forth who and
whot Eugene Fairfax was, We will leave
him for the present, and turn to the ap-
preaching group, whom be seemed to be
regarding with lively interest
Of this group. composed Of a middle
aged man and four females with black
female following some five or six PAGES in
the rear, there was one whom the most
casual eye would have singled out and
rested upon with pleasure, The lady in
question, was apparently about twenty
years Of age, of slender and graceful fig
ure, and of that peculiar cast of feature,
which, besides being beautiful in every
lineament, rarely fails to effect the behold
er with something like charm.
Her travelling costume-a fine brown
habit, high in the neck, butroned closely
over the bosom and coming down to her
small pretty feet, without trailing on the
ground-was both neat and becoming
and With her riding-cap and its waving
ostrich plume, set gaily above her flowing
curls, her appearance contrasted for,ibly
with the rough, unpublished looks Of those
Of her sex beside her, with their linsey
bed-gowns, scarlet flannel petticoats and
bleached linen caps.
"Oh, Blanche" said one of the more
venerable Of her female companions, pur'
suing a conversation which had been main
tanned since quitting the open fort behind
them, " cannot bear to let you 60 ; fol
it Just seems to me as if something were
going to happen to you and when fee
that way, something generally does hap
pen."
"Well, aunt" returned Blanche, witt
light laugh, 4" do not doubt in the leas
that something will happen-for l expec
one of these days to reach my dear fathel
and blessed mother, and give them suci
an embrace as is due from dutiful daugh
ter to her parents-and that will be some
thing that has not happened for two lonl
years at least"
But l don't mean that, Blanche" re
turned the other, somewhat petulently
"and you just laugh like gay an
thoughtless girl, when you ought to be Sc
l y. L.,