The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1858-05-21
THE PERILs OF THE BORDER.

y n"e AS"u'hS A0o0n"y ou "eooun" y
the frightful massacre Of several white fe
males by the Black-foot Indians, we were
reminded Of a thrilling event which oc
CURED in the "Wild West" a short time
subsequent to the Revolution, in which {
highly accomplished young lady, The
daughter Of distinguished officer Of The
American Army, played an importan
part. The story being Of n most thrilling
nature, and exhibiting in striking man
ner the "Perils Of the Border" we hav,
concluded togive an extract from it, a.
originallyanpublished, as follows:
The angle Of 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 fiercest and most
desperate battles that ever took place be-
tween the Virginians and their forest
foes.
After the battle in question, in which
the Indians were defeated with great loss,
fort was here erected by the victors,
which became post of great Importance
throug ghout the sanguinary scenes ofstrife
which almost Immediately followed, and
which in this section Of the country were
continued for many years after that es-
tablishment Of peace which acknowledged
the United Colonies of America free and
independent nation.
Atthe landing of the fort, on the day
our story opens, was fastened a flat.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
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
y house or body servant; three were
boatmen and borderers, as indicated by
heir rough. bronzed visages and coarse
attire; but the fifth was a young man,
some two and-twenty years Of age, Of a
ine commanding person, and a clear,
open, intelligent counteaance; and in the
ofty carriage of his head-in the CLEAN
If his large, bright, hazel eye-there was
something which denoted one Of superior
mind; but as we shall have occasion in
he course ofour narrative to fully set
orth who and what Eugene Fairfax was.
We will leave him for the present, and
urn to the approaching group, whom he
eemed To be regarding with lively inter
'st.
Ofthis group, composed of middle
ged man and four females, with black
emale servant following some five or six
'aces in the rear, there was one whom the
most casual eye would have singled out
nd rested upon with pleasure. The lady
q question, was apparently about twenty
ears Of age, Of slender and graceful
gure, and Of that peculiar cast Of feature,
,hich, besides being beautiful in every
neament, rarely fails to affect the behol-
er with something like charm.
Her travelling costume-a fine brown
abit, high iC the neck, buttoned closely
yer the bosom and coming down to her
nall pretty feet. without trailing on the
was both neat and becoming );
nd with her riding-cap and its waving
strich plume, setgaily above her flowing
urls, her appearance contrasted forcibly
ith the rough. unpublished looks Of those
her sex beside her, with their linsey
ed-gowns, scarlet flannel petticoats, and
leached linen cap. Ia
"Oh, Blanche" said one of the more
,nerable Of her female companions, pur- q
ling conversation which had been S
aintained since quitting the open fort
,hind them, II cannot bear to let you t
}; for il just seems to me as if some S
ing were going to happen to you, and
hen feel that way, something general
does happen"
"Well, aunt, +" returned Blanche, with 3
light laugh, II do not doubt in theleast
at something will happen-for I expect u
,e of these days to reach my dear faith $