Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-05-14
THE PEkILs OF THE BORDER,

i While reading recently an account OF
the frightful massacre Of several white
families by the BIack-f foot Indians. We
we're reminded of thrilling event which
occurred in the s'Wild West,'' short time
subsequentto the Revolution. in which a
| highly accomplished young lady, the
daughter OF a distinguished officer of the
American Army, played an importsnt
part. The story being of most thrilling
nature, and exhibiting in striking man
ner the "Perils of the Border" we have
concluded to give an extract from it, as
originally published, as follows: i,
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, 1874, during
what is known as Lord Dunmore's War,
was fought one Of the fercest and most
desperate haltIes that ever took place be-
tween the Virginians and their forest foes.
After the battle in question, in which
lh9 Indians were defeated with great loss,
a fort was here erected by the v;ctors,
which became post of great importance
throughout the sanguinary scenes Of strife
which almost Immediately followed, and
which in this section of the country we're
! continued Tor many years after that cs,
(G466s1meGG OF peace which acknowledged
! the United Colonies of America free
and independent nation. ...
At the landing Of the fort. on the day
our story opens, was fastened hat,boat
Of the kind used by the early navigalors
Of The Western rivers. .,..r....r
! 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 ie-
males, who were slowly approaching the
landing. Of these Eve. one was stout,
sleek negro. in partial livery, and evident,
ly a house or body servant; three we're
boatmen and borderers, as indicated By
their rough, bronzed visages aud coarse
attire; but the fifth was young man.
some two>and twenty years of age, of a
fine commanding person, and clear,
open, intelligent countenance; and in the
| lofty carriage Of his head-in the gIeam
Of his large, bright, hazel eye-there
was something which denoted one Of su-
perior mind; ;but as We shall have occasion
in the course Of our narrative to fully set
forth who and what Eugene Fairfax was.
we will leave him Tor the present. and
tusn to the approaching group. whom he
seemed to be regarding with lively inter
! est.
OF this group. composed OF middle
aged man and four females. with black
female servant 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 figure. and of that peculiar cast
Of feature, which, besides being beauti'
tul in every lineament, rarely tails TO af,
feet the behoider with something like a
charm.
Her travelling c0stume-a fine brown
habit, high iu the neck, buIt"ned closely
over the bosom aud coming down to her
small pref y tcet. without trailing ON the
ground-was both neat and becoming
aud with her riding>cap and its waving
ostrich plume, set gaily above her 1Ow-
ing curls. her appearance contrnsted for.
chilly with Thorough, unpollshed Looks oI
those Of her sex beside her. with their
linsey bed>gowns. scarlet flannel petit
coats. and bleaohed linen caps. u.'
"Oh, Blanche" said one OF the moro
venerable of herfemale companions, pur
suing conversation which had bees
maintained since quitting the open for
behind them, II cannot bear to let you
go; for it just seems to me as ii something
were going to happen TO yoa.' and wher
feel that way something generally does
happen" 7....
"Well, aunt" returned Blanche, will
light laugh. IL do not doubt in the eas
that something will happen-for expec
; one of these days to'reaoh my dear father
and blessed mother, and give them sucl
: an embrace as is due from du!iful daugh
ter to her parents-and that will be some
thing that has not happened for two lonE
years at least" ,.. -.. .
But 1 don't mean that, Blanche" re
turned the other. somewhat Petulantly
"and you just laugh like q gay anc
thOughtess girl, when you ough: to b.
serious. Because you have come safe
thus far, through partially settled coun
try, you think, perhaps, your own pretty
face will ward off danger in the more
periluus wilderness-but l warn you tha
a fearful journey is before you Scarcely
boat descends the Ohio. that does no
encounter more or less peril from the sa
wages that Prowl along either shore; anc
some of them that go down freighted vi
human life, are heard OF no more, anC
none ever return to tell the tale"
HRut whV reDeat this to me- dear aunt ,
returned Blanche, with a more serious
| air. when you know it's my destiny, eli
ther good or bad, to attempt the voyage