The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-05-13
THE pERIls OF THE BORDER.

the frightful massacre Of several whit
families by the Black-foot Indians, We wer
reminded Of thrilling event which oc
CURED in the wild West,'a short tim
subsequeut to the Resolution. in which
highly accomplished young lady, the
daughter of distinguish ed officer of th'
American Army, played an importan
part. The story being of a most thrilling
nature, and exhibiting in striking man
ner the "Perils of the Border" We have
concluded to give an extract from it, a:
originally published, as follows:
The angle on the right bank of thc
Great Kanawha, formed by its junction
with the Ohio, is called Point Pleasant
and is a place Of i,torical note. Here
on the 10th Of October. l774, during
what is known as Lord Dunmore's War
was tough one Of the fercest and most
desperate battles that ever took place be.
tween the Virgiuians and their forest foes
After the battle in question, in which
the Indians we're defeated with great loss,
a fort was here erected by the victors.
which became q post of great Importance
throusho the sanguinary scenes OF STRIFE
which almost immediately y followed, and
WHICH in this section of the country we're
continued for many years after that es-
tabli-hment Of peace which acknowledged
the United Colonies of America free
and independent nation.
AT the landing of the fort, on the day
our story opcus, was fastened Hat beat
of the kind USED by the early pavigators
of the Western rivers.
Upon the deck OF this boat. at the q o.
ment we present tie scene to the reader,
stood fveiudividuals, engaged in watching
q group of persons, mostly females, who
were slowly approaching the landing. vi
these five, one was stout, sleek negro,
in partial livery, aud evidently house or
bodv servant; three were bostmen aud
borderera, as indicated by their rough
bronzed sisages and coar-e attire; but the
ifth was a young man, some two.and-
twenty years Of age, of fine commanding
person. and clear, open, intelligent coun
tenance; and in the lofty carriage of his
bead-in the gieam OF his large, bright ha-
zsI eve-there was something which de-
noted one of superior mind; but as we
sbal, haze occasion IN the course OF our
carrative 70 fully set forth who aud what
E,,epe Fairfax was, We will leave him
for the present, and turn to the approach
ing group, whom be seemed to he regar-
r;tL lively interest
OF this uroup, composed of middle
,,cd man AMI four females. with black
female servant following some i've or SIX
,aces in the rear, there was one whom
m. most casual eye would have tingied
ont aud rested upon with pleasure. The
LADY in question, was apparently about
tucnty years of age, of slender and
graceful f .ure, and of that peculiar cast
Of feature. which, besides being beautiful
in every Iineameut, rarely fails to affect
the beholder with something like charm.
Her travelling costume fine brown
b.bi,, high in the neck, buttoned closely
over the bosom aud coming down to her
small pretty feet, without trailing on the
o,ouud- both neat aud becoming;
and with her ridins-csp and its waving
ostrich plume, set gaily above her flowing
nurl.. her appearance contrastcd torcibly
with the rough, unpublished looks of those
of her sex beside her. with their iinsey
bed-gowns, scarlet flannel petticoats, and
bleached linDen caps. stt
"Oh, Blanche said one OF the more
venerable of her female companions, pur-
su;nu a conversatioD which bad been
m.;etained since quitting the open fort
heh;nd them. 81 caunot bear to let you
On. for it lust seems to me asi' something
Tere going to happen to you, aud when
feel that way, something geoera'iy o0es
happen" ,e. n ;.h
light laugh, Il do not doubt IN the least
that something will haPpen-f0r ! eSpee'
one of these days to reach my dear iath'
er and blessed mother, and give them
sucb an embrace as is due from dutliu
daughter to her pareDts--and that Will oe
something that has not happened for two
long years at least 3
aBut don't mean that, Blanche, re-
turned the other, somewhat petulently
...nd You Just laugh like gay and thought
less girl. when you ought to be serious
Because YOU have come safe thus far
through a partially settled country, yot
think, perhaps. your own Pre''y race VII
ward of danger in the more peri'o1s VII
derpess--but ! warn you that . 'esfiu
;ourney is before youl Scarcely boa
desceads the Ohio. that does Dot enc0us
ter more or less peril fro~ the savage
that prowl along either shore and !, sons
Of them that 90 down freighted With bu
man life, are heard Of no more ana non
ever return to tell the tale.
"But why repeat this to me, dear aunt,
returDed Blanche, with more sel'oa
air "wbep you know tis my destiny, el
ther good or bad; to attempt the voyage